HP Dual Monitor Issue

I just upgraded to Windows 8 on my HP Pavillion dv6815nr. I am not having any luck connecting it to a second monitor. I followed the basic steps under "screen resolution", but my computer is not identifying the second monitor. I read that you need to go to Nvidia's control panel to connect to a second monitor, but I cannot seem to find that with the driver I currently have installed. HP's website does not have an update for the Nvidia driver for Windows 8 for my particular computer. I am using a VGA cable if that makes any difference. The computer originally had Vista and I never had any issues connecting to a second monitor. Does anyone have any useful pointers?

Thank you!

When i installed Win8 on my Compaq Presario, Windows update offered a new Nvidia video driver to install.

Did you go into Control Panel - Display - Screen Resolution, then click on 'detect'?

Mind you, i'm using a USB adapter to connect a 2nd monitor since my video card only has the one output. Even then, when i connected via USB, Windows automatically installed the driver.

Windows should automatically recognize dual monitors. I notice that this is a laptop. You typically have to use a function key combo to enable the external port.

Ah right - then look at the top where the 'F' keys are and look for the one with the monitor picture/icon, click on that - maybe that will enable the 2nd monitor. I believe tapping it once will enable the 2nd monitor, tap it again will only display on 2nd monitor, tap again and it will only display on laptop monitor - at least, that's how it worked on my Dell Latitude laptop.

Windows did update my driver when I upgraded. It does not detect the second monitor when I go to screen resolution and click detect. As far as I can tell, there does not seem to be a function button that connects to the second monitor. I read here, How to set up multiple monitors In Windows 8 | PCWorld, that with Nvidia graphics cards you have to do it under the Nvidia control panel. Either I am not finding the control panel on my computer, or my driver is out of date. Nvidia's website told me that my particular graphics card was made specifically for HP. HP's website does not have an update for Windows 8 for my laptop.

Sorry if I was being confusing, but I need the Nvidia control panel specifically.

Did you check under 'All Apps' to see if there was nVidia entries - it might even be a tile entry if indeed your nVidia driver was updated via a Windows Update.

I believe to get to 'All Apps' you go to Metro UI, then put your mouse on the bottom of that page and you will see it. Click on it and it will give an alphabetized list of all installed apps.


Good luck,


Ray

Dang, I just checked all the apps. I did not see anything for Nvidia. Thank you for your help though.