exhuser
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how to add a third monitor in Windows XP?
I have a laptop docked in a docking station and I'm trying to use two monitors. One monitor is plugged into the VGA port and one into the DVI. There are two monitors listed, but it the laptop screen and only one of the external monitors. Can anyone suggest how to add a third monitor in Windows XP?
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What is the model # of your laptop?
The laptop has the onboard display (the laptop screen itself), and then the external display ports (DVI, VGA, etc.)
Pretty much all laptops support the onboard display + 1 external display.
Multiple external displays is not as common (even though the laptop may have more than one type of display port, it doesn't mean it supports more than one external display), and depends on the graphics card inside the laptop.
In your case I don't think your laptop supports multiple external displays. The easiest way to check is to just plug more than one external display into the laptop, which you did, and it wasn't recognized.
The laptop has the onboard display (the laptop screen itself), and then the external display ports (DVI, VGA, etc.)
Pretty much all laptops support the onboard display + 1 external display.
Multiple external displays is not as common (even though the laptop may have more than one type of display port, it doesn't mean it supports more than one external display), and depends on the graphics card inside the laptop.
In your case I don't think your laptop supports multiple external displays. The easiest way to check is to just plug more than one external display into the laptop, which you did, and it wasn't recognized.
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SOLUTION
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Hi exhuser,
When you answer my other two questions in post http:#a39843703, please answer a third one. Amit made the comment, "you have VGA and DVI port both on your laptop..." But in your initial question, you said the laptop is in a docking station, and I was going on the assumption that the two ports you're using (VGA and DVI) are in the dock, not in the laptop. But Amit's comment raised a red flag on that assumption, so please clarify the location(s) of the VGA and DVI ports. Oh, a fourth question: Is the DVI port a DVI-D, DVI-A, or DVI-I? Regards, Joe
When you answer my other two questions in post http:#a39843703, please answer a third one. Amit made the comment, "you have VGA and DVI port both on your laptop..." But in your initial question, you said the laptop is in a docking station, and I was going on the assumption that the two ports you're using (VGA and DVI) are in the dock, not in the laptop. But Amit's comment raised a red flag on that assumption, so please clarify the location(s) of the VGA and DVI ports. Oh, a fourth question: Is the DVI port a DVI-D, DVI-A, or DVI-I? Regards, Joe
ASKER
It has VGA, DVI, HDMI, not sure about the display port, need to check...
For the third monitor I need that to be the laptop screen.
VGA and DVI are in the dock
For the third monitor I need that to be the laptop screen.
VGA and DVI are in the dock
> It has VGA, DVI, HDMI, not sure about the display port, need to check...
If it has HDMI, it probably does not have DisplayPort. In any case, let us know the manufacturer and model number of the laptop and of the dock.
If it has HDMI, it probably does not have DisplayPort. In any case, let us know the manufacturer and model number of the laptop and of the dock.
ASKER
No, it does not have the display port. And this is a Dell docking station about 3 years old...
It's good to know that both the laptop and dock are Dell, but it would be really helpful to know the model numbers of both. There should be labels on them with the model numbers.
ASKER
We figured a way to setup the two laptops through the properties of the video card. Thanks for all your help.
> two laptops
Hmmm, I thought it was one laptop in a dock. In any case, I'm glad you got it sorted. Regards, Joe
Hmmm, I thought it was one laptop in a dock. In any case, I'm glad you got it sorted. Regards, Joe
I'm pretty confused by this answer too. Do you mean you set up the two monitors?
ASKER
Sorry, not 2 laptops - 2 monitors and one laptop
ASKER