Computer Hope
Hardware => Hardware => Topic started by: Dirkpitt45 on June 13, 2009, 11:15:39 AM
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I have this POS dell dimension 3100 desktop that has worked for a while now. About two years ago I bought a new video card for it, nividia 1800 or something like that (don't remember exactly). Anyways ever since I installed that my computer has been set up as having dual monitors, even though I don't. Its running windows XP home edition SP2.
I asked the store I bought the card from about it and they just had me set boundaries and sort of disable the ghost screen. It has given me problems in the past but I've managed to work fix or workaround them. Until now.
On startup the loading windows XP screen shows up, then disappears. Then the screen is black and I have no cursor or anything, but the monitor is turned on and working fine apparently. I can also use the keyboard to log on, I can tell because of the noises the computer makes.
This makes me think that something might have happened to the video card. Or I accidently changed some setting sometime ago and it just decided to work now. The one thing thing that does work is safe mode. That tells me that hardware failure is probably not likely. I was following instructions from a colleague of mine, and I am supposed to be able to change monitor settings once at the properties menu. Except the only options I can change are the resolution and colour settings.
I was planning on buying a new computer anyways but can't for a couple weeks. I'm hoping I can fix this by myself without having to take it into a shop and pay a stupid amount of money for something that could have a simple fix.
Thanks in advance
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ever since I installed that my computer has been set up as having dual monitors
What does make you to think so?
If the monitor works fine in Safe Mode, but not in Normal Mode, it looks like a driver issue.
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I agree with Broni. It has something to do with the videovard driver. May we ask what videocard driver is loaded on your computer? Tight click My Computer icon > Manage > Device Manager. Click on the plus sign beside the display adapter. It will show you the driver your computer is using.
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Don't click too "tight" though ;D
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Well under properties then settings for desktop, two monitors show up in the little box. One big, one small.
My sister said she was playing around with the settings under there trying to stop it from opening windows off the screen. So I'm thinking she might have set it for the old integrated video chip. Also I tried plugging in the monitor to that, and a message pops up on the screen saying it cannot support the selected resolution. I'm not sure how to access those setting through safe mode, if you can. I'll try changing the resolution maybe and plugging it into the old port.
@Jerry, There is the Nvidia Geforce4 MX 4000, and the built in chipset one.
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under properties then settings for desktop, two monitors show up in the little box. One big, one small.
It's normal.
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Haha! Yeah, not too tight.. ;D
You can disable the driver for the built in chipset. Right click on that one then disable. Then restart your computer.
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It's normal.
Hmm well I feel rather dumb now. Always thought that meant dual because depending on which side I dragged it to was which side my cursor and windows would go outside the boundaries.
@Jerry, Wow it works now, at least the I could log in and can see stuff again. Just waititng for it to finish starting up now. Your a freaking genius lol, I've been messing around with everything and all it took was a right click pretty much..Wish I'd known about that earlier.
Edit: Yeah everythings working fine and my cursor doesn't go off the screen anymore! Must've been some sort of conflict between the drivers. I love you guys lol, thanks for the help.
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Always thought that meant dual
Yes. That means, you can use that feature, IF you have two monitors.
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Glad to hear your computer's fine now. ;D
Just continue browsing/reading on this site man. There are more genius people hanging in here, including Broni. ;D
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Please....LOL
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That was sincere.. :) I know you're more experienced than I am, ;D
CLOSED.