question about dual monitors

[DDG2]

I want to begin using 2 monitors. In the back of my Dell8300 are two blue sockets. One produces a picture when attached to my flat panel monitor. If I switch to the other socket on the computer I get a message on the monitor saying that I'm connected to the wrong socket.

I believe one of the sockets on the computer puts out an analog signal while the other one puts out a digital signal.

If I get another monitor and cable and plug into the available socket will I have two monitors so that I can view two different windows or will I just have two monitors showing the identical image?

In the research I've done I see instructions to click on boxes with 1 and 2 and so forth. I don't have any such boxes available with my version of XP Home. Or is that something that would appear if I had a different video card?

[xavier]

You can use a display card with 2 outlets

[patio]

What video card is in there ? ?

[xavier]

Or you can use a VGA to DVI adapter

[patio]

We may be looking at onboard video + a vid card here which is why i asked...

[DDG2]

What video card is in there ? ?

The card (per spec sheet) is "128mb ddr geforce fx 5200 with tv out and dvi"

[xavier]

Go with the adapter Dvi to vga

[DDG2]

Go with the adapter Dvi to vga

If I get the adapter and another monitor and cable and plug into the available socket will I have two monitors so that I can view two different windows or will I just have two monitors showing the identical image?

[xavier]

same image , You might want to [Google] type in ,   two monitors

[DDG2]

same image , You might want to [Google] type in ,   two monitors

That's how I got here.

[xavier]

When you go to two monitors [google] it explains how you can split screen you monitors

[ale52]

Check it out...

http://www.cyberguys.com/templates/SearchDetail.asp?productID=3071

Alan <><

[xavier]

Thats alot better than the Y adapter for APPX: $20.00