Second monitor not being detected by Windows (HDMI)

[adasilv23]

Hello, tried finding a topic that was similar to mine, but nothing I found was exactly like the issue I'm having.

I just purchased and set up an MSI Radeon R9 290X. I have the most recent drivers installed, and everything is running fine. The first monitor is connected with a DVI cable on both ends. The second with an HDMI. When the computer boots up, both monitors show the BIOS screen, but as soon as I load into Windows, the second one disappears. It does not show up in device manager or CCC.

Also, I'd like to point out that my 6850 which I just replaced was working fine with both monitors. The only difference was that I had a VGA to DVI adapter for the first monitor, but the same HDMI cable for the second.

Can anyone point out the issue here? I'm sort of frustrated and I've tried a lot of things that I've read in other topics.

Thanks!

 

[adasilv23]

bump, I'd like to get this second monitor working

 

[3ogdy]

Have you tried going into the Screen Resolution section to see if both displays are detected there?
If they appear over there, there must also be an option called "Multiple displays" under which you can select "Extend desktop to this display".
Have you tried connecting only the display with the HDMI cable to see if it gets any signal under Windows?
You've said it doesn't show up in CCC: Have you tried going to CCC, under the Common Display Tasks section and selecting "Detect Displays" and then eventually "Identify All"(located on the upper right side")?

I would also boot into Windows with the main screen alone. Once booted go to Device Manager and leave it open on the screen. Then, connect the second monitor through HDMI to see if the list of devices gets updated in any way.

I would also suggest running Windows Update and going to the OPTIONAL updates section, where you could see something related to your monitor. Check those things alone and run the update process. Don't download all the stuff that Windows Update might come up with.

What monitor are you using?

 

[adasilv23]

When I plug the HDMI monitor in by itself, it doesn't get detected in Windows at all. Also, when I plug only the DVI monitor in and then plug the HDMI monitor in, nothing happens in device manager. Nothing in Windows Update either. Tried detecting the monitor in CCC and that doesn't work either.

It might worth noting that when I uninstall my graphics drivers, the second monitor works, but only as a carbon copy of what is on the first monitor. It still isn't detected by windows, but just displays what is also on the first monitor. Also, I have tried older versions of my graphics drivers and it's the same.

EDIT: The first DVI monitor is a Samsung SyncMaster SA300, the second HDMI monitor is a Samsung SyncMaster T22B350.

 

[3ogdy]

Have you installed the display driver?
http://www.samsung.com/us/support/owners/product/LT22B350ND/ZA

After running the install process see if there's anything new detected under Device Manager.
If not, restart your computer and check again.
If there's still no change, you might want to see where the installer extracts the files and see if you can manually select the .inf file when you "Add New Hardware" from Device Manager yourself.
I bet the device doesn't appear under Control Panel->Devices and Printers either. Try the "Add a device" option.

 

[adasilv23]

I installed the driver, and the monitor now shows up in device manager, but not under Control Panel -> Devices and Printers. It doesn't show up anywhere else either. Not in CCC or in Windows.

Although, before, when I looked at Device Manager I saw a "Generic PnP Monitor" that has now become SyncMaster T22B350 (HDMI). Does this mean that device manager had detected my monitor already? If so, why isn't my monitor that works detected under Device Manager?

 

[3ogdy]

How big is your Syncmaster SA300?
That is not the complete model name. Is it also a 22" screen or a 23" / 24" one?

 

[adasilv23]

The first monitor is a S23A300B, 23 or 24 inches. The second monitor is a T22B350ND, one inch smaller.

 

[3ogdy]

Try installing its drivers too:
http://www.samsung.com/us/support/owners/product/S23A300B

Then restart your computer and see if anything's changed.

 

[adasilv23]

I uninstalled all the drivers for my monitors, whatever there was. Then I restarted, and installed the drivers for my SA300, and its working fine. When I go to install drivers for the T22B350, it only shows the option to remove the installed software (the drivers for the SA300). I don't think it's even reading that the other monitor is plugged in at all.

 

[3ogdy]

OK, let's try something else.
Do you have a laptop?

 

[adasilv23]

Yeah I do.

 

[3ogdy]

Connect the screen(the S23A300B) to the laptop's VGA / HDMI port.If you can connect the screen to your laptop through VGA, use that connection, otherwise, use whatever your laptop allows you to use (usually VGA and/or HDMI).
You're probably not gonna get image on the monitor, but you DO need image on the laptop screen.
Download this firmware:
http://www.samsung.com/us/support/owners/product/S23A300B
In the Downloads section, on the lower left side you can choose Driver | Firmware. Click on Firmware and you should see "Firmware File(Firmware) (ver.1.1.7) from March 2012, which is 35.64MB big.
Download that onto your laptop.
Please keep the laptop plugged in, the screen connected to the laptop and turned on and run the 35.64MB file.

Before running the file ensure the connections from the laptop to the screen are properly made (connectors well placed) and during the process, don't try to close the updater(even if it seems not to be responding during the process) AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, DON'T TURN OFF THE SCREEN, Just leave it as it is and wait for the entire process to finish and give you the confirmation that the update has been performed successfully.

 

[adasilv23]

The firmware updater runs and just says that my monitor already has the latest version and does not need to be upgraded.

 

[3ogdy]

What connection did you use to hook the screen to the laptop?

 

[adasilv23]

HDMI, should I try with a VGA cable?

 

[3ogdy]

Try with VGA.

 

[adasilv23]

Okay, so when I use a VGA cable, I get image just fine on the second screen. Is it the HDMI cable then? That would be weird because everything was working just fine with my 6850 in a dual monitor setup. Then I install this new card and this issue appears.

 

[adasilv23]

Well... what do you know, tried with a different HDMI and BOOM. I get image. Going to try using the same HDMI with my video card.

 

[3ogdy]

Can you connect both screens to your desktop computer's graphics card without making use of HDMI?
Does your MSI R9 290X have 2xDVI connections or something?

UPDATE:
So, by using a different HDMI cable you say you're getting image. It might've been the cable that could've had damaged signaling after all.

 

[adasilv23]

It works... wow. It's weird that with my other video card the HDMI cable was just fine, and then with this one and with my laptop it doesn't.

 

[3ogdy]

Alright, then both screens work and the HDMI cable was the problem. Maybe some internal damage or incompatibility with that specific cable caused you all the trouble.

 

[adasilv23]

Thank you for the help haha! Sometimes the most complicated problems have the simplest solutions!

 

[3ogdy]

You're welcome! You are right about that...and after dealing with issues a bit more complicated you end up ignoring the simplest things to check, like a cable. I'm a triple monitor user myself and I know how it is to be left with fewer working monitors.

I'm glad you've got your configuration to work and thank you for choosing a best answer!