[Dual Monitors] Second monitor immediately goes into sleep mode.

[jbrown99]

As stated in the title, my second monitor goes into sleep mode the SECOND I plug it in to my computer. I don't know if that means my computer isn't recognizing it or what.

 

[noreaster]

If you are using Windows, go to display settings and ensure the second monitor is active, you can clone the displays or extend them. This is the most likely case and the most simple to fix. However, if that is not the problem you may need to look at your video drivers.

Helpful information would be:
what operating system?
laptop or desktop?
integrated graphics or discrete?
what type of connection to second monitor? (VGA, DVI, HDMI, DisplayPort, etc)
what vendor of graphics? (Intel, AMD/ATI, nVidea)

Hope I can help.

 

[jbrown99]

Windows 7 Desktop, GTX 550 TI graphics (Nvidia). Not sure but I have one plugged into the white (my main one, directly into my graphics card) and one plugged into the shorter blue (connects into my computer, secondary) (that makes me sound very computer illiterate, but yes).

 

[noreaster]

Okay, well your main is connected through DVI and secondary through VGA, as long as both of these ports are on your video card then you should be able to activate them by right clicking on your desktop background and selecting screen resolution, you should see 2 monitors in the graphic, if not then your computer does not see the second monitor, if it does but number 2 is grayed out click on it and select extend desktop check-box.
If this doesn't work there may be some driver issues which means you just reinstall the driver from the disk that came with your card or from online support.

 

[jbrown99]

Okay, well your main is connected through DVI and secondary through VGA, as long as both of these ports are on your video card then you should be able to activate them by right clicking on your desktop background and selecting screen resolution, you should see 2 monitors in the graphic, if not then your computer does not see the second monitor, if it does but number 2 is grayed out click on it and select extend desktop check-box.
If this doesn't work there may be some driver issues which means you just reinstall the driver from the disk that came with your card or from online support.

Only one is plugged into my video card..- The other one is plugged directly into my computer. Is that a problem?

This is what I see AFTER I've already done the Windows Button+P option and selected "Extend".

Do you think it could be a monitor problem? The monitor I pulled out as my secondary is quite a few years old.. XP era. I wouldn't think that would be a problem, but who knows. When I try to do anything on the secondary monitor (access the menu manually via the buttons in the front) it says 'In Power Save Mode' 'Press any key or move mouse.' I do both, but nothing.

EDIT: If I go to the 'Screen Resolution' page BEFORE I press Win+P and selected 'Extend', then it only shows one monitor, my primary.

 

[noreaster]

They should both be connected to your video card, otherwise your compute would need special technology to allow you to use your monitors as you have them set up right now. You should be able to connect both monitors to your video card and use them effectively but you may need an adapter to go from one port on your video card to the cable that leads to your second monitor.

 

[jbrown99]

The Video Card has two DVI's but since it's an older monitor it needs to plug in to a VGA. Are you saying I should get a DVI to VGA adapter and you think it'd work?

 

[noreaster]

I have a setup that uses one DVI cable and one VGA cable with a DVI to VGA adapter. I am confident it will work for you too, and its a very cheap adapter and may come in handy later.

 

[jbrown99]

Best answer selected by JBrown99.

 

[jbrown99]

Thanks SO much! I went to Best Buy and bought a great DVI to VGA adapter tonight. You ROCK.

 

[noreaster]

No problem, happy to help

 

[outputlogic]

I've got similar problem. One monitor connected to DVI, another one to DisplayPort. Second one is detected intermittently by nVidia graphics card. As soon as I changed DisplayPort to DVI (both connected to DVI thru docking station), everything started working.