Getting BIOS To Display On Correct Screen / Changing GPU Default Display Prior To Windows Loading?

citizenlee · Mar 13, 2014

Hi folks,

Just replaced my Asus HD 7950 3GB with an EVGA GTX 780 SC ACX, which is my first NVIDIA card since I had a XFX 7900GT

Anyway, I was hoping you guys could help me with something... I have my monitor connected via HDMI>Display Port (primary display), and my HDTV connected via DVI>VGA (secondary display). However when the PC starts up the BIOS defaults to the TV, then Windows log-in appears back on the monitor. It's never done this before (with the 7950 the BIOS would post on both screens), so I know it's not a BIOS setting... must be something to do with the GPU and how it priorities it's connections. Obviously no settings in Windows will make a difference either.

Is there anything I can do? Would using a Display Port>Display Port cable for the monitor or using the other DVI socket on the GPU make any difference? It’s not the biggest issue in the world as I’m not in the BIOS that often, but it will mean I’ll have to interrupt whatever is happening on the TV if I do need to do anything in the BIOS. PC>TV cable are well hidden so unplugging it when not in use isn’t an option.

Also, as glad as I am to be rid of crappy ATI CCC I do miss the ability to enable/disable my second screen via the system tray. Now I need to open up NVCP to do it (insert First World Problems meme). Any way to solve that?

Cheers,

Lee

chunkymonster · Mar 13, 2014

Regardless of what the BIOS is set for, when Windows loads the drivers and checks the settings in the NVCP, it will do what the NVCP is set for. My guess would be that you'll need to set the primary monitor in the NVCP.

Not being entirely familiar with the NVCP, go thru all the options to determine which setting you need to change.

It shouldn't matter how the two are connected (DVI/HDMI/Display Port) you should be able to prioritize the primary display connection.

citizenlee · Mar 13, 2014

chunkymonster :

Thanks for the reply

As I said, it appears to be something to do with how the GPU prioritizes the displays prior to Windows loading as Windows does actually load on the correct screen, and all is setup properly in both NVCP and Windows screen properties. The problem is the BIOS post screen (& the BIOS itself if I hit Del key) displays on the TV when the PC boots up/restarts. The monitor stays asleep until Windows log-in appears. The fact that it would display on both screens when booting up with my AMD 7950 also indicates this an NVIDIA thing.

I found a solution to the other problem btw, Windows Key + P changes screen setup in Windows

AM0VS3S · Aug 26, 2014

Has anybody found a solution to this? I am having the same exact problem described above in such elaborate detail. Just got the ASUS version of the GTX780, my DVI connected 2nd monitor is showing the boot screen instead of my main HDMI connected monitor... It's just an inconvenience issue at this point, my ATI 7850 never did this and I literally switched it today so for sure it is a NIVIDIA thing. Please, any help would be appreciated, also I kept on reading up on it some people are suggesting requesting an altered VGA bios to re-flash it so it will prioritize your preferred port or connection over the other you use, but i feel like this is too complicated of a solution and very user specific which not everybody could apply to fix their problem.

THRobinson · Dec 31, 2014

Same situation for me... Asus GTX650Ti OC 2GB card.

Until yesterday I had no issues, I had a monitor using DVI and a TV on HDMI, but the monitor finally died and the new one uses DisplyPort.

If I unplug the HDMI I have no problems, but I'm not reaching behind the system to plug/unplug the HDMI every time I boot up. Otherwise, with the HDMI plugged in it doesn't matter if the TV is on/off the bootup sequence displays to the TV and leaves the computer screen blank until the Windows startup screen shows up.

Has to be a fix for this since I doubt running a TV and a monitor at the same time is a 'rare' occurrence.

I'd get a DP-DVI adapter, but not sure how affects the quality. Grabbed a Dell U2414H and don't want to lose the extra colour/sharpness.

Nischi · Jan 15, 2015

I have the same problem. Was using DVI earlier, had picture in bios. Switched to Displayport, and now I don't get any picture until Windows boots up. Is there any way to configure this in the motherboard bios? Or perhaps customize the graphic cards bios and reflash it ?

THRobinson · Jan 15, 2015

It's definitely video card related not BIOS sadly... I has an ASUS brand nVidia card and their tech support so far has been useless.

Like most people I see in the forums, they skim over the question and responded by telling me how to setup my displays in Windows. Once I pointed out that I said pre-windows screens like the BIOS, the support seemed to have ended. Messaged a few times and after 2 weeks I've gotten nothing.

I was going to get an adapter to plug into my DVI port, which always worked for me before, but, to go from a DVI source (computer) to DP (monitor) apparently those $15 passive adapters won't work, I'd need a $75 active adapter instead.

At that point I'd much rather sell my video card and buy one that doesn't cause me grief.

Is this an nVidia issue? or does anyone have this same problem with an ATI card?

Nischi · Feb 23, 2015

Just an update. I bought a new graphics card lately (MSI GTX 980), and it works no problem now with the DisplayPort. The thing is I also changed motherboard at the same time, so I can't say for sure which part fixed it.

THRobinson · Feb 23, 2015

Video card related, not motherboard.

I finally heard back after 6 weeks with ASUS and they said essentially buy the $75 adapter otherwise out of luck.

trshaner · Mar 4, 2015

My HP desktop with MS-7613 (Iona-GL8E) MB and Nvidia Quadro 600 graphics card has the same issue. I have two displays with primary connected via DisplayPort to DisplayPort and secondary using DVI-I with supplied VGA adapter. I've tried both the latest Nvida WHQL 347.25 and older 301.42 drivers with no change. If the VGA cable is connected to the secondary monitor (ON or OFF) the BIOS splash screen will not show on the primary DisplayPort connected monitor (NEC PA272w). I've checked all settings in the Nvida control panel.

THRobinson · Mar 4, 2015

Like I mentioned... can't be changed. Tech support for the card gave a response of buying an adapter, which because would need an active adapter, costs like $75. Sucks, and I'm sure could be fixed with a firmware update, but, unlikely they'd spend the effort to make the customer happy.

fijau · Mar 6, 2015

THRobinson, what kind of adapter they advised you to buy? DVI->DP?

I, on the other hand, have exactly the same issue

GTX 970 has got 3 DP, a DVI and an HDMI connectors. My main display (Dell U2412M) is connected via DP-DP, and my secondary was connected via DVI-DVI, DP-DVI and DP-HDMI. In every configuration my graphics card is trying to display onto the secondary screen. I have 2 OSs installed, with GRUB as a bootloader, and it also doesn't show up until I turn on my secondary screen. This is a serious drawback. Like THRobinson mentioned, diving under the desk every time you turn on a PC is not meant to be.

I guess it's time for a chat with NVidia's customer support....

ramagoel · Jul 5, 2015

Here is my two penny solution. I too have an nvidia card and of course my IGD. My primary video connection to the PC monitor (a samsung hd screen) is via hdmi. When I tried setting up a second monitor to my hd TV with a VGA connection from the nvidia graphics card, the BIOS splash would only show up on the TV and not the samsung monitor, a pain no doubt.
After researching and tinkering with BIOS, I found a solution which goes as follows:
1. Connected PC to samsung monitor with hdmi, from the nvidia card.
2. Went into the BIOS and set the nvidia card as primary AND enabled the IGD as 'ALWAYS'.
3. Powered off the PC and connected the TV with a VGA cable from the VGA port of the mother board (IGD).
4. Booted the PC, and the BIOS screen showed up correctly on the PC monitor. Once logged in go to screen resolution setting, U will find both monitors shown.
5. Confirm that your PC monitor is shown as primary. Adjust the resolution of the TV monitor to its native resolution.
6. Done.

Note: Increase the memory alloted to the IGD in the BIOS to 1 GB (or 512 MB) to improve its performance.
May need to install or update the mother board graphic drivers.
A small draw back of the method. There is no option to duplicate the screens, but only extend them. Choose which One. the obvious choice would be the TV as the extended screen.
Hopefully some solution.

benko · Aug 31, 2015

I accidentaly solved a similar problem. My boot screen was displaying over HDMI to the TV and my monitor is connected via DVI. The problem was solved when I accidentaly started the computer without any display connected. I did a hard shutdown after that.
Later I only connected the DVI that went to the monitor. After this i could see the GPU BIOS info displayed at start up. I did not see it before. However, after this I could keep the TV connected over HDMI and the boot screen now always goes to the primary monitor.

This was with a new gtx 970 on a ga-z170xp-sli motherboard.

I don't understand how this helped but it did.

Aakash singh43 · Jan 13, 2016

Hi! friends i've been lately facing the same problem but i found a solution.
As i upgraded from hd 6670 which is with legacy bios, i remembered bios is shown on both screen hdmi and dvi but as i upgraded to gtx 960 than r9 380 bios only goes to hdmi may be uefi tells gpu that hdmi is first priority.
Then i went to bios setup of motherboard and selected csm compatibility module and enabled it, then many sub option shows up like boot drive, pci-e etc on each single option chose uefi only or uefi first and save setting. Voila bios on both screen.
If any one still has the problem just enable csm and leave other option unaltered.
I think dvi is not supported in uefi system.

bruin8uclap · Feb 7, 2016

Same thing happened to me after I switched out my dual link dvi for a display port cable. Weird.

altheawesomeguy · Mar 27, 2016

I found a direct solution on my MSI Z87-GD65. Enable Windows 8/8.1 Feature. When the system posts, it successfully figures out from NVCP/Windows which monitor is the default.

I know it's not the best solution. I don't know what the setting may be called or where it's found in other boards. And the system has to be booting from UEFI, which doesn't help for anyone who's upgraded to 10 from 7, which typically retains the legacy boot settings instead of UEFI. Hope that helps!

Abom · Apr 4, 2016

altheawesomeguy :

This is the correct solution. I have a MSI Z97 PC Mate. Enabling Windows 8/8.1/10 Feature in your BIOS will prompt the BIOS to read from the WIndow's setting and will display on whichever monitor is set to '1'.

Aakash singh43 · Apr 12, 2016

altheawesomeguy :

As asus mobo doesn;t have any windows 8/10 mode, the method suggested by me earlier works on every mobo. And it doesn't affect boot speed also because windows is installed only on efi partition. And plus you get bios on all the screens.

Larry_3 · Aug 15, 2016

Abom :

altheawesomeguy :

This is the correct solution. I have a MSI Z97 PC Mate. Enabling Windows 8/8.1/10 Feature in your BIOS will prompt the BIOS to read from the WIndow's setting and will display on whichever monitor is set to '1'.

What if you use VeraCrypt or TrueCrypt, and you need to enter a password? If the drive is encrypted (non-windows) would this still work? Curious.

aegzorandre · Aug 25, 2016

I have same problem.
I never had any problem to enter BIOS before. But upgraded to an ASUS Rog Swift PG348Q monitor using displayport and also upgraded from windows 7 to 10.
Yesterday when I wanted to go into BIOS when booting up I pressed F2 or del(I dont know wich buttons) I just got black screen and I couldnt for my life understand what is wrong. But it must be due to it display on my TV instead which I used for HDMI.

I will try this when I get back home.

Getting BIOS To Display On Correct Screen / Changing GPU Default Display Prior To Windows Loading?

Honorable

Splendid

Honorable

Reputable

Distinguished

Distinguished

Distinguished

Distinguished

Distinguished

Reputable

Distinguished

Reputable

Reputable

Distinguished

Distinguished

Distinguished

Commendable

Honorable

Distinguished

Reputable

Commendable

Share this page