Hi,

 

I've bought a VGA splitter so I can run 2 screens from one PC (computer and TV screen). The problem is when I plug the VGA cable to the TV, it cuts off the signal to my normal PC screen. It's not the cables or splitter as it works fine from a laptop, so it points to my PC as the problem. Any ideas??

 

Cheers

 

Vijay

there should be a dual screen set up in your graphics card menu, select clone or extend my desktop onto this monitor option

hold it a mo its just a splitter not a dual set up so ignore me

Hi,

 

I've bought a VGA splitter so I can run 2 screens from one PC (computer and TV screen). The problem is when I plug the VGA cable to the TV, it cuts off the signal to my normal PC screen. It's not the cables or splitter as it works fine from a laptop, so it points to my PC as the problem. Any ideas??

 

Cheers

 

Vijay

 

Your laptop should have an option to leave the screen on or off - it's quite often one of the function keys (i.e. hold down fn key and, say, F8) - basically so you can turn off the screen for presentations etc...

 

Good luck!

The laptop works fine, it's my PC that has the problem :(

The problem seems to be in windows rather than anything hardware. I re-booted the PC and both screens work until windows starts up :(

 

Vijay

try enabling vga mode

 

tap on F5 key before windows loads then select it using the cursor keys

 

This loads windows without the display driver

 

If it works you know its the display driver thats the problem - try updating it

 

If it doesnt it may be the card but this seems unlikley as you said it works out of windows.

 

If updating the drivers dont work might just be easier to get a graphics card with dual display support (pretty much all do now)

 

best way is to get a card with dvi and vga out, they usually come with a dvi > vga adapter as well for 2x vga outputs, if not they are only about a fiver

Ps you posted my inverter?

Yes mate, went out yesterday as promised :)

Well F5 and enabling VGA mode worked but the brightness on my PC monitor went down. The guy I bought the splitter off has suggested I might need one of these http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=018&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=280049011280&rd=1&rd=1

 

The driver was updated with the drivers that came wih the monitor.

 

Where can I buy the cards from?

 

Cheers

 

Vijay

i had something similar fella, wanted to run on my pc screen & tv at the same time!!

 

it tuned out to be the overlay option on my graphics card, it was in the grapgics card software settings.

Nice one for posting the inverter!

 

Fastredz thats when using tv out, not just splitting the vga signal.

 

If it worked in vga mode then your graphics card is fine. Monitor drivers are not the same as the graphics card drivers. What graphics card have you got? Right click my computer and left click properties. On system properties click hardware tab at the top. Click the device manager button and expand display adapters. Here it will say what card or onboard chip you have. Alternativly if your computer is branded what make/model is it?

 

The booster on ebay may help as when you split the vga you are going to get a signal drop etc.

 

Your kinda going about it the wrong way tho. For the cost of that booster you could get an entry level card with dual monitor support anyways.

 

I still need to know the make/model of your machine as there are different slots for graphics cards depending on your mainboard, pci, agp and pci express.

 

The best place to get pc parts is ebuyer, scan, aria.co.uk and ebay of course.

 

post up the details of your machine and I'll give you your options

 

Ed

Cheers Ed. Mainboard is http://www.msicomputer.com/product/detail_spec/k7n420pro.htm with onboard video.

 

Vijay

Not a bad board. I'm a fan of the nforce chipsets, use an NF3 board myself.

 

The drivers for the nvidia chip are on the nvidia site, http://www.nvidia.com/object/winxp_2k_93.71.html

 

The existing onboard vga chip you have is not a bad one as far as onboard graphics go but they are pretty limited.

 

** Multiplex DVI /TV interface with the AGP slot. (optional) **

 

According to the mobo write up there is an optional add in for the board to provide the existing onboard vga an extra dvi output, this slots into the agp slot. (would only be availible from msi and probably cost about the same as a much better card tho!)

 

The agp slot at present is the most common type of video card slot. I would recommend you get an nvidia agp card as they are designed to work with your nvidia platform. Just look out for a card with dual dvi and vga outputs, most the higher end cards have them and some entry level cards if you look.

Hi Ed,

 

I'm really confused at what I'm looking for :( Done a search for the Multiplex DVI card and came up with this http://www.msicomputer.com/product/accessories/acc_index.asp The MS 6952 which I have already got has an S TV output and a C TV ouptut but no DVI.

Yup thats the one, its an add in card for the mobo.

 

Doesnt look like it has a DB-15 connector on it tho. Just s video and composite out.

 

If your second monitor is a tv or a monitor with an s video/composite input then it would be fine. If its a standard computer monitor then your going to need an agp card with dual monitor support.

 

Had an outcard today so should be the inverter - cheers

this one would do fine unless you want to splash out

 

http://www.aria.co.uk/ProductInfoComm.asp?ID=24969

 

see how it has both dvi and vga outputs

 

you then need a dvi to vga adapter (there was one a bit further down on that msi link you posted) these are generic and you can get them anywhere, the agp card might even come with one in the box

 

check out ebuyer.co.uk as well, i get all my pc bits from them

 

If it was me id be looking to get an msi card with an nvidia chip as msi make good boards and will work well with your msi board / nvidia chipset combination.

Cheers Ed :)