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'puter drivin' me crazy

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GregW

GregW

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So I had to build a computer quickly for work recently. Simple small one, thought it would be easy. XP refused to load with a BSOD stating PCI.sys was the culprit. Same result with another XP disk. I had a copy of Vista laying around (gasp), so I tried that. Got the OS up but for the life of me, I can't get the dual monitors to work. Replaced the motherboard, same. Tried a different power lead to the video card and was able to clone the desktop onto the second monitor. Ah! progress, must be a bad power supply. Got a 500w supply, no joy. Well, Windows 7 came out yesterday, so I downloaded the 64 bit version. Exact same problem. I can have one monitor, or the other work fine. I can have both monitors working fine when cloned. When I switch to an extended desktop, the primary monitor becomes unreadable with diagonal lines, the secondary monitor works fine. I can switch which monitor is the primary, but the diagonal lines follow it to that monitor. Any ideas out there?
 
It's OK Don, Doc and Steve know of what I speak. At work, I usually have about 5 programs running and I drag stuff from one program to another. Having multiple monitors really makes it a lot easier to do that. I feel claustrophobic with only one monitor now.
 
Looks like the only thing you left out was the video card. That doesn't 'splain why you can have two cloned desktops but... I'm gray in that area anyway.

BTW, Win7-32 runs like a dream on my 5 y/o P4 laptop
 
What MoBo? What vid card?

It sounds like hardware, the vid card is my suspect. Nvidia? I'd be goin' after that first.

This guy has a really good (mainly 'cause it's the same as mine) philosophy/methodology for O/S load and setup: (google) TweakHound.

I went thru a hair pullin' time last week with a machine which had been allowed to download "downadup". Business workstation so thought instead of chasing the worm thru the registry for hours, low-level format and reintro the XP O/S, clean and neat. feh. Install media was a legit XP CD with SP-2. Same hardware as original, it refused to 'activate'. Hours fussin'. Microshite 'automated activation' computer HUNG UP on me TWICE. :madder:

Used a newer holo-image SP-3 XP disk, pumped the original key in and "POOF!" All good.

7's RC is DONE. We should see it very soon. Vista will go the way of ME, hopefully.
 
GregW said:
. At work, I usually have about 5 programs running and I drag stuff from one program to another. Having multiple monitors really makes it a lot easier to do that. I feel claustrophobic with only one monitor now.
Click to expand...

I also have my default set for "extended" (19" + laptop screen) but my neighbor in the next cubical just got a 24" wide screen monitor and I am suddenly feeling jealous. Maybe I will have to drag up the extra 19" monitor from the lab....
 
Hi Doc,
DrEntropy said:
What MoBo? What vid card?
Click to expand...

Asus Mobo (P5KPL-CM) Micro ATX
4 gig corsair 1066
Intel 8400 CPU
NVidia 7900 GT PCI-E video card
Linksys wireless network card
Windows 7 RC 64 bit

DrEntropy said:
It sounds like hardware, the vid card is my suspect. Nvidia? I'd be goin' after that first.
Click to expand...

The weird thing is this is an old card that I was using on my home computer for more than a year with no problems. Though I never tried to hook up a second monitor during that time.

I guess next I'll pull the newer video card (NVidia 9800 GT) outta' the home computer and try it in the new computer.

DrEntropy said:
7's RC is DONE. We should see it very soon. Vista will go the way of ME, hopefully.
Click to expand...

It came out for download last Tuesday, you can get it HERE
 
Dale, I used to have the Sinclair. My friend in school bought a Commodore Vic 20 which had 3K of RAM. That trumped my 2K, so I had to go get the 16K upgrade module. BTW the photo on the book of the teacup is accurate. By the time you'd fill the memory typing, there would still be coffee left.
 
I had a Sinclair myself and think we traded up to
some kind of Atari.

My first professional AutoCad system- with 20 meg hard drive,
4mhrtz, 2 meg ram, twin monitors, math co-process chip,
24 x 36" plotter and software cost me just under $30,000.
and I had to get a business loan.

A drive and those huge floppy disks !!

back in the day.

d
 
Video Driver. I had the same issue with 2x screens on XP-MCE and with Linux Mint 5. Updated the driver for the video card (2 cards on the XP) and viola.

BTW; I really really love Linux Mint. It figured out the monitor issue by its self and updated its self and everything. Its screaming fast, works with everything I have from Windows and Mac, and even networks well with the windows computers. I've had the setup for 9 months and have never had it crash, and only has needed to restart on major updates, and even then it asks if you just want to do that later. Its so good, that I'm considering putting it on my Alienware computers.
 
Hi Pete,
Thanks for the thought. I've tried a variety of video driver's from Aug/2008 to the current version. No change in the problem. Even the 64 bit Win 7 driver does the same thing. I checked the Motherboard Bios also, March 19 09. That one is new enough to not even be on the Asus website. I did contact the videocard vendor earlier today. I'll wait and see if they have anything helpful to say.

As far as Linux is concerned, I won't be switching to it until they support some programs I use. Namely, Microsoft Access and Photoshop.
 
I haven't tried access on Mint yet (it has OOo so I haven't needed to), but Photoshop loads faster than on either of my Alienwares... which is good, because the Gimp is... well.. gimp.
 
ALL HAIL TH' PENGUIN!!! :devilgrin:
 
Oh, and now: "2:48pm up 229 days, 13:01" for my Linux firewall. :laugh:
 
DrEntropy said:
Oh, and now: "2:48pm up 229 days, 13:01" for my Linux firewall. :laugh:
Click to expand...
Thread jackers all of ya! Does the Penguin work on the Timex? :wall:








:laugh:
Catchy name Linux Timex, Hmmmmmm
 
Hmmm... dunno! Google "darn Small Linux"!


Didya sub that vidcard yet?!!? :devilgrin:
 
DrEntropy said:
Didya sub that vidcard yet?!!? :devilgrin:
Click to expand...
I'm in dual monitor heaven. I didn't switch from my other computer, I think the card would have been too long to fit in the new case. Just went and bought a 9600GT card.

Did ya download Win7 yet? :devilgrin:
 
GregW said:
Did ya download Win7 yet?
Click to expand...

I'm thinking no.

DrEntropy said:
ALL HAIL TH' PENGUIN!!! :devilgrin:
Click to expand...

And this is why :laugh:

And yes Doc, D.S.Linux is pretty good... but for S&G's, try a live disk of Mint... it will blow your mind!
 
GregW said:
Did ya download Win7 yet? :devilgrin:
Click to expand...

umm....NO! But my "cherished and trusted acquaintances" have.

It'll be well accepted according to th' lads I trust.

I 'spect I'll adapt easily enuff.
 
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