Dual Monitor Problem

[jzamalam]

Hi

I've just added a 2nd monitor to my Dell P4 (1.7ghz 786mb) system with XP. Rather than buying a dual monitor card I've added a Pine 3D Phantom PCI card alongside the card that was in the pc when I bought it (RAGE 128mb or something).

The card was recognised fine, loaded up drivers etc and it all worked fine until I switched off the pc and went back later to switch it on. The computer won't start up unless it's in safe mode and then I have to uninstall and reinstall the new drivers each time I reboot.

For some reason I don't experience the same problem when I restart the computer - it switches itself off and on and again with the correct configuration - only when I manually switch off and switch on.

Any ideas?

[TechZ]

Welcome to WD jzamalam
I'd wait for some more experienced user to help u out here, but I dont think its possible to have two vga cards in one machine.

[NooNoo]

Yes it is Techz!

Jzamalam.... when you say loaded up the drivers, did you mean the cd that came with the card or are you using the xp default drivers?

Have you set up which is the prime monitor and which is the secondary? (right click desktop, last tab, settings).

When the drivers install, is there any ! or errors or information on either of the display adapters in device manager?

What is the dell supplied video card? or is it onboard?

[jzamalam]

Hello NooNoo

As soon as I installed the card it was recognised and validated as being compatible.

I then installed the drivers and Direct X version 8 (I think) from the cd supplied.

I set up the primary/secondary monitors no problem and was actually working with the two screens up until I rebooted. There were no errors or conflict information at any time prior to this.

When I rebooted the pc just froze as windows was loading forcing me to restart in safe mode.

After I'd uninstalled the new drivers I checked the Display/settings but I don't remember the 2nd monitor being visible which I took to mean that the default drivers weren't of any use - was I wrong to think that?

The Dell card is in the AGP slot and is a RAGE 128mb'er not sure exactly what it is - but of that ilk....

[TechZ]

Like I said, a more experienced user with be with u in a short while, please hold...

[tyamada]

Hello NooNoo

As soon as I installed the card it was recognised and validated as being compatible.

I then installed the drivers and Direct X version 8 (I think) from the cd supplied.

I set up the primary/secondary monitors no problem and was actually working with the two screens up until I rebooted. There were no errors or conflict information at any time prior to this.

When I rebooted the pc just froze as windows was loading forcing me to restart in safe mode.

After I'd uninstalled the new drivers I checked the Display/settings but I don't remember the 2nd monitor being visible which I took to mean that the default drivers weren't of any use - was I wrong to think that?

The Dell card is in the AGP slot and is a RAGE 128mb'er not sure exactly what it is - but of that ilk....

You might want to check and find out the specs of your Radeon video card, because some of the Radeon cards are already dual monitor compatable. This might be the reason the computer will not restart.

[NooNoo]

You installed directx8 - xp comes with 9. You have probably corrupted the video drivers.

I suggest you install the latest directx and then uninstall and reinstall the video drivers for both cards.

If directx refuses to install in safe mode, I think you should run sfc /scannow first.

If that does not improve things, then an inplace install may be in order. Directx is one of those things thats so easy to screw over and affects so many things.... I would not like to guess what really happened.

[confus-ed]

..I suggest you install the latest directx and then uninstall and reinstall the video drivers for both cards..

I'd suggest .. that the order of what we are doing is what's making a mess !

I think you want to remove both your cards drivers & any associated programs lurking in control panel or add/remove programs (this is MOST important especially with cards who's 'ancillary drivers' {so fluffware & ones that add extra property pages to the device etc} may 'mess' with windows) first in safe mode, then let windows find them itself, then add any 'better than windows already has' drivers, then add directx.

..You might want to check and find out the specs of your Radeon video card, because some of the Radeon cards are already dual monitor compatable. This might be the reason the computer will not restart...

Quite so ! a possible further complication ! To get around this & make sure it isn't that, I'd suggest refining my procedure above, to first only have the additional pine card there, let it get found 'right' then add the radeon ..

The fact that at some point it is 'all working', points to having everything 'right' but just ain't doing it quite as the install programs anticipate ..

[fugg_hugh]

You could try running system restore to before you installed the new card and then download and install the latest drivers for it.

What chipset does it use?