I have a Windows XP Pro computer that has a dual monitor option video card.
I can see this via the desktop/settings Display and I have 2 monitor
options. This video card is equipped with a single VGA port. I bought a
splitter to split into 2 monitors and then went into the settings to
"extend" the desktop (via the checkbox) on the 2nd VGA. When I hit apply it
does not save the checkbox settings and all I get is a same screen on both
monitors and no extension.

I know the video card supports dual monitors based on the settings section
but is there something special in splitter cables where I need to make sure
I have a specialized one that will do dual monitor for extended desktops vs.
show the same image?

-Richard K

To do what you describe you need a video card with two outputs; they could
be both VGA, both DVi, or one of each. Don't really know why you're seeing
options for two displays unless the card has an output connection for tv.

"Richard K" <Rkokoski******.com> wrote in message
news:eqULSGI7IHA.4864@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
>I have a Windows XP Pro computer that has a dual monitor option video card.
>I can see this via the desktop/settings Display and I have 2 monitor
>options. This video card is equipped with a single VGA port. I bought a
>splitter to split into 2 monitors and then went into the settings to
>"extend" the desktop (via the checkbox) on the 2nd VGA. When I hit apply
>it does not save the checkbox settings and all I get is a same screen on
>both monitors and no extension.
>
> I know the video card supports dual monitors based on the settings section
> but is there something special in splitter cables where I need to make
> sure I have a specialized one that will do dual monitor for extended
> desktops vs. show the same image?
>
> -Richard K
>
>

"Richard K" <Rkokoski******.com> wrote in message
news:eqULSGI7IHA.4864@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
>I have a Windows XP Pro computer that has a dual monitor option video card.
>I can see this via the desktop/settings Display and I have 2 monitor
>options. This video card is equipped with a single VGA port. I bought a
>splitter to split into 2 monitors and then went into the settings to
>"extend" the desktop (via the checkbox) on the 2nd VGA. When I hit apply
>it does not save the checkbox settings and all I get is a same screen on
>both monitors and no extension.
>
> I know the video card supports dual monitors based on the settings section
> but is there something special in splitter cables where I need to make
> sure I have a specialized one that will do dual monitor for extended
> desktops vs. show the same image?
>
> -Richard K
>
>


Are you sure that it supports two monitors? Could it be that it supports one
monitor and also has output to a TV?


--
Mike Hall - MVP
How to construct a good post..
http://dts-l.com/goodpost.htm
How to use the Microsoft Product Support Newsgroups..
http://support.microsoft.com/default...help&style=toc
Mike's Window - My Blog..
http://msmvps.com/blogs/mikehall/default.aspx

In the settings section I see 2 monitors so the video card supports it. I
know it only has one port (thus the splitter) and some have said I need 2
ports for this to work but I know that is not true. I have seen many Dell
systems that come this way of having only 1 port and a splitter cable. Dell
ships a cable with those systems though.

"Mike Hall - MVP" <mikehall@remove_mvps.com> wrote in message
news:uriOrUL7IHA.5596@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
> "Richard K" <Rkokoski******.com> wrote in message
> news:eqULSGI7IHA.4864@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
>>I have a Windows XP Pro computer that has a dual monitor option video
>>card. I can see this via the desktop/settings Display and I have 2 monitor
>>options. This video card is equipped with a single VGA port. I bought a
>>splitter to split into 2 monitors and then went into the settings to
>>"extend" the desktop (via the checkbox) on the 2nd VGA. When I hit apply
>>it does not save the checkbox settings and all I get is a same screen on
>>both monitors and no extension.
>>
>> I know the video card supports dual monitors based on the settings
>> section but is there something special in splitter cables where I need to
>> make sure I have a specialized one that will do dual monitor for extended
>> desktops vs. show the same image?
>>
>> -Richard K
>>
>>
>
>
> Are you sure that it supports two monitors? Could it be that it supports
> one monitor and also has output to a TV?
>
>
> --
> Mike Hall - MVP
> How to construct a good post..
> http://dts-l.com/goodpost.htm
> How to use the Microsoft Product Support Newsgroups..
> http://support.microsoft.com/default...help&style=toc
> Mike's Window - My Blog..
> http://msmvps.com/blogs/mikehall/default.aspx
>
>
>
>

If a video card has multi-monitor support in Device Manager, Display
Adapters you'll see two independent video entries. Does your DM
show two video card entries ? Also could post your video card vendor
and model #.

Also there are always numerous video cards based on the same GPU
chip(set). It may be that your card is identifying itself as Multi-Monitor
capable but your specific model may have that capability disabled.
( Having only a single video output connector, or a S-Video added )

It's also hard to understand how a Splitter would provide two video
streams to feed each monitor. A Splitter would simply provide the
same signal to both monitors.

"Richard K" <Rkokoski******.com> wrote in message
news:uyUQAxL7IHA.1080@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
> In the settings section I see 2 monitors so the video card supports it. I
> know it only has one port (thus the splitter) and some have said I need 2
> ports for this to work but I know that is not true. I have seen many Dell
> systems that come this way of having only 1 port and a splitter cable.
> Dell ships a cable with those systems though.
>
> "Mike Hall - MVP" <mikehall@remove_mvps.com> wrote in message
> news:uriOrUL7IHA.5596@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>> "Richard K" <Rkokoski******.com> wrote in message
>> news:eqULSGI7IHA.4864@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
>>>I have a Windows XP Pro computer that has a dual monitor option video
>>>card. I can see this via the desktop/settings Display and I have 2
>>>monitor options. This video card is equipped with a single VGA port. I
>>>bought a splitter to split into 2 monitors and then went into the
>>>settings to "extend" the desktop (via the checkbox) on the 2nd VGA. When
>>>I hit apply it does not save the checkbox settings and all I get is a
>>>same screen on both monitors and no extension.
>>>
>>> I know the video card supports dual monitors based on the settings
>>> section but is there something special in splitter cables where I need
>>> to make sure I have a specialized one that will do dual monitor for
>>> extended desktops vs. show the same image?
>>>
>>> -Richard K
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>> Are you sure that it supports two monitors? Could it be that it supports
>> one monitor and also has output to a TV?
>>
>>
>> --
>> Mike Hall - MVP
>> How to construct a good post..
>> http://dts-l.com/goodpost.htm
>> How to use the Microsoft Product Support Newsgroups..
>> http://support.microsoft.com/default...help&style=toc
>> Mike's Window - My Blog..
>> http://msmvps.com/blogs/mikehall/default.aspx
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>