ATI Radeon dual display (extended desktop) AGP graphics card problem

[JTrader]

ATI Radeon extended desktop AGP graphics card problem+Matrox Millenium G400/450 query

Hello

I suspect that this may be a complex problem to solve . However, having contacted ATI and having received their standard troubleshooting email in return, which does not refer to the problem and having trawled throught the ATI website with no success, I thought it may be worth posting details on the boards. Here goes.....

I am using an ATI radeon (7000 or VE) dual display AGP graphics card that run two monitors on an extended desktop alongside Windows XP. The extended desktop stopped working as normal and on the next few occasions that i started my PC, I recieved an error message, which I did submit via a report to Microsoft. The error message no longer appear when i start my PC.

Basically what was my secondary display monitor became my primary monitor and the then secondary monitor does not turn on fully and the standby button just flashes. The cursor will only move within the one active display now and will not move off screen onto the extended desktop as before. I have tried re-installing the driver by CD but this had no effect.

Any possible suggestions greatly appreciated .

Cheers

jtrader

 

[JonnyT]

Replace the drivers with a new downloaded version.

JonnyT

 

[Rognvald]

Uninstall your ATI software, reinstall and then do what JT says
You may also find this helpful - I do
http://www.mediachance.com/free/multimon.htm

 

[dc2000]

Dont know if this will help I had the very same problem with ATI and win XP I solved it by unpluging the monitor that worked and pluging it into the other socket leaving the first one empty then reboot if windows desktop comes up then reboot with both monitors pluged in.

I eventually swapped for a matrox quad card

 

[JTrader]

Thanks for the advice. I've followed the instructions of dc2000 and it it sorking fine. Lets hope this continues!
When suggested that I should replace the drivers for new downloaded ones, would this mean replace it with the drivers specific for my ATI Radeon 7000 card, or a later driver released by ATI?

Thanks again.

T2W - where expert adivce is only a mouse click away!

 

[Rognvald]

The latest ATI drivers SPECIFIC TO YOUR CARD

 

[JTrader]

Thanks.

Whilst on the subject of graphics cards, I also have a Matrox Millenium G400/G450 at my disposal, which I don't use at present. It is a PCI card. I bought it under the understanding that I'd be able to run 2 VGA monitors on it, but I've also been advised that I won't be able to do this. It has one VGA slot and a DVI slot. I have a DVI - VGA adaptor that attaches onto the DVI slot. Should this card be able to run two VGA monitors as it is presently equipped?

Cheers

jtrader.

 

[dc2000]

The g450 chiped card can run 2 monitors but you may have compatability problems with the ATI card, best thing to do is install card and test each port with your second monitor. Any probs just ask glad to help

 

[Rognvald]

I ran 2 mons with a g450 until it fried by accident. Now use 2x G550 for 4 mons

 

[ChartMan]

A lot of multi monitor setup problems arise from using two cards from the same manufacturer (1x Nvidia AGP + 1x Nvidia PCI-ask Skim!). So an ATI with a Matrox will probably work fine.