Ongoing Never disable the second display (1 Viewer)

[FreQi]

I have an nVidia GeForce 8600 GT and I'm using v169.21 forceware drivers on Windows XP with two monitors, one is a 17" LCD on a DVI->VGA adapter as the primary monitor, and the secondary is a Panasonic 720p Projector connected via DVI. I've noticed that when I turn off the projector, I hear the windows tone that indicates removal of hardware. When I turn the projector back on, I hear the "connected hardware" tone, but the extended desktop is not shown - it's just a blue / no signal screen and I have to go into the Display Control Panel and re-enable the extended desktop. the resolution is set correctly, I just have to check the box and click OK.

I have Mediaortal set to start in full screen on the secondary display (the projector). So if I have it running when I turn off the projector, things seem fine, but when I turn it back on, MediaPortal jumps to the Primary display, but it's all messed up in the background and I can't click on anything. It's really irritating.

Does anyone know of a way to force windows to keep the secondary display or extended desktop turned on even when it thinks the projector is disconnected/off? I'm willing to get some sort of hardware trickery that might make the video card detect a device there if such a thing exists (dvi switchbox maybe?) but I haven't found anything.

Anyone else found a way around this?

 

[tourettes]

NVIDIA Forums -> Force Display detection

 

[wouter1971]

I've done a complete study on this one as this was very annoying for me too. This autodetection is awful and should me removed from the drivers from nvidia. I was trying to find a sollution to disable autodetection.
I have a HTPC with lcd buildin. And a plasma seperate as primary display connected to a receiver. If i switch the receiver off there is no connection anymore to the HTPC. The HTPC disables the clone mode and switches to single mode.
The solution: disable NVIDIA Driver Helper service in de services list. This service is "helping" the driver and is monitoring the outputs.
Now both outputs stay connected even when nothing is attached to the ports.

It was a long journey...

 

[FreQi]

Wow, it has been a long journey, nearly a year later. I have since decided that two monitors isn't worth the hassle and have moved on to Vista MediaCenter (loving it), but this tid bit might have me trying to run a dual-head HTPC again. Thank you for the tip!

 

[juzernev]

The solution: disable NVIDIA Driver Helper service in de services list. This service is "helping" the driver and is monitoring the outputs.
Now both outputs stay connected even when nothing is attached to the ports.

Thanks for sharing this. I gone crazy, i have Origen x15e tft and switching back from 7'' at 1080p resolution at least.. annoying.

 

[wouter1971]

Thanks for sharing this. I gone crazy, i have Origen x15e tft and switching back from 7'' at 1080p resolution at least.. annoying.

Nice to hear. I got crazy too, but needed to find a place to share the information. By the way, i've got the same system X15e

 

[kiwijunglist]

There is an easy hardware solution use Gefen DVI Detective or DVI Doctor.

Basically you program it to learn the EDID handshake of your display (eg projector or 2nd tv)
Then you piggy back it into the connection for the display
HTPC -> DVI Port -> DVI Detective -> DVI:HDMI adaptor plug -> Projector
The DVI detective fools the computer into thinking the projector is always plugged in and always active.

When you unplug/power off the projector windows wont realise and will keep sending the signal bc it thinks it's still plugged in.

You can get them from ebay or from the manufacturers website online order.
(The programming function is just pluging it in and clicking a button on the side)

I think they might be making an HDMI version too.
I'm not sure what happens if your also sending sound over the connection, but i think if you google it you might find that they have built a version that also does HDMI sound signal. Not sure if they do HDCP or not.

 

[wouter1971]

There is an easy hardware solution use Gefen DVI Detective or DVI Doctor.
.

Of $79.00

This is about a software solution as it is operating system specific. A windows problem.

 

[kiwijunglist]

There is also a program called "HdmiOn", it constantly or itnermittently sends signal telling windows that HDMI is attached/on. Not sure if this actually prevents windows from detecting display is unplugged or not.