Damn you Frank Luna!! (Multi-monitor problem)

[yaya]

Long Story:
I have 2x 22" Monitors with 1650 x 1050 native res hooked up to my graphics card and was working fine earlier this morning. I thought that I'd go into one of Frank Luna's d3d9 examples and I hit the F key to go full screen. Nothing was wrong with that, so I press esc and it goes back, though the resolution has changed to a lower one on just the left monitor (the right monitor is still in 1650 x 1050). I go into the monitor properties to change the resolution but I only have 2 options, 800 x 600 and whatever the left monitor was at the time (I can't remember). I thought I was just something little so I restarted the computer. When everything reboots, I have only one monitor (the left one) and the resolution is still low. I reboot windows into safemode and I can finally change the resolution back to 1650 x 1050. I restart the computer again (in normal mode) and this time, the left monitor won't work and the right one is working and has the correct resolution.
I've tried switching cables, fiddeling with settings and even went back to a restore point but nothing's working.
I can't seem to get a picture of the left monitor, even if i switch the cables. And in the NVIDIA Control Panel, it normally says the name of the monitor but the one that's not working says "Analog Monitor". The monitor is still working (to an extent) as the "on" light is still on, but it says it's not getting a signal.
I'm using Windows Vista and an NVIDIA GeForce 9600 GT.

Short Story:
My multi-monitor setup doesn't work anymore.

This is bringing me to tears... I'm nothing without my second monitor. Any help is much appreciated.

[Neo1]

Try removing the resolution boundaries with PowerStrip.

Otherwise, try reinstalling your graphics driver, or screen driver if you have one of those.

[abachler]

Sounds like a driver issue to me, not Franks examples, which i have never had any problems with.

[VirtualAce]

That is an older version of his DX9 book but still good. His newer DX9 one is geared more towards the programmable pipeline rather than the fixed function pipeline.

I highly doubt any example code messed up your displays. Multi-head devices are well supported as of DX9 and I have been able to convert single display code to use multiple displays with ease.
I would suspect something is fishy with the driver itself.

Here's a small PDF from ATI about multi-head D3D:
http://ati.amd.com/developer/MultiHead_DX9_mojo_day.pdf

[yaya]

Well, I just reinstalled all of the graphics card drivers and there's no change. Could it be that my screen has bit the bullet?

[abachler]

Well, I just reinstalled all of the graphics card drivers and there's no change. Could it be that my screen has bit the bullet?

Use a system restore point to make sure.

[yaya]

I already tried a system restore... but no luck. I don't see how going full screen could mess up a monitor though... unless it's a firmware thing, maybe?

[Dae]

Coincidence? Try hooking the monitor up to a different computer. That's the easy way.

I've had issues such as this with ATI, but nothing a driver reinstall (or uninstall - conflicting drivers suddenly act up) couldn't fix (I disable system restore - virii).

[yaya]

Thanks for your help, all. I've managed to get a picture on both screens (not sure what I did... think is was the drivers) but the resolution on one screen is 1024 x 768. When I go to change the resolution, the only other option is 800 x 600. My drivers are now fully updated so I don't see how this could happen. Any more ideas?

And on a subject loosely related, does Windows 7 have any additional support for multi-monitors such as the extended taskbar, does anyone know?

Cheers.

[Mario F.]

And on a subject loosely related, does Windows 7 have any additional support for multi-monitors such as the extended taskbar, does anyone know?

Still same thing as always. A single taskbar in your primary display. I'm completely at loss as to why they insist in not supporting extended or multiple taskbars (the latter being my preferred). This is something that has been asked since... win98?

There's also a slight loss in functionality from Aero Snap. You can no longer snap to those edges of the screen "connecting" to another monitor. But they should fix this pretty soon.

[Dae]

Damn you Windows!!

[cyberfish]

Multiple taskbars are useful even when you are only using 1 monitor. Sometimes 1 taskbar is just not enough when you have a bunch of windows open, have a few taskbar applets, and a few launchers.

GNOME by default gives you 2 taskbars, one on top and on the bottom. The top one contains menus, launchers, applets, taskbar icons, and date+time. The bottom one is for window tabs and switching desktop. Looks a lot cleaner than having everything on 1 taskbar.

I personally use 3 on my 2 monitors.