Dual-Display Extended desktop Problem

mass147 · Member Joined: 29 May 2008 Location: United States

So my old computer was hooked up to an LCD display via DVI and to a regular TV via S-video out. I had it set up just fine, with the LCD as the primary display and the TV as the secondary, and I had it as an extended desktop. Whenever I turned on the computer, everything was as it should be. When I turned on the TV and went to the S-video input, the computer would automatically detect the TV and the extended desktop would show up.

I now have a new system. On-board video card (Gigabyte GA-G33M-S2H motherboard with Intel G33/G31 Express Chipset). I also have a new TV. Now, the LCD (same one) is attached via a VGA cable and the TV is attached via an HDMI cable. Same version of Windows (XP Media Center).

Everything still works, however, when I go to the HDMI input on the TV, the extended desktop doesn't automatically show up on the television screen. However, it DOES detect the TV because I hear the default "detect" / "usb" .wav sound file. So what I have to do to get it to work is manually go on Display Properties --> Settings --> Click on the 2nd display (the TV) ---> UN-check the "extend my windows desktop" box --> and then RE-check it --> press apply ---> ...and then voila, the image pops up onto the TV, as it should automatically. Once I do this, I am fine. I can put the computer on standby, I can go back to the TV tuner and then back to the input--whatever--the extended desktop will remain on the TV screen. However, as soon as I turn off the TV and turn it back on again, the image is gone and I have to manually set this up all over again.

How can I fix this? I never had to do this on my old system...

I've also got the most up-to-date video drivers. Didn't help.

Thanks for any help.

rallynavvie · Posted: May 29, 2008 08:45

I'm not at all familiar with the Intel GMA driver settings. Your previous PC may have been using an ATi or nVidia graphics card which supported dynamic switching of settings like you said it was capable of. I know nVidia cards will automatically extend to another display when detected if set up beforehand.

The other difference is the video source to the TV which is now digital as opposed to the analog S-video connection. This makes a difference with detecting a display as digital connections often detect the display even when it isn't turned on. For instance my primary display is an LCD connected with DVI. My secondary display is my LCD TV connected via DVI-HDMI cable. Even when the TV is off my video card still sees it as a secondary monitor.

However I have my desktop "extended" to the TV even when it isn't on. You may want to consider this option if it is available in your driver settings. Instead of "extending" the desktop use the individual dual display settings so you can set custom resolutions on both monitors and see your taskbar only on your primary display. I use my secondary display (the big LCD TV) only for Media Center use and a very few other programs so mostly it sits off when gaming or using the PC for anything else. If the mouse cursor disappears off the screen to my "extended" display then I just drag it back to the left until I see it again. I know with the nVidia drivers you can tell it not to allow new windows to open on the secondary displays unless they are dragged over there after they are opened.

Another option would be to use UltraMon to control your multiple displays, though I'm not sure if it works with that graphics chipset.
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