Extended Desktop problem with Radeon X1600

epp_b · July 21st, 2007, 05:42 AM

I just bought a new laptop (HP nc8430) and it has a really nice graphics card, an ATi Mobility Radeon X1600.

My setup includes an external LCD monitor which I use as my primary display with extended desktop (the laptop LCD being the secondary display).

I have installed all of the latest drivers that I downloaded straight from HP's website and everything is working well, except for that the position of the displays in relativity to each-other is "forgotten" after I reboot.

The best way to describe it is with a picture:

http://www.phyrefile.com/thumb/2007/07/20/videosettings.gif

I think this is probably a bug, seeing as there is no reason why it should reset after rebooting, but I should probably ask anyway.

jeffy777 · July 21st, 2007, 08:55 AM

I run dual monitors, but they are identical and side-by-side, so I've never messed with adjusting the physical setting.....but for anyone who uses dual monitors: you should get a program called UltraMon. It's really good and makes things alot easier. It lets you have a separate taskbar for each monitor (REALLY handy feature). Plus it has a bunch of other nice features, such as it adds buttons to every window so that you can instantly move the window to your other monitor or extend it across both, you can assign custom display settings for specific applications, makes it easier to have separate settings for each monitor (wallpaper, resolution, etc.).

http://www.realtimesoft.com/ultramon/overview/

pdanev · July 21st, 2007, 12:36 PM

I have exactly the same setup as you, laptop (acer) with an x1600, and an additional lcd display. Although at this particular moment I'm not on dual display, I use it quite often. I don't really have problems with it even after rebooting.

Did you try using the catalyst control center thing, it has a Display Manager tab where you can also play around with monitor position etc. Give that a shot, maybe that could work.

epp_b · July 21st, 2007, 03:47 PM

^ Yes, I tried setting the config with Catalyst CC - it didn't fix the problem.

pdanev · July 21st, 2007, 04:45 PM

Weird, well I've no other idea, everything fine here, same graphics card, external monitor, win XP, no problem. images/smilies/dunno.gif

epp_b · July 21st, 2007, 05:33 PM

I've looked at ATi's website for updated drivers, and, at first, I mistakenly downloaded the drivers for the desktop X1600 (which is why they wouldn't install). Then I tried to download the correct drivers (Mobility Radeon X1600) to which the ATi "verification" app told me that their "standard" drivers to not work with my card and I need to download and install the driver from my OEM (which I already did).

So, I can only assume this is a bug with the driver and I will be contacting HP. Thanks for all your help.

pdanev · July 21st, 2007, 05:59 PM

Drivers for laptops are really a pain in the ass. Well, let's hope HP tech support can be helpful. images/smilies/smile.gif

epp_b · July 21st, 2007, 06:32 PM

^ So far, they've been very good. I had to call a couple of times before I actually got my laptop (first time, I had a question about the warranty before I bought it; second time, I had to call to correct my credit card information that I mistakenly entered incorrectly) and I've never had to spend more than ten minutes on the phone. Their business PC support appears to be very good. I'm currently chatting online with a tech about this problem.

73GMCSprint · July 27th, 2007, 12:47 AM

I'd take Jeffy777's advice and try out Ultramon. It lets you save settings under different profiles, so all you'd have to do is have a profile for single monitor, and another profile for dual monitors. Ultramon gives a full-featured trial period so you can really test it before you decide to buy it or not. It's one of the few programs out there I can actually say is worth the money.

epp_b · July 27th, 2007, 02:25 AM

I got it figured out. An HP support rep pointed me to an older driver, which has solved the problem.

BTW, a lot of the features that Ultramon touts are already included in ATi's Catalyst CC.

jeffy777 · July 27th, 2007, 04:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by epp_b

I got it figured out. An HP support rep pointed me to an older driver, which has solved the problem.

BTW, a lot of the features that Ultramon touts are already included in ATi's Catalyst CC.

Yeah, I use nvidia though. Plus, I don't think Catalyst CC let's you have a taskbar for each monitor and quick buttons on your windows for instantly moving them to your other monitor. These are the two main features that I love about UltraMon images/smilies/love.gif

73GMCSprint · July 27th, 2007, 07:13 AM

Plus you can save and restore icon position, and configure wallpapers and screensavers for each monitor individually.

jeffy777 · July 27th, 2007, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 73GMCSprint

Plus you can save and restore icon position, and configure wallpapers and screensavers for each monitor individually.

Yeah, ATI Catalyst may have some of those features, but not the ones that important to me.

epp_b · July 27th, 2007, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Yeah, I use nvidia though. Plus, I don't think Catalyst CC let's you have a taskbar for each monitor and quick buttons on your windows for instantly moving them to your other monitor. These are the two main features that I love about UltraMon

The new versions do.

I use Enterra Icon Keeper to remember my icon positions according to screen resolution and configuration.

jeffy777 · July 28th, 2007, 07:03 PM

Well, last time I used an ATI card for dual monitors, all it would let me do is extend the taskbar across both. It would not let me have a seperate taskbar for each.

But I doubt if I will ever get an ATI card again, so it doesn't really matter to me images/smilies/smile.gif

July 21st, 2007, 05:42 AM	#1
epp_b n00b of the year Joined: Jun 23rd, 2006 Last Online: 12:28 AM Location: Canadaland :) Posts: 4,901 Car: 1995 Nissan 240SX Rep Power: 45	Extended Desktop problem with Radeon X1600 I just bought a new laptop (HP nc8430) and it has a really nice graphics card, an ATi Mobility Radeon X1600. My setup includes an external LCD monitor which I use as my primary display with extended desktop (the laptop LCD being the secondary display). I have installed all of the latest drivers that I downloaded straight from HP's website and everything is working well, except for that the position of the displays in relativity to each-other is "forgotten" after I reboot. The best way to describe it is with a picture: I think this is probably a bug, seeing as there is no reason why it should reset after rebooting, but I should probably ask anyway.

July 21st, 2007, 08:55 AM	#2
jeffy777 Joined: Feb 8th, 2005 Last Online: Yesterday Location: US Age: 27 Posts: 5,662 Car: '04 Toyota Sienna, crippled people like vans.... Rep Power: 53	I run dual monitors, but they are identical and side-by-side, so I've never messed with adjusting the physical setting.....but for anyone who uses dual monitors: you should get a program called UltraMon. It's really good and makes things alot easier. It lets you have a separate taskbar for each monitor (REALLY handy feature). Plus it has a bunch of other nice features, such as it adds buttons to every window so that you can instantly move the window to your other monitor or extend it across both, you can assign custom display settings for specific applications, makes it easier to have separate settings for each monitor (wallpaper, resolution, etc.). http://www.realtimesoft.com/ultramon/overview/ __________________ A man named Jeffy once said, "If laziness is craziness, then I've lost my marbles...and I don't feel like trying to find them." Last edited by jeffy777; July 21st, 2007 at 09:06 AM..

July 28th, 2007, 07:03 PM	#15
jeffy777 Joined: Feb 8th, 2005 Last Online: Yesterday Location: US Age: 27 Posts: 5,662 Car: '04 Toyota Sienna, crippled people like vans.... Rep Power: 53	Well, last time I used an ATI card for dual monitors, all it would let me do is extend the taskbar across both. It would not let me have a seperate taskbar for each. But I doubt if I will ever get an ATI card again, so it doesn't really matter to me __________________ A man named Jeffy once said, "If laziness is craziness, then I've lost my marbles...and I don't feel like trying to find them."

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July 21st, 2007, 12:36 PM	#3
pdanev Joined: Oct 4th, 2004 Last Online: Yesterday Location: Netherlands Age: 25 Posts: 5,644 LFS Status: Rep Power: 25	I have exactly the same setup as you, laptop (acer) with an x1600, and an additional lcd display. Although at this particular moment I'm not on dual display, I use it quite often. I don't really have problems with it even after rebooting. Did you try using the catalyst control center thing, it has a Display Manager tab where you can also play around with monitor position etc. Give that a shot, maybe that could work.

July 21st, 2007, 03:47 PM	#4
epp_b n00b of the year Joined: Jun 23rd, 2006 Last Online: 12:28 AM Location: Canadaland :) Posts: 4,901 Car: 1995 Nissan 240SX Rep Power: 45	^ Yes, I tried setting the config with Catalyst CC - it didn't fix the problem.

July 21st, 2007, 04:45 PM	#5
pdanev Joined: Oct 4th, 2004 Last Online: Yesterday Location: Netherlands Age: 25 Posts: 5,644 LFS Status: Rep Power: 25	Weird, well I've no other idea, everything fine here, same graphics card, external monitor, win XP, no problem.

July 21st, 2007, 05:33 PM	#6
epp_b n00b of the year Joined: Jun 23rd, 2006 Last Online: 12:28 AM Location: Canadaland :) Posts: 4,901 Car: 1995 Nissan 240SX Rep Power: 45	I've looked at ATi's website for updated drivers, and, at first, I mistakenly downloaded the drivers for the desktop X1600 (which is why they wouldn't install). Then I tried to download the correct drivers (Mobility Radeon X1600) to which the ATi "verification" app told me that their "standard" drivers to not work with my card and I need to download and install the driver from my OEM (which I already did). So, I can only assume this is a bug with the driver and I will be contacting HP. Thanks for all your help.

July 21st, 2007, 05:59 PM	#7
pdanev Joined: Oct 4th, 2004 Last Online: Yesterday Location: Netherlands Age: 25 Posts: 5,644 LFS Status: Rep Power: 25	Drivers for laptops are really a pain in the ass. Well, let's hope HP tech support can be helpful.

July 21st, 2007, 06:32 PM	#8
epp_b n00b of the year Joined: Jun 23rd, 2006 Last Online: 12:28 AM Location: Canadaland :) Posts: 4,901 Car: 1995 Nissan 240SX Rep Power: 45	^ So far, they've been very good. I had to call a couple of times before I actually got my laptop (first time, I had a question about the warranty before I bought it; second time, I had to call to correct my credit card information that I mistakenly entered incorrectly) and I've never had to spend more than ten minutes on the phone. Their business PC support appears to be very good. I'm currently chatting online with a tech about this problem.

July 27th, 2007, 12:47 AM	#9
73GMCSprint Joined: Jun 20th, 2007 Last Online: Yesterday Location: UT, USA Posts: 454 Car: 1973 GMC Sprint, Buick 455, TH400 Rep Power: 14	I'd take Jeffy777's advice and try out Ultramon. It lets you save settings under different profiles, so all you'd have to do is have a profile for single monitor, and another profile for dual monitors. Ultramon gives a full-featured trial period so you can really test it before you decide to buy it or not. It's one of the few programs out there I can actually say is worth the money.

July 27th, 2007, 02:25 AM	#10
epp_b n00b of the year Joined: Jun 23rd, 2006 Last Online: 12:28 AM Location: Canadaland :) Posts: 4,901 Car: 1995 Nissan 240SX Rep Power: 45	I got it figured out. An HP support rep pointed me to an older driver, which has solved the problem. BTW, a lot of the features that Ultramon touts are already included in ATi's Catalyst CC.

July 27th, 2007, 07:13 AM	#12
73GMCSprint Joined: Jun 20th, 2007 Last Online: Yesterday Location: UT, USA Posts: 454 Car: 1973 GMC Sprint, Buick 455, TH400 Rep Power: 14	Plus you can save and restore icon position, and configure wallpapers and screensavers for each monitor individually.

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