Video Driver for T40 that supports "true" multiple

Message

Zvi · #1 Post by **Zvi** » Thu Jul 21, 2005 1:51 pm

I have the following configuration:
T-40 (Machine Type: 2373-MU3) with a fairly current BIOS: 1RETDJWW (3.15 )
I am running Windows 2000 on it and have "Powerpoint XP" installed on it.
While I found that Powerpoint is able to support mulitple monitors (e.g., to allow you to project a slide show through the LCD Projector while looking at your speaker notes (or something else) on your own LCD screen), it appears that the current ATI Video Driver does NOT provide that capability. The ATI Driver only provides "clone" and "extended desktop" support for multiple monitors which means that Powerpoint only "sees" a single display 'output'. Does anyone know of a 'safe' Video Driver that can be used with the ATI Radeon 9000 Video graphics adapter that IS able to provide "true" mulitple monitor support?
Thank You!

--Zvi

simscitizen · #2 Post by **simscitizen** » Thu Jul 21, 2005 10:16 pm

What do you mean "true"? Isn't extended display "true" multiple monitor support?

Try installing the Omega Radeon Drivers and seeing if that helps.

Zvi · #3 Post by **Zvi** » Fri Jul 22, 2005 7:55 am

simscitizen wrote:What do you mean "true"? Isn't extended display "true" multiple monitor support?

Try installing the Omega Radeon Drivers and seeing if that helps.

Dear Simcitizen:
Extended Display is not considered "true" multiple monitor support because while both monitors are being used, they appear to the application (e.g., Powerpoint) as a SINGLE monitor (albeit one with a lot of "real estate"). In "true" mulitple monitor support, the application actually "sees" TWO different monitors as being available.

Can you provide more information about the Omega Radeon Drivers?

Thank you!
--Zvi

Zvi · #4 Post by **Zvi** » Fri Jul 22, 2005 8:08 am

simscitizen wrote:What do you mean "true"? Isn't extended display "true" multiple monitor support?

Try installing the Omega Radeon Drivers and seeing if that helps.

If anyone can, please tell me more about the Omega Drivers. I went to the site and looked for ATI Radeon and it seems that there was a single Driver available for download. Is this driver OK for the ThinkPad? Anyone have experience with the driver on a TP T-40? HInts / tips?
THANK YOU!
--Zvi

JHEM · #5 Post by **JHEM** » Fri Jul 22, 2005 8:54 am

Zvi wrote:
simscitizen wrote:Extended Display is not considered "true" multiple monitor support because while both monitors are being used, they appear to the application (e.g., Powerpoint) as a SINGLE monitor (albeit one with a lot of "real estate"). In "true" mulitple monitor support, the application actually "sees" TWO different monitors as being available.

You must have different applications up there at Exit 10, because that simply isn't true! When I give a PP presentation under XP, PP "sees" the internal LCD and my projector as separate devices.

Regards,

James

So deep in the Pine Barrens we don't HAVE an Exit!

Zvi · #6 Post by **Zvi** » Fri Jul 22, 2005 9:02 am

JHEM wrote:
Zvi wrote: You must have different applications up there at Exit 10, because that simply isn't true! When I give a PP presentation under XP, PP "sees" the internal LCD and my projector as separate devices.

Regards,

James

So deep in the Pine Barrens we don't HAVE an Exit!

===> I am aware that with Windows XP, there is multiple monitor support. If you will look closely at my message, you will see that I am asking specifically about Windows 2000. PLEASE let me know how you get mulitple monitor support under Windows 2000 since when I check the ATI Driver, it does NOT appear to offer the support that I need... I was told that this was NOT something that was impossible with Windows 2000 -- but maybe that is incorrect.

Not sure about the reference to Exit 10... Do you mean that Windows 2000 is no longer used down in the Pine Barrens?

--Zvi

JHEM · #7 Post by **JHEM** » Fri Jul 22, 2005 9:28 am

Zvi,

Are you using the latest video driver?

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-50300

Are you using presentation director?

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-46022

I have to admit that I overlooked the reference to the fact that you're running under W2K rather than XP. Getting the extended desktop to work correctly under W2K was so problematical for me on so many systems that it was one of the primary reasons for me to ultimately switch to XP when I first got the Beta.

You might want to entertain the thought of installing a dual-boot of XP if only to address this problem. Presentations are actually enjoyable for me nowadays under XP.

The reference to Exit 10 was an attempt at levity, sorry it flopped.

Regards,

James

Merlyn_3D · #8 Post by **Merlyn_3D** » Fri Jul 22, 2005 10:26 am

Um...tell me again why you can't just go to the display properties then advanced and click the second monitor and click "extend my desktop onto this monitor"?

Zvi · #9 Post by **Zvi** » Fri Jul 22, 2005 11:49 am

JHEM wrote:Zvi,

Are you using the latest video driver?

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-50300

Are you using presentation director?

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-46022

I have to admit that I overlooked the reference to the fact that you're running under W2K rather than XP. Getting the extended desktop to work correctly under W2K was so problematical for me on so many systems that it was one of the primary reasons for me to ultimately switch to XP when I first got the Beta.

You might want to entertain the thought of installing a dual-boot of XP if only to address this problem. Presentations are actually enjoyable for me nowadays under XP.

The reference to Exit 10 was an attempt at levity, sorry it flopped.

Regards,

James

===> I am running the LATEST Video Driver that is posted on the TP Support Site. That is partly why I am so interested in the reference to the Omega Driver(s). If anyone has experience using the Omega Driver, that MIGHT solve the problem.

===> I did not see anything in Presentation Director that seemed related to this issue ... but I have not played around with Presentation Manager. If you have any suggestions, I would be open to same.

===> Just not ready to swotch to XP. Basically, my system is stable right now...

===> Actually, I am located not too far from [NJ Tpke] Exit 10....

--Zvi

Zvi · #10 Post by **Zvi** » Fri Jul 22, 2005 11:52 am

Merlyn_3D wrote:Um...tell me again why you can't just go to the display properties then advanced and click the second monitor and click "extend my desktop onto this monitor"?

===> Sure. The issue is that an "extended desktop" appears to the Application (such as PowerPoint) like a SINGLE display (except that it covers a lot of "space"). Since PP "sees" a single monitor, the "multiple monitor" feature remains "grayed out" [in PP] should you try to use it. So, I can certainly "extend my desktop" and that works just beautifully. However, I am not able to get PP to generate ONE display to the LCD Projector and a SECOND one (e.g., Speaker note view) to MY ThinkPad.
Hope that clarifies matters.
--Zvi

JHEM · #11 Post by **JHEM** » Fri Jul 22, 2005 12:21 pm

You have to enable the extended desktop in W2K before you open PP! PP doesn't have the ability to change your display settings.

Connect your projector, right click on the desktop, select properties, select your projector and check the box that says "extend desktop". Then start PP, set the LCD to show your notes and the projector to show your presentation.

Uh, yeah, I know Exit 10 is Edison! Spent WAY too much time at the EPA office there over the years.

Regards,

James

Zvi · #12 Post by **Zvi** » Fri Jul 22, 2005 12:29 pm

JHEM wrote:You have to enable the extended desktop in W2K before you open PP! PP doesn't have the ability to change your display settings.

Connect your projector, right click on the desktop, select properties, select your projector and check the box that says "extend desktop". Then start PP, set the LCD to show your notes and the projector to show your presentation.

Uh, yeah, I know Exit 10 is Edison! Spent WAY too much time at the EPA office there over the years.

Regards,

James

===> I think that I did just what you described... with no luck. I will try it again, though.
--Zvi

Ground Loop · #13 Post by **Ground Loop** » Fri Jul 22, 2005 12:31 pm

PowerPoint is a strange beast. It's the only program I've seen that goes beyond your normal desktop video settings.

Even if I have my second monitor unused (not extended), it will detect a projector on there and show the slides on the second screen. No other program uses the second screen, so it has to be a PowerPoint trick.

So I'd focus on making sure the second (external) monitor is correctly detected (in the ATI panel), and then play with PowerPoint settings.

Zvi · #14 Post by **Zvi** » Fri Jul 22, 2005 12:41 pm

Ground Loop wrote:PowerPoint is a strange beast. It's the only program I've seen that goes beyond your normal desktop video settings.

Even if I have my second monitor unused (not extended), it will detect a projector on there and show the slides on the second screen. No other program uses the second screen, so it has to be a PowerPoint trick.

So I'd focus on making sure the second (external) monitor is correctly detected (in the ATI panel), and then play with PowerPoint settings.

==> Did this happen in XP or Windows 2000? I *know* that the second monitor is detected in the ATI Panel since I am given the choices of "clone" vs. "extend" mode(s) for the second monitor.

--Zvi

Zvi · #15 Post by **Zvi** » Fri Jul 22, 2005 12:59 pm

Ground Loop wrote:PowerPoint is a strange beast. It's the only program I've seen that goes beyond your normal desktop video settings.

Even if I have my second monitor unused (not extended), it will detect a projector on there and show the slides on the second screen. No other program uses the second screen, so it has to be a PowerPoint trick.

So I'd focus on making sure the second (external) monitor is correctly detected (in the ATI panel), and then play with PowerPoint settings.

===> I have read the following:
If you have "true" multiple monitor support, then when you have a second monitor / projector connected to your Thinkpad, the following should be observable.
"Right click" on the desktop.
Select Properties -- the dispaly properties will come up.
Now, select the "settings" tab.
Do you see a SINGLE Monitor or TWO "numbered" 'boxes'.?
If you see TWO 'boxes', that means that EACH monitor has been detected separately. However, if you only see a SINGLE monitor, that means -- regardless of whether you have 'clone' or 'extended' mode(s) chosen -- that only ONE display will be seen by Applications such as PP.

As I noted, I *was* able to get to 'extended' mode -- but I still saw only a SINGLE monitor as noted above.

--Zvi

dclee012 · #16 Post by **dclee012** » Wed Aug 03, 2005 11:05 am

Am I correct in what I have concluded? --
Mutiple monitor support is an issue not with the video card, but with the operating system. It seems that Win2k is not as media-robust as WinXP, which supports true multiple monitors.

However, I do remember being able to assign primary and secondary monitors (as described previously) on a Win2k desktop with 2 video cards. So apparently, multiple monitor support is possible with Win2k, just not with single video cards.

I must run Win2k on my T42, as it is the standard at our offices. But I really wish I would see monitors on the Settings tab under Display Properties. I'm surprised this has not been a greater issue in the past.

Btw, when I extend my monitor with the ATI tabs, I am given a resolution that is greater than the physical space, and the mouse is needed to push around the hidden spaces. I am trying to add 1600x1200 on 19" to 1400x1050 on the Thinkpad.

Zvi · #17 Post by **Zvi** » Thu Aug 04, 2005 5:44 am

dclee012 wrote:Am I correct in what I have concluded? --
Mutiple monitor support is an issue not with the video card, but with the operating system. It seems that Win2k is not as media-robust as WinXP, which supports true multiple monitors.

However, I do remember being able to assign primary and secondary monitors (as described previously) on a Win2k desktop with 2 video cards. So apparently, multiple monitor support is possible with Win2k, just not with single video cards.

I must run Win2k on my T42, as it is the standard at our offices. But I really wish I would see monitors on the Settings tab under Display Properties. I'm surprised this has not been a greater issue in the past.

Btw, when I extend my monitor with the ATI tabs, I am given a resolution that is greater than the physical space, and the mouse is needed to push around the hidden spaces. I am trying to add 1600x1200 on 19" to 1400x1050 on the Thinkpad.

===> My impression was that Windows 2000 *did* have some sort of mulitple monitor support. You are correct that if I actually installed TWO video cards, I would be able to have "mulitple monitors". I just wish that I did not have to DO that.
Apparently, there are SOME video cards / drivers that DO provide this capability in Windows 2000 -- I just have not been able to locate any!
And, you are correct that when you "extend" the desktop "across" the two monitors... that your resolution gets changed....
--Zvi

Video Driver for T40 that supports "true" multiple

Video Driver for T40 that supports "true" multiple

Who is online