How to Troubleshoot Multiple Display Support in Windows 98

ID: Q182930

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Windows 98

SUMMARY

This article describes how to troubleshoot the multiple display support feature in Windows 98.

For information about how to enable multiple display support for Windows 98, see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

ARTICLE-ID: Q179602
TITLE : How to Enable Multiple Display Support Using Windows 98

MORE INFORMATION

To troubleshoot multiple display support, use any of the following methods that apply.

Troubleshooting Programs

Run Windows 98 Programs:

You can use Windows 98 programs such as Microsoft Paint or Microsoft WordPad to test functionality with multiple display support. To use this method, start Paint or WordPad. When Paint or WordPad is not running in full-screen mode, drag the program from one monitor to the other. If you can drag the program from one monitor to the other, multiple display support is working correctly.

Disable Secondary Display Adapter:

Disable the secondary display adapter to confirm that your program works properly on the primary display adapter. To disable the secondary display adapter, use the following steps:

Click Start, point to Settings, click Control Panel, and then double- click Display.

On the Settings tab, click the secondary monitor icon.

Click the "Extend my Windows desktop onto this monitor" check box to clear it, and then click OK.

Programs with Functionality Issues:

The following types of programs may have functionality issues with multiple display support:

Programs or drivers that modify the Gdi.exe file or the display driver.

Programs that use Adobe Type Manager.

Remote control programs such as pcANYWHERE.

Secondary Device Does Not Display Graphics

Enable the Secondary Display Adapter:

Verify that the secondary display adapter has been enabled. To do so, use the following steps:

Click Start, point to Settings, click Control Panel, and then double- click Display.

On the Settings tab, click the secondary monitor icon, click the "Extend my Windows desktop onto this monitor" check box to select it, and then click OK.

Correct Display Driver Installed:

Verify that the correct display driver is installed for the secondary display device. To do so, use the following steps:

Click Start, point to Settings, click Control Panel, and then double- click Display.

On the Settings tab, click Advanced, and then click the Adapter tab.

Verify that the installed display driver is the correct driver for the display adapter in your computer. To do so, consult the documentation included with your display adapter.

Secondary Display Adapter Initialized Message:

Verify that the secondary monitor displays the following message when you start your computer:

If you can read this message, Windows has successfully initialized this display adapter.

To use this adapter as part of your Windows desktop, open the Display option in the Control Panel and adjust the settings on the Settings tab.

If this message is not displayed, confirm that the secondary display adapter is installed. To do so, use the following steps:

Click Start, point to Settings, click Control Panel, and then double- click System.

On the Device Manager tab, double-click Display Adapters to confirm that all of your display adapters have been correctly installed.

Confirm That Chip Set Is Supported:

Verify that the secondary display adapter has a supported chip set. To do so, use the following steps:

Click Start, point to Settings, click Control Panel, and then double- click Display.

On the Settings tab, click Advanced, and then click the Adapter tab.

Verify that the chip set listed in the Chip Type box is listed in the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
ARTICLE-ID: Q182708
TITLE : Hardware Requirements for Multiple Display Support in Windows 98

"Extend My Windows Desktop onto This Monitor" Is Unavailable

Select the Secondary Monitor Icon:

Verify that the secondary monitor icon is selected. To do so, use the following steps:

Click Start, point to Settings, click Control Panel, and then double- click Display.

On the Settings tab, click the secondary monitor icon. After you click the secondary monitor icon, the "Extend my Windows desktop onto this monitor" check box should become available.

Secondary Display Adapter:

Verify that the secondary display adapter is installed. To do so, use the following steps:

Click Start, point to Settings, click Control Panel, and then double- click System.

On the Device Manager tab, double-click Display Adapters to confirm that all of your display adapters have been correctly installed.

Display Adapters in Laptops

When you insert a laptop computer that is powered on into a docking station (known as "hot docking") with a secondary display adapter installed, the built-in display adapter may be disabled. Multiple display support may not function unless there are multiple display adapters in the docking station.

Additional query words: multi multimon


Keywords          : kbdisplay kbenv kbtshoot win98 
Version           : WINDOWS:98
Platform          : WINDOWS 
Issue type        : kbinfo

Last Reviewed: February 2, 1999