display issues

Since upgrade to Windows 8 only one monitor is recognized in the 'screen resolution' pop up on my desktop.
The second monitor is plugged in but displays a useless clone of the first display.
I would like it to display 'extend' like it used to.

Also the resolution is wrong, skewing the graphics to look squat by about 25%.
This is because I am running the Microsoft Basic Display Adapter as a driver, and it only has 4 wrong resolution choices.

The shop I took it to for installing Windows 8 says my motherboard is not supported by Windows 8.
He says he tried upgrading the drivers, installing graphics cards etc. but had no success, the Microsoft Basic Display Adapter created the least problems.

I ran the Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant before upgrading, it reported only a required update to the bios (done) and that my Nero burning would not work anymore. ( The loss of Nero is not a big issue, but the Media Player burner does not work either, it just outputs a CDs with a playlist and 0 bytes of music)

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

Extending desktop to multiple monitors

Its funny you should ask, I just finished the same setup...

right click desktop click screen resolution

or use se the (windowskey) & P



Where it says multiple displays, set it to extend instead of duplicate..

Now if your external monitor is of lower resolution both monitors will be set to the lower resolution..

Thanks Brooklyn567 for responding.
Right clicking on the desktop and clicking screen resolution brings up a screen just like your screen shot, however the line with "Multiple displays: Extend these displays" is missing.
Clicking "Detect" does nothing.

I tried Windows key & P (was unaware of that, thanks) but I get this message:
"Second screen
Your PC can't project to another screen.
Try reinstalling the driver or using a different video card."

Both monitors are external (I'm on a PC)

The second screen is displaying 'duplicate' of the first screen so it is connected and powered up. The problem is my computer does not know it is there.

The seemingly competent guy who built this computer tried multiple drivers and different video cards but without success.
The graphics would slow considerably, or the sound would stop working.
He tried adding different sound cards to get the sound back, but without success.
I'm thinking your HP is better supported by Microsoft than what I am using.

Thanks for taking your time to consider this.

Oh the basic adapter wont do..

Do you know who makes the other video card?

Have you installed any windows updates? There have been many many drivers added since the dvd was published, they will be in the updates..

Theres a small program called SPECCY from piriform it will show you a list of installed hardware (among other things)

See if you can identify both graphics card..

Hi there Brooklyn 567
There is no separate video card, it is part of the motherboard.
ASUS - M2A-VM HDMI

The technician said he tried several different video and graphic cards ("every one in the shop") but each time the sound would stop working. He tried adding several sound cards, but no joy.

I looked at Windows Updates. It is turned on, and 95 updates have been added since Windows 8 install.
One couldn't install:
Security Update for Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 Redistributable Package (KB2467173)
which generated error message:
Windows Update error 0x80070003
but this is way off topic.

I installed Speccy from Piriform (nice little program I had never heard of)
Graphics and Motherboard are as follows:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Graphics
Monitor
Name Philips 230E on Microsoft Basic Display Adapter
Current Resolution 1024x768 pixels
Work Resolution 1024x728 pixels
State Enabled, Primary, Output devices support
Monitor Width 1024
Monitor Height 768
Monitor BPP 32 bits per pixel
Monitor Frequency 64 Hz
Device \\.\DISPLAY1\Monitor0
ATI video
GPU RS690
Device ID 1002-791E
Subvendor ASUStek Computer Inc (1043)
Current Performance Level Level 1
Technology 1 nm
Die Size 49 mm²
Release Date Feb 28, 2007
DirectX Support 9.0b
DirectX Shader Model 2.0
OpenGL Support 2.0
Driver version 6.2.9200.16384
ROPs 4
Shaders Vertex 4/Pixel 4
Memory Type System
Bus Width 128 Bit
Count of performance levels : 1
Level 1
OpenGL
Version 1.1.0
Vendor Microsoft Corporation
Renderer GDI Generic
GLU Version 1.2.2.0 Microsoft Corporation
Values
GL Extensions
-------------------------------------------------------
Motherboard
Manufacturer ASUSTeK Computer INC.
Model M2A-VM HDMI (Socket AM2 )
Chipset Vendor ATI
Chipset Model Radeon X1250
Chipset Revision 00
Southbridge Vendor ATI
Southbridge Model SB600
Southbridge Revision 00
System Temperature 40 °C
BIOS
Brand Phoenix Technologies, LTD
Version ASUS M2A-VM HDMI ACPI BIOS Revision 2302
Date 2009-02-05

------------------------
Thanks

Hi John, i've done a search for your drivers, the chipset is AMD with GPU version 690, these drivers are the correct ones:
AMD Support Search

unfortunately there are only vista drivers, some people can get them to work using compatibility mode, others can't, trial and error to get it working otherwise.

Hello MrNeeds
Following your suggestion I have tried to get 10-2_legacy_vista32-64_dd_ccc.exe to install but no luck.
I tried various compatibility modes for it using XP service pack 3, Vista, Vista service pack 3, and Windows 7.
For XP service pack 3 and Vista it would seem to install, but after 'install' I could find no trace of it, or of the Catalyst Control Center, or of any new drivers in the device manager. I tried many times, monkeying with permissions etc.
For Vista service pack 3, and Windows 7 compatibility mode the installer would hang about halfway through install.
It could be my lack of expertise at play but I have installed many other programs in Windows 8 without any trouble.

Windows 8 offers Trouble Shooters but they were not of any help.

My tech person also tried installing an update from AMD for my legacy mother board: 13-4_vista_win7_win8_64_dd_ccc_whql.exe but it takes out the sound and turns off the graphics accelerators for some reason. He tried adding Win 8 compatible sound cards and video cards but they are not being read.

My plan now is to get a newer motherboard and chip. That seems better than paying to upgrade to Windows 8 pro so I can use it to downgrade to Windows 7 and perhaps have the same problems. And I am growing to like Windows 8 in spite of the multitudes trashing it.

Anyway thank you very much for considering my issue, I find your and Brooklyn's volunteering for a stranger (me) refreshing, with all the darkness in the world these days.

I hope you get it sorted John, we do this because we like to help others when we can. A spare minute helping others is time well spent.

Hi John, its possible that windows is loading a damaged or corrupt driver that is already copied to the harddrive. If you go to device manager and click on VIEW then check SHOW HIDDEN DEVICES

now look at your display adapters and see all the drivers that windows already has files for on the harddrive..

right click and uninstall ALL of them

when done click ACTION then SCAN FOR HARDWARE CHANGES

see what windows installs as default, and see if you can now span your screen

if not install the proper catalyst drivers, reboot if asked, then try to span desktop

let us know hot that goes..