1280x1024 option does not show (XP, 2 x 2600XT, 3 monitors won't work any more)

hobkirk

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Jan 7, 2012
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XP system, dual V cards, 3 monitors, ATI drivers are newest available (per DriversCollection.com).

When it booted only one screen worked, even after jiggling all the connections. I got the 3 monitors displaying, but 2 screens are clones

  • * Catalyst V Driver Basic does not give me any configuration option other than single monitor.
    * Catalyst Advanced shows it's cloned, says change using basic.
Screw it, life is too short. I will live with two monitors.

New Problem: I cannot set both screens to 1280x1024!

Windows "Display properties" shows all the screen resolutions for my HP LCD on one card but only shows a max of 1024x768 for the Dell Monitor (built-in menu says optimum resolution is 1280x1024 (which is what I want)).

Catalyst shows my Dell E193FPc monitor as "Not Supported" (it does recognize the HP on the other card). I unchecked "Use EDID" and specified Maximum resolution to 1280x1024. I rebooted.

  • Catalyst Advanced shows the setting is still 1280x1024.
    Catalyst Basic still shows only a single screen option (I think it's only showing one card?)
    Windows Display Properties still shows a max of 1024x768.

I cannot find a driver for the Dell E193FPc monitor (Dell doesn't list the monitor).

What the hell can I do? Is there some generic monitor driver that would work?
 
Solution
Hm... It is possible that one of the cards is failing. Can you remove one of the cards, test all three monitors on it, and then switch out the cards and test all three on the other card? Sorry, I know it's a lot of moving cables and stuff around.
If you removed all but the basic Windows graphics and display drivers, then it would probably work, but that wouldn't be very practical if you wanted to actually use the computer.

Were you using a different driver at some point before that you know worked, or was this a spontaneous change that doesn't seem related to something else that you changed recently?
 

hobkirk

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I did not change anything - no changes to the system, no changing (or even moving) of any components, etc. At midnight, I had 3 monitors working the same as they have for many months. I turned it off (through Windows) and turned it on this AM.
 

hobkirk

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Jan 7, 2012
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Everything was rock solid. I've spent almost the whole day on this. I crawled under the desk, disconnected everything, pulled all the cables so I could do it all without going up/down constantly (I'm 69, have a new knee that is causing problems). I put the PC back under the desk - I decided I'd live with the crummy resolution on one monitor if I didn't find an answer.

I ate supper, rebooted, without changing a single thing. NOW IT WORKS - HOORAY!

THANK YOU, blazorthon - I CREDIT YOU FOR THIS HAPPENSTANCE!

ps - Catalyst still doesn't allow me to configure the system properly.
 


Dear lord now I'm just more confused... Thank you and congratulations!