
Configuring primary and secondary video adapters with the Toshiba 3100
- Document ID: 98060016
- Posted Date: 2000-05-03
- Last Updated: 2000-03-20
- Distribution: View Public Website
- Issue
- No video to a monitor connected to an add-on graphics adapter in the Toshiba V3100 value-priced desktop.
- Procedure
To configure the add-on graphics adapter as the primary display adapter perform the following steps: 1. With the computer powered off and unplugged from AC power, install a PCI graphics adapter into an empty PCI slot per the instructions that came with the graphics adapter. Do not install the drivers that shipped with the graphics adapter yet. 2. For the time being, make sure there is a monitor connected to the onboard graphics adapter. 3. Plug the AC power cord into the computer and power on the computer and monitor. 4. Press the Del (Delete) key when the Toshiba logo screen appears. 5. On the BIOS utility screen, use the down arrow key to highlight PCI/Plug and Play Setup and press the Enter key. 6. Use the down arrow key to highlight Primary Graphics Adapter and change the option from OnBoard VGA to Add-on VGA (use the Page Up /Page Down keys to change). 7. Press the Esc key to return to the main BIOS utility screen. 8. Press the F10 key and then press the Enter key to save current settings and exit. 9. As soon as the display blanks out, power off system. 10. Disconnect the monitor cable from the onboard graphics adapter connector and plug it into the connector on your add-on graphics adapter and power on system. 11. If the operating system you are using recognizes the newly installed graphics adapter, and installs a driver automatically, the installation is complete; otherwise, install the graphics adapter driver per the instructions that shipped with the graphics adapter. Using two monitors for a "virtual" desktop If you are running Windows 98, Windows 98 Second Edition, or Windows 2000 and would like to use two monitors to create a "virtual" desktop (a desktop spanning multiple displays), perform the steps in the above section and then proceed with the following steps: 1. Make sure there is a monitor connected to the VGA connector on each graphics adapter and that the monitors are powered on. 2. Power on the system and let system come up into Windows. Note: In Windows 98 and Windows 98 Second Edition, the monitor connected to the primary graphics adapter will display the usual Windows desktop. On the monitor connected to the secondary graphics adapter the following message will display: 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. In Windows 2000, the monitor connected to the primary graphics adapter will display the usual Windows desktop. The monitor attached to the secondary graphics adapter will get a signal, but there will be no display. 3. Right-click the desktop and select Properties from the menu that pops up. 4. The Display Properties control panel appears. Click the Settings tab. Note: A graphic showing two monitors, numbered 1 and 2, appears. The text under the word Display has a drop down which will identify the graphics adapters installed and which monitor they correlate with. The monitor icon which represents the monitor connected to the secondary graphics adapter will be grayed out. 5. Win98 & Win98SE: When you click the currently disabled monitor, a message will appear indicating that monitor that you have selected is currently disabled. Note: - To enable the selected monitor click Yes. - You may also right click the monitor icon and select Enable to enable the monitor. Windows 2000: Right click the monitor icon and select "Attached" to enable the monitor. Note: At this point you will see the current Windows wallpaper appear on the secondary display. Repositioning the "virtual" desktop You can move the secondary monitor icon to different positions around the primary monitor icon which will change the position of the "virtual" desktop. You can also change the resolution of each monitor by: 1. Clicking the monitor icon to select it. 2. Click and drag the Screen Area slider to the desired resolution setting. 3. Click apply and then Ok to let Windows resize your desktop. Windows will change the desktop area and ask you if you want to keep this setting. 4. Click Yes to accept the new settings and OK to close the Display properties control panel. COMMENTS By default the built-in graphics controller is set as the primary graphics adapter in CMOS. The primary graphics adapter setting determines which graphics adapter will get the signal during startup, display the POST information, and display the initial Windows screens. Currently Windows 98, 98SE, and Windows 2000 natively support multiple installed graphics adapters.
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