s460 with dual monitors

Hi,

I searched the forums but couldn't find an answer. I have got two 1905FP monitors and I was hoping I could use both with my new S460 (with the dock).

I have tried all combinations (dvi + both vgas) but I can only get display on laptop lcd and 1 on the monitors but I can't do dual output (cancelling laptop display) to both monitors (using one dvi one vga).

I don't have the latest from nvidia since I couldn't pass the installation screen for the newest drivers, any help with that also be good.

If you have any ideas, or experince on this subject, please let me know.

Thanks,

Misman - S460 - Nvidia 6200

 

You need two video cards to do that, which the notebook doesn't have.

 

That's not true. My two year old desktop Graphic Card can support dual monitors from DVI and VGA ports.

If you do a little research, you'll see that Desktop version GeForce 6200 also supports dual monitors.

I am just not sure if I this a hardware limitation of the laptop version of this card or driver.

I upgraded to latest drivers from guru3d.com.

Misman

 

You're talking about a desktop, that's not the same thing. Those cards support two outputs where your notebook one does not.

 

Again, that's not true. There are laptops which support two external monitors[ http://www.petrolheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?f=95&h=&t=151185]. In the review of the port replicator, the guy also has it powering two external displays.

http://www.siliconpopculture.com/review/117_0_2_0_M/

I have the port replicator and it support both dvi and vga output.

You don't have to reply if you don't know the exact answer.

 

Misman,

I have an S460 as well, but I do not have the port replicator. I have connected an external monitor to the built in VGA port on the laptop and was able to drive both the laptop screen and the monitor independently as two seperate screens, so clearly the S460 has the capability of driving two monitors.

As for installing the latest drivers, it is certainly possible just not obvious. The site you want to look at is http://www.laptopvideo2go.com/ - they specialize in getting Nvidia's desktop drivers to work on laptops. I currently have the 81.85 drivers installed and working on my S460, which I got from this site.

Here are some direct links:

Driver:
http://download.laptopvideo2go.com/nvidia/80series/8185.exe

Replacement INF file:
http://laptopvideo2go.com/infs/80series/8185inf/nv4_disp.inf

What you do is extract the driver file somewhere on your drive, and then replace the nv4_disp.inf file that with the one from the link above. To install the driver bring up the the device manager screen and open the properties for the display driver. From go to the driver tab and select update driver, select "No, not this time" when the driver wizard asks if about windows update, select "install from a list or specific location" on the next screen, then select "Don't search. I will choose the driver to install" and then press the "HAve Disk" button on the next screen and browse to the location where you extracted the display driver.

Good luck!
-Robert Hildinger

 

Hi Robert,

Thank you very much for your instructions, I was able to install 8185 drivers with the modified .inf file. Even though this opened up new items in the nVidia properties it still not letting me chose two external monitors.

I can chose single display on any of the three displays (laptop, ext 1, ext2) or I can chose dual view with any one combination of laptop, ext1 or laptop ext2.

You are right, the graphic chip is powerful enough to support two displays in clone or dual mode. The problem is that it choses the laptop display as one of the two by default.

$190 for the port replicator I really hoped this would work, so I can completely replace my desktop. I can't do without dual monitors .

Anyway, thanks for your help. I'll post back here if I manage to find a solution.

Misman

 

Well, good luck to you then, I hope you can get it figured out.

 

Just for the record for those who think this is not possible by any laptop. My friend's HP laptop (one of the business models) can power one 17" and one 24" Wide LCD at the same time with the docking station.

 

That's with the docking station. You can't use both on the laptop if it doesn't have two output ports.

Let's keep it friendly - we are offering our help/suggestions here, and I don't think it's good to yell at someone if they are trying to lend a hand.

Chaz

 

I didn't mean to yell at someone, not sure how you got that idea.

If you read the previous posts, you'll see that I have the original dock with both DVI and VGA ports on that's why I think this configuration should be possible.

I'm just writing here because I know someday some other person will be in a similar situation as I am.