Windows 10: Added graphics card for 2nd monitor, now computer not reading 1st one

Help - I'm not real computer savvy with all the terms so go easy on me. I want to add a 2nd monitor and was told I needed a 2nd graphics card. I purchased a PNY Verto GeForce GT 730 graphics card (Best Buy guy's advice). I got the card in with no problems, plugged the 2nd monitor cord into the new VGA port and turned it on. The 2nd monitor came on but the original monitor was black. I ran the software for the new device, but still nothing. I then switched the cords around so my original monitor is plugged into the new VGA port. Now the original monitor is working but the 2nd one is black. I assume this means my computer isn't recognizing the ORIGINAL graphics card???

I looked in Device Manager to see if there was an exclamation point, but all it shows is the new one: NVIDIA GeForce.

I have a Lenovo desktop. 64 bit. I can't wait until Monday to call PNY and need to fix this ASAP. Any help is appreciated!

:)

 

Second monitor not working

Hello i have an vga monitor plugged into my computer and its working fine but the other vga monitor doesent work

i have tried pulling out the 1st monitor and leaving only the 2nd in but it doesent work either. The 2nd monitor worked on my old windows 10 computer but now it does not work. I have tried updating my graphics card but it does not seem to work either my
windows version is Windows 10 Home

Hope you guys can solve it // Benjamin

Moved from Windows / Windows 10 / Windows settings

 

Windows 10 can't detect my second monitor

Thank you for confirming. We can do the following:

When the second monitor is not detected, we need to isolate if it's the monitor, the cable connecting them, or the port. We suggest that you remove your 1st monitor, then use the 2nd monitor as your 1st monitor. After that, connect the 1st monitor as the
2nd monitor.

Usually, this it's driver-related. Windows 10 won't be able to detect the 2nd monitor if the monitor driver is out of date or faulty. We recommend, rolling back to the previous installed graphics driver and monitor driver if it updated. Otherwise, update your
graphics and monitor drivers on the Device Manager. To do so, follow the steps below:

• Type Device Manager in the Cortana search bar and press Enter.
• When the Device Manager window appears, click the Display adapters and right-click the item below.
• Select Properties, then Driver tab, and click Roll Back Driver and follow the on-screen instructions.
• Expand the Monitors, then right-click the second monitor and select Properties.
• Click the Driver tab, and click Roll Back Driver and follow the on-screen instructions.

If the issue persists, update the drivers. You can manually update the driver by visiting the websites of your graphics card and monitor manufacturers to get the fully compatible drivers for Windows 10. You can run the Find
and fix problems with devices and hardware to automatically check for driver updates. Additionally, we'd like to know the make and model of your graphics cards and monitor?

Post back anytime at your convenience.

 

Some computers disable the original-built-in card when you add a second aftermarket one.
There should be another place to add another monitor on the new card. It should be able to handle both.

Edit: Your power supply can handle the new card right?

 

cradom, thank you. So I have to use this new card's ports for all the monitors now? I thought it would work in conjunction with the original. On the new card is one port for VGA and HDMI and another longer port that I don't know the name of. Do I need a VGA to HDMI adapter? When IT set up my computer at work for a 2nd monitor, I see that they used an adapter. Originally I thought this was all I needed, but when I asked for this at Best Buy, the guy said the adapter alone wouldn't work and I needed to buy a 2nd graphics card. If this is true, I don't understand the need for the 2nd graphics card if everything's still going into one card.

As for the power supply, I have no idea. How can I find this out? It's a fairly new computer that I just bought a few years ago. My computer at work is much older and IT added a second monitor to that one.

 

What was your first graphics card, integrated ? Not sure i am understanding.

 

Yeah, we need more info. Is the original GPU built into the motherboard, or is it a stand alone dedicated video card? If the original GPU is built into the motherboard, then yes, in most cases you need a dedicated video card to run more than one monitor. Onboard video, in most cases is pretty basic. And as mentioned, onboard is most often disabled when a dedicated card is detected by the BIOS. Newer, high end, motherboards can run hybrid setups and use both, but older boards can't. You'll likely have to connect both monitors to the card you added to get dual displays.

 

This card has 1 HDMI, 1 VGA and a DVI . What does each monitor have ? Usually use one monitor on DVI and other on HDMI go to display properties make sure to detect and identify the other monitor .
Truthfully i would stay away from PNY, plus this is a low end card.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814133542

 

I got it working. I just needed to purchase a VGA-HDMI adapter to plug both cords into the new card. (Both monitors have only VGA ports.) My confusion was in thinking I could keep the original monitor cord in the original VGA port. Glad to know I did indeed need the new graphics card.

Thanks for the info, everyone. Much appreciated!

As for it being low-end, hopefully it's okay for what I'm using it for, which is just to have multiple windows and spreadsheets open while I'm working. I'm not using it for games or anything.

 

If the original built-in GPU had a VGA and HDMI output, then your HDMI-VGA adapter could have been used on the built-in HDMI port as well.

 

Oh man, really? Yes, there was a VGA and HDMI port before. Bummer to think I spent $60 when I didn't need to.

 

Maybe, maybe not. Depends on the motherboard. Some will have the two connectors, for convenience, but will only ever output one signal. If you connect two monitors they both get the same signal. Duplicate. There will be no Extend option either. Even if it would have worked, you'll likely get better performance from the dedicated card that has its own dedicated Video RAM. You onboard robs from your PC's RAM. It's not a total lose, you will get some benefit from that $60.

 

That's a comfort. And if nothing else, I learned some things in the process. I hate being computer illiterate. Thanks guys!