Using dual monitors refers to using two physical display devices to increase the viewing space running on a single computer. Microsoft Windows Operating Systems and Mac OS X now support dual and multiple monitor configurations.
Setting up dual monitors is easy. However, it requires the user to add a second video card or install a video card that can support a dual head or two separate physical outputs. The following instructions are for those with only one video card installed in their computers:
Make sure that the computer is working fine and that it can support more than one video card. Boot in safe mode to make sure that only one video adapter and monitor is shown in Device Manager.
Next, turn off the system and install the second video card. Once installed, connect the second monitor.
If the installation is done correctly, the computer should boot the same way as always and the second monitor should still appear dark. Depending on the presence of the correct drivers bundled with the OS, drivers for the second video card may have to be installed.
Configuring Dual Monitors under Microsoft Windows
Check Device Manager. To do this, right-click My Computer then choose Properties > Hardware > Device Manager. There should be 2 monitors under the Display Adapters.
To configure the second monitor, right-click the desktop and choose Properties. Go to the Settings tab where there are two boxes, one bigger than the other. These represent the two monitors plugged into the computer. Click the second window marked “2″ and change the second monitor’s resolution and color depth. Make sure that the display parameters chosen are within the monitors’ limits.
Do not forget to click the “Extend my Windows desktop into this monitor” option. If this is done properly, the 2 monitors should have the same size. Click OK and the 2nd monitor should work properly.
Troubleshooting Dual Monitor Setups
If the above instructions were followed but the second monitor is still not working, check if the operating system supports both monitors.
Also, check the kind of video card that was installed. If the computer has only one AGP slot and a PCI or ISA slot has to be used for the second video card, change the BIOS setting so that the PCI boots before the AGP display adapter.
Hi, i was wondering if i can run two monitors from my laptop?
I only have one external screen connection, so i was wondering if i can buy one that connects via my USB port & then be able to have different screens showing on each of the two monitors.
try here
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/setup/learnmore/northrup_multimon.mspx
Hey, was just wondering, i have to monitors that use VGA and my video card supports dual monitoring, do i have to get a adapter to make it work or can i put one monitor on the video card and the other on the motherboards built-in VGA connection?
-much appreciated.
What is the make and model of your video card?
You can setup two monitors on one graphic card if it has two output ports. You can setup one monitor on integrated graphic card and one on pci-x, agp, pci graphic card if your motheboard support it.
Here is how to do it over integrated graphic card:
Downturn of this is that integrated graphic will be your primary graphic card which means used for example for games. Since that is usually weaker graphic card your performance will suffer.
I have an HP laptop with XP pro. I have a CRT monitor attached to the back of the laptop. I see the same pictures on both the laptop screen and the CRT.
On my old desktop computer, I could go to the control panel and see a “1″ and “2″ box. But on the laptop, there is only one display shown in the control panel. Is there a way to get the “1″ and “2″ feature to work on the laptop?
Problem fixed: I reinstalled / updated the graphics driver and now this works properly.
After I have opened a few programs, I will try to open another, and my screens will go black for about two seconds. When the screens return, my programs will now be centered between the two screens. Can I prevent this? Thanks.