Win8 problem with two monitors

pvc

New Member
Messages
31
I have a Win8 problem with two monitors. I have my computer display connected to Nvidia 645 DVI output and I have a TV connected to Nvidia 645 HDMI output.

I use the Nvidia settings to clone the two monitors.
I switch the sound using Playback Devices.
Everything works well.
That is, until I turn my TV off and restart Win8 with my TV off.

The Win8 restart sometimes hangs/forever.
Or, if Win8 does start, then running desktop apps hang/forever.
Desktop apps just sit on the taskbar and nothing runs on the desktop.

All I have to do to remedy start failure (or remedy desktop apps not running) is unplug the HDMI to TV cable.
That's not an elegant solution because I have to setup dual monitors all over again in order to watch TV.

This is terrible! And pretty much a show stopper for me. Any suggestions for a fix or a workaround?

One of my main reasons for buying a new PC is the HDMI output to TV. Before this I was using a DVI-to-HDMI adapter to send Video and SPDIF-Out optical to send Audio. That setup was clumsy. But at least it worked more than one time.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win8 Home
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell 8700
Even when your TV is not set to view the HDMI output of the computer, but say for instance, the cable box instead, Windows should handle everything automatically and well. It should react to that.

An issue could be the cloning instead of extend desktop.

Perhaps set NVIDIA settings back to exactly as the were when you installed. Then, use Windows to set your monitors how you want them.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    7601.18247.x86fre.win7sp1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Self-built Intel based
    CPU
    Pentium D 925 3.0 GHz socket 775, Presler @ ~ 3.2 GHz
    Motherboard
    Intel DQ965MT
    Memory
    Hyundai 2 GB DDR2 @ 333 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS DirectCU II HD7790-DC2OC-2GD5 Radeon HD 7790 2GB 128-Bit GDDR5
    Sound Card
    MOTU Traveler firewire interface
    Hard Drives
    1 Seagate Barracuda SATA II system/boot drive 80 GB, 2 Western Digital hdds - 1 is SATA II Caviar Black 1 TB attached to card (assorted media, page, temp), other is SATA I 420 GB (games, media, downloads)
    PSU
    Thermaltake 450W
    Cooling
    stock Gateway cooling, extra large fan in rear of case
    Keyboard
    Alienware/Microsoft Internet kb
    Mouse
    Logitech M510
    Internet Speed
    Optimum Online, fast for US
    Browser
    Pale Moon
    Antivirus
    Kaspersky integrated into ZoneAlarm+Antivirus
I'm with MasterChief. Before you shut down press the Windows Logo Key and the P key, then select PC only. And when you want to duplicate press the Windows Logo key and the P key and select Duplicate. When I game I only use my main 1080P monitor. I put a shortcut on my taskbar for PC Only and one for Extend. I just use the shortcuts to switch back and forth from 1 monitor to 3 monitors.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Education 64 Bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus
    CPU
    AMD Phenom II X4 980 Black Edition Deneb 3.7GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS M4N68T-M V2 µATX Motherboard
    Memory
    8GB 4GBx2 Kingston PC10600 DDR3 1333 Memory
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA Geforce GT640 2 Gig DDR3 PCIe
    Sound Card
    VIA VT1708s High Definition Audio 8-channel Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    22" LG E2242 1080p and 2 19" I-INC AG191D
    Screen Resolution
    1280x1024 - 1920x1080 - 1280x1024
    Hard Drives
    Crucial MX100 256 GB SSD and 500 GB WD Blue SATA
    PSU
    Thermaltake TR 620
    Case
    Power Up Black ATX Mid-Tower Case
    Cooling
    Stock heatsink fan
    Keyboard
    Logitech Wireless K350 Wave
    Mouse
    Logitech M570 Trackball and T650 TouchPad
    Internet Speed
    80 Mbps Down 30 Mbps Up
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    HP DVD1040e Lightscribe - External USB2
I think I'm okay now. Somehow my computer monitor had been set to monitor #2 and my HDMI-TV was set to Monitor #1. I think having my computer monitor set as #2 was the root of the problem.

I used (Control Panel/Display/Change Display Settings) to get back to one computer monitor (#1). Now when I plug in the HDMI-TV cable it automatically sets HDMI to #2 and to Duplicate. The automatic settings/changes occur in both (Control Panel/Display/Change Display Settings) and in the Nvidia Settings.

And now I can restart Win8 without hanging the restart and without hanging the desktop apps. Thanks. :D
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win8 Home
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell 8700
:thumb:
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Education 64 Bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus
    CPU
    AMD Phenom II X4 980 Black Edition Deneb 3.7GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS M4N68T-M V2 µATX Motherboard
    Memory
    8GB 4GBx2 Kingston PC10600 DDR3 1333 Memory
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA Geforce GT640 2 Gig DDR3 PCIe
    Sound Card
    VIA VT1708s High Definition Audio 8-channel Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    22" LG E2242 1080p and 2 19" I-INC AG191D
    Screen Resolution
    1280x1024 - 1920x1080 - 1280x1024
    Hard Drives
    Crucial MX100 256 GB SSD and 500 GB WD Blue SATA
    PSU
    Thermaltake TR 620
    Case
    Power Up Black ATX Mid-Tower Case
    Cooling
    Stock heatsink fan
    Keyboard
    Logitech Wireless K350 Wave
    Mouse
    Logitech M570 Trackball and T650 TouchPad
    Internet Speed
    80 Mbps Down 30 Mbps Up
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    HP DVD1040e Lightscribe - External USB2
Maybe I spoke too soon. I still have some problems with hanging the desktop apps when restarting the PC while the TV is shutdown. I will experiment with the shortcut keys.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win8 Home
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell 8700
I'm not sure what's going on. I run three monitors on my desktop PC and have never had Windows hang on shut down because one was turned off. My main monitor is on my HDMI, the other two are DVI. NVidia GT640. Not sure why the TV is messing things up.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Education 64 Bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus
    CPU
    AMD Phenom II X4 980 Black Edition Deneb 3.7GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS M4N68T-M V2 µATX Motherboard
    Memory
    8GB 4GBx2 Kingston PC10600 DDR3 1333 Memory
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA Geforce GT640 2 Gig DDR3 PCIe
    Sound Card
    VIA VT1708s High Definition Audio 8-channel Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    22" LG E2242 1080p and 2 19" I-INC AG191D
    Screen Resolution
    1280x1024 - 1920x1080 - 1280x1024
    Hard Drives
    Crucial MX100 256 GB SSD and 500 GB WD Blue SATA
    PSU
    Thermaltake TR 620
    Case
    Power Up Black ATX Mid-Tower Case
    Cooling
    Stock heatsink fan
    Keyboard
    Logitech Wireless K350 Wave
    Mouse
    Logitech M570 Trackball and T650 TouchPad
    Internet Speed
    80 Mbps Down 30 Mbps Up
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    HP DVD1040e Lightscribe - External USB2
Okay, here's the dealio...

My 23" AOC computer monitor is connected to the GeForce-GTX-645 DVI.
My Marantz-AV7005 Surround Sound is connected to GeForce-GTX-645 HDMI.

I can restart restart the computer as long as the TV/Marantz-AV7005 is on. When I restart the computer with the TV off then Win8 or Nvidia does some automatic setup for the second monitor. But the automatic setup is wrong (see image below). The automatic setup has the primary monitor as the TV and the secondary monitor as the computer monitor.

Worse yet, the two monitors must be in extend mode, not duplicate mode as shown on the Win8 controls. I know this because if I explore the four sides of the screen with the mouse pointer I can find the edges of the top, bottom, and right side of the screen. But guess what? Not on the left side. The mouse pointer disappears deep off the left side of the screen. Also if I use the shortcut keys (Windows Logo Key and the P key) then select PC only. Guess what happens. I get a black screen because I just switched to the TV/Marantz-AV7005.

Simply unplugging the HDMI brings the desktop back and whatever was previously shown only on the taskbar now shows up on the desktop too.

Capture_zpscd8d8167.jpg
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win8 Home
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell 8700
I do believe one side effect of duplicate is that both monitors default to the same screen resolution. They will both use the one for the smaller of the two screens. Which one is the main display can be an issue to. I have my center 1080P monitor set as the main display. When I switch to PC only it is the only one left on. The other two just go black no signal. Why not try using extend and setting the LCD monitor as the main display. That will also allow you to set each screen to its own resolution.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Education 64 Bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus
    CPU
    AMD Phenom II X4 980 Black Edition Deneb 3.7GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS M4N68T-M V2 µATX Motherboard
    Memory
    8GB 4GBx2 Kingston PC10600 DDR3 1333 Memory
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA Geforce GT640 2 Gig DDR3 PCIe
    Sound Card
    VIA VT1708s High Definition Audio 8-channel Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    22" LG E2242 1080p and 2 19" I-INC AG191D
    Screen Resolution
    1280x1024 - 1920x1080 - 1280x1024
    Hard Drives
    Crucial MX100 256 GB SSD and 500 GB WD Blue SATA
    PSU
    Thermaltake TR 620
    Case
    Power Up Black ATX Mid-Tower Case
    Cooling
    Stock heatsink fan
    Keyboard
    Logitech Wireless K350 Wave
    Mouse
    Logitech M570 Trackball and T650 TouchPad
    Internet Speed
    80 Mbps Down 30 Mbps Up
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    HP DVD1040e Lightscribe - External USB2
I do believe one side effect of duplicate is that both monitors default to the same screen resolution. They will both use the one for the smaller of the two screens. Which one is the main display can be an issue to. I have my center 1080P monitor set as the main display. When I switch to PC only it is the only one left on. The other two just go black no signal. Why not try using extend and setting the LCD monitor as the main display. That will also allow you to set each screen to its own resolution.
Okay, I changed to extend, and I set my 23" AOC computer monitor as primary. I will do some more testing.

But meanwhile I have a dumb question... How do get to the right side of my very-wide-screen? With extend I have the left side of my very-wide-screen on the computer monitor and the right side of my very-wide-screen on the TV. I can drag a window past the right side view of my computer monitor and view the left half on my computer and the right half on my TV. Maybe I don't understand how to use extend??
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win8 Home
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell 8700
Temporarily set the displays to extend desktop mode. Then click on your computer screen (not tv one). Check the box or whatever to make that your main display. Accept the changes and all that good stuff.

(If it already is, then do for tv instead as a test.)

Then set it back to clone mode and see if it behaves better.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    7601.18247.x86fre.win7sp1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Self-built Intel based
    CPU
    Pentium D 925 3.0 GHz socket 775, Presler @ ~ 3.2 GHz
    Motherboard
    Intel DQ965MT
    Memory
    Hyundai 2 GB DDR2 @ 333 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS DirectCU II HD7790-DC2OC-2GD5 Radeon HD 7790 2GB 128-Bit GDDR5
    Sound Card
    MOTU Traveler firewire interface
    Hard Drives
    1 Seagate Barracuda SATA II system/boot drive 80 GB, 2 Western Digital hdds - 1 is SATA II Caviar Black 1 TB attached to card (assorted media, page, temp), other is SATA I 420 GB (games, media, downloads)
    PSU
    Thermaltake 450W
    Cooling
    stock Gateway cooling, extra large fan in rear of case
    Keyboard
    Alienware/Microsoft Internet kb
    Mouse
    Logitech M510
    Internet Speed
    Optimum Online, fast for US
    Browser
    Pale Moon
    Antivirus
    Kaspersky integrated into ZoneAlarm+Antivirus
Temporarily set the displays to extend desktop mode. Then click on your computer screen (not tv one). Check the box or whatever to make that your main display. Accept the changes and all that good stuff.

(If it already is, then do for tv instead as a test.)

Then set it back to clone mode and see if it behaves better.
Okay, I will give that a try. Currently the Win8 software Restart is hung up (restarting for 5 or 10 minutes) now. I will interrupt using the mechanical power button. I posted this from another computer.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win8 Home
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell 8700
Temporarily set the displays to extend desktop mode. Then click on your computer screen (not tv one). Check the box or whatever to make that your main display. Accept the changes and all that good stuff.

(If it already is, then do for tv instead as a test.)

Then set it back to clone mode and see if it behaves better.
Okay, I will give that a try. Currently the Win8 software Restart is hung up (restarting for 5 or 10 minutes) now. I will interrupt using the mechanical power button. I posted this from another computer.
After understanding that Win8 Restart is not actually hanging (it's just not displaying on the computer monitor) I developed some shortcuts for testing. I don't have to restart. I can simply turn off the TV. Turning off the TV makes the desktop go bye-bye.

Below are 5 images of monitor settings from my testing. Started with one display. Added the TV. Set to Extend and make computer monitor primary. Set back to duplicate from extend. And finally, turn off the TV.

Take a look at the difference between image4 and image5. The difference was caused from simply turning the TV off. Turning the TV off caused Win8 or Nvidia to make a little Brrup noise and then set my monitor into a state of invisible desktop (or a desktop somewhere on the left of my screen where I can't get to it).

C1.JPG c2.JPG C3.JPG C4.JPG C5.JPG
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win8 Home
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell 8700
Oh, and while my desktop is gone (off somewhere playing hide-n-seek) I can still use the Win8.1 Start button to get to the start screen and run a Metro App. So I can run and see the Metro Apps. But I cannot see the Desktop Apps.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win8 Home
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell 8700
Yeah, I know it seems like a problem at the moment, but not so much.

I had to play for a good 15-20 minutes the other day to get everything set right with my two screens and all that.

Sometimes, just uninstalling the complete video driver package, going through the painful reboots and re-installing to start fresh can keep your brain from melting a little bit. lol
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    7601.18247.x86fre.win7sp1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Self-built Intel based
    CPU
    Pentium D 925 3.0 GHz socket 775, Presler @ ~ 3.2 GHz
    Motherboard
    Intel DQ965MT
    Memory
    Hyundai 2 GB DDR2 @ 333 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS DirectCU II HD7790-DC2OC-2GD5 Radeon HD 7790 2GB 128-Bit GDDR5
    Sound Card
    MOTU Traveler firewire interface
    Hard Drives
    1 Seagate Barracuda SATA II system/boot drive 80 GB, 2 Western Digital hdds - 1 is SATA II Caviar Black 1 TB attached to card (assorted media, page, temp), other is SATA I 420 GB (games, media, downloads)
    PSU
    Thermaltake 450W
    Cooling
    stock Gateway cooling, extra large fan in rear of case
    Keyboard
    Alienware/Microsoft Internet kb
    Mouse
    Logitech M510
    Internet Speed
    Optimum Online, fast for US
    Browser
    Pale Moon
    Antivirus
    Kaspersky integrated into ZoneAlarm+Antivirus
Yeah, I was thinking of starting fresh. Nothing is loaded on this new computer yet. So it's no big deal. Thanks for your help. I will post again later.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win8 Home
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell 8700
I do believe one side effect of duplicate is that both monitors default to the same screen resolution. They will both use the one for the smaller of the two screens. Which one is the main display can be an issue to. I have my center 1080P monitor set as the main display. When I switch to PC only it is the only one left on. The other two just go black no signal. Why not try using extend and setting the LCD monitor as the main display. That will also allow you to set each screen to its own resolution.
Okay, I changed to extend, and I set my 23" AOC computer monitor as primary. I will do some more testing.

But meanwhile I have a dumb question... How do get to the right side of my very-wide-screen? With extend I have the left side of my very-wide-screen on the computer monitor and the right side of my very-wide-screen on the TV. I can drag a window past the right side view of my computer monitor and view the left half on my computer and the right half on my TV. Maybe I don't understand how to use extend??

Go back to display settings and go to the Screen resolution windows. Click the identify button and see if the layout on this screen matches where your actual monitors are. If they are backwards drag one over so its on the opposite side of the other. If I understand what you said above your having to drag windows the wrong way to get them to the other screen. Also make sure each monitor is set to its correct native resolution. Funky things can happen if they are not.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Education 64 Bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus
    CPU
    AMD Phenom II X4 980 Black Edition Deneb 3.7GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS M4N68T-M V2 µATX Motherboard
    Memory
    8GB 4GBx2 Kingston PC10600 DDR3 1333 Memory
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA Geforce GT640 2 Gig DDR3 PCIe
    Sound Card
    VIA VT1708s High Definition Audio 8-channel Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    22" LG E2242 1080p and 2 19" I-INC AG191D
    Screen Resolution
    1280x1024 - 1920x1080 - 1280x1024
    Hard Drives
    Crucial MX100 256 GB SSD and 500 GB WD Blue SATA
    PSU
    Thermaltake TR 620
    Case
    Power Up Black ATX Mid-Tower Case
    Cooling
    Stock heatsink fan
    Keyboard
    Logitech Wireless K350 Wave
    Mouse
    Logitech M570 Trackball and T650 TouchPad
    Internet Speed
    80 Mbps Down 30 Mbps Up
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    HP DVD1040e Lightscribe - External USB2
Go back to display settings and go to the Screen resolution windows. Click the identify button and see if the layout on this screen matches where your actual monitors are. If they are backwards drag one over so its on the opposite side of the other. If I understand what you said above your having to drag windows the wrong way to get them to the other screen. Also make sure each monitor is set to its correct native resolution. Funky things can happen if they are not.
The TV specs say the resolution is 1080x1920 and the Computer Monitor I also believe is 1080x1920.
Both are set to 1080x1920.

The identify button shows the correct monitor matches what is set.
#2 is the Computer Monitor.
#1 is the TV.

I am switching back to factory settings. Just for fun I left both monitors connected and on. Guess what is playing on my TV? The Reset PC is on TV while the Computer Monitor is black. That's not right! But I don't know how to change it. Excuse the no-flash camera shake image.

Oh, I unplug the HDMI cable and Voila! The Reset PC flips back to my computer monitor.

DSC_3127.JPG
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win8 Home
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell 8700
After unplugging the HDMI cable I stepped through the Reset PC options to completion. When I plug the HDMI cable into the GeForce-GTX-645, then my desktop immediately flips to the TV while my start screen metro apps are still available on the computer monitor.

The 165 pound Plasma TV is in another room. I had my wife help guide my mouse movements to the Identify button on the TV screen and then I clicked it. The TV displayed #1 and my computer monitor displayed #2. They match what was set.

I think I will try factory reset again starting with only one monitor connected and see what happens.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win8 Home
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell 8700
I have my spare desktop PC connected to my TV in the living room. I noticed that my Windows screen is larger than the TV screen. The taskbar is half hidden and the red X to close a window is off screen and out of site. I had to go into the NVidia Control Panel and adjust the size for it to fit so I can see the whole screen. This was with the correct resolution for the TV set in Windows. You may have to do something similar if your mouse cursor is going off screen.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Education 64 Bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus
    CPU
    AMD Phenom II X4 980 Black Edition Deneb 3.7GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS M4N68T-M V2 µATX Motherboard
    Memory
    8GB 4GBx2 Kingston PC10600 DDR3 1333 Memory
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA Geforce GT640 2 Gig DDR3 PCIe
    Sound Card
    VIA VT1708s High Definition Audio 8-channel Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    22" LG E2242 1080p and 2 19" I-INC AG191D
    Screen Resolution
    1280x1024 - 1920x1080 - 1280x1024
    Hard Drives
    Crucial MX100 256 GB SSD and 500 GB WD Blue SATA
    PSU
    Thermaltake TR 620
    Case
    Power Up Black ATX Mid-Tower Case
    Cooling
    Stock heatsink fan
    Keyboard
    Logitech Wireless K350 Wave
    Mouse
    Logitech M570 Trackball and T650 TouchPad
    Internet Speed
    80 Mbps Down 30 Mbps Up
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    HP DVD1040e Lightscribe - External USB2
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