3 monitors

[n0795]

I have two monitors currently on my windows 2000 pc one AGP and one PCI ,
I have just added a thrid its on a PCI card with a SIS6326 chipset and i cannot get it to work.
It finds the card but it never starts at boot,I know win2000 has compatibility issues but my other PCI card is also a SIS6326 chipset.
Any ideas would help..
Thanks
Nick

 

[pbxman]

Check this link, and make sure you follow these steps..

http://support.microsoft.com/suppor...tors&rnk=7&src=DHCS_MSPSS_gn_SRCH&SPR=WIN2000

Getting 2 to work is easy - adding more (Windows 2000 supports up to 10) is more difficult, and problems are mostly hardware-based.

Good luck! Please let Tek-Tips members know their posts were helpful. Thanks!

Pbxman
Systems Administrator

 

[n0795]

Thanks but Ive already been to this and it didnt tell me anything I didnt already try..
Thanks, The MKB is good for some things but others its really no help.
Any other ideas.?

 

[pbxman]

How many monitors are listed in control panel/display/settings?
Do you have all the monitors showing, but one has an exclamation mark next to it?

Also - did this work with 98, but not Windows2000?

If nothing else works - i'd try out some 3rd party software..there's gotta be something wrong in the configuration of the adapters you have. Are they on Windows 2000's HCL?

Try finding out from the board vendor whether they support Multiple Displays in Windows2000. Please let Tek-Tips members know their posts were helpful. Thanks!

Pbxman
Systems Administrator

 

[n0795]

Yeh they are listed in device manager the AGP is ok and the two PCI card are the same chipset but different cards SIS6326 one is ok and one has an exclamation mark
Ive looked on the microsofts HCL and I dont think they keep it up to data as the PCI that does work is not on there the one that doesnt work is on there but only as AGP.
Also I havent tried this on win98 so im not sure, But i would assume its works as it isnt so picky.

 

[pbxman]

Ok - what is the conflict listed on the one with the exclamation mark? Please let Tek-Tips members know their posts were helpful. Thanks!

Pbxman
Systems Administrator

 

[n0795]

Could not start device error (10)

 

[pbxman]

Is your BIOS most up-to-date, and is the card that isn't starting on the primary PCI bus, or secondary?

You should have an option in your BIOS for setting the AGP/PCI enable device order. I'd also try changing your BIOS to PCI adapter instead of AGP, and see if that 3rd device shows anything. Not many BIOSes have the video device settings - it's just like setting your IDE order, but for multiple display adapters.

Problems at that level refer to hardware configuration/settings. Somewhere, something is not set correctly, and the BIOS is where you want to start the troubleshooting.

When all 3 monitors are on, and you reboot - does the 3rd one's light stay amber, or does it flicker..anything?? Please let Tek-Tips members know their posts were helpful. Thanks!

Pbxman
Systems Administrator

 

[n0795]

The Bios in now up to date
The error is the same the primary VGA card is PCI and thats what it should be according to microsoft

The PCI one that is working is Location 4 (PCI bus 0, device 9, function 0)

and the AGP PCI bus 1, device 0, function 0

The one that isnt working is, Location 2 (PCI bus 0, device 11, function 0)

I really need to speak with the card maker and find out if it is win2000 compatible I guess

 

[pbxman]

Yes - talking to the manufacturer is your best bet.

Just by your hardware information, you should have all the video-cards right next to each other in your computer. Your display adapters are spanning BUS numbers, and should all use the primary PCI bus. That's definitely important in troubleshooting this one as well. Please let Tek-Tips members know their posts were helpful. Thanks!

Pbxman
Systems Administrator

 

[HappyFrank]

All problem with multiple monitors in win 2k appear to Graphics card chipset related, It appears you can not use either S3 or SIS6326 card for anything other than the primary monitor.

I had 2 S3 based cards could not get both to work together, obtained old Matrox Millennium card to use on second monitor all works okay

Check out

http://www.realtimesoft.com/multimon