How to setup for two monitors in XP

Question

I presently have a single CRT monitor connected to a Dell 8250 system. My system specs include: P4 2.4 Ghz, 768 MB RDRAM, 320 GB HD, XP Pro SP2, ATI 9800 pro video card, and Hauppauge HVR 1600 tv tuner card. I will soon purchase a second monitor (HD ready tv/computer monitor). The HDTV will be connected to a Dish 211 receiver via HDMI cable and to the PC via a DVI cable from the 9800 pro. These connections will allow me to watch live HD programming and saved SD programming from the PC. The 1600 HVR will be connected to the Dish 211 via s-video and analog audio connections. Presently, I am using WinTV2K to control the tv tuner card and will use an IR blaster to change channels on the 211 receiver. I want to use the CRT as the primary monitor for general computer work. I would set up the HDTV as the secondary monitor and only interface with it via PC when playing saved programming in WinTV2k. Questions: According to my ATI manual, video overlay for streaming video is only available on the primary monitor. Live tv from the HVR 1600 is streaming video, correct? Playing a saved mpeg file in PowerDVD, is this also considered streaming video? If so, then I must set up my HDTV as the primary monitor, correct? Are there any Dell support materials on how to set up a system with two monitors? How do I 'clone' or move the windows toolbars to both monitors? How do I set it up so I can watch TV on the HDTV and work on the computer using the CRT? Thank you for any assistance you can provide! Best, Rick

RickID · Answer

Yes, the ATI 9800 pro has both VGA and DVI outputs. It also has an S-video out for TV display. The video card can run two monitors or one monitor + 1 TV (using s-video). Rick

jmwills · Answer

You need two cables, one for each, monitor and then go to Control Panle>Display>Settings tab and you will see how this is done.  One odd thing is that the 2nd monitor always defaults to be on the right hand side.

jmwills · Answer

Does the one video card have two connectors?  White and blue (Digital and analog)

RickID · Answer

Must I make the HDTV the primary monitor or can it be the secondary? How do I get the windows toolbars on both displays?

jmwills · Answer

One you hit the identify button, the '1' or '2' will appear or one of the screens.  You can then switch the cables to make the change form one to the other.  Personally, I would make the laptop screen the default monitor.   Don't expect too much resolution on that big screen.  The one tool bar will work for both.

RickID · Answer

After relooking at the ATI manual, I see that it is possible to change primary/secondary monitor with a software entry, rather than changing cables. A good feature because the HDTV only accepts DVI input and the CRT only accepts VGA. There's probably adapters out there but glad I don't have to purchase one. I'm still not sure about playing a mpeg file... Is this considered streaming video? The answer to that question really determines whether the HDTV is primary or secondary monitor. thanks for your help! Best, Rick

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