Dual display set-up doesn't work on Win2000 or Vista

I have a set-up where I have one regular monitor and one video projector: my
display card features VGA- and DVI-out; I've hooked the VGA-out directly to
the primary monitor and the DVI-out to the projector via a VGA adapter on the
DVI output. I'm now running Vista Home Premium.

I've had this configuration on a Win 2000 and a Vista machine - both exhibit
the same non-desired behavior: after setting the proper display settings, the
set up works fine for a while (days). Then, the secondary display
(projectors) stops displaying any image. Then neither projector displays an
image - only some of the start-up graphics when hard-booting (on both
displays), and I can only get an image on the primary display by physically
unhooking the secondary display (the projector) from the PC.

I haven't changed any settings or installed additional software when this
change in behavior happens.

Then there are numerous other glitches, such as sometimes video in Media
Player (10 and 11) display on display 1 only and not on display 2, sometimes
displaying something on both displays requires setting a low refresh rate for
display 2 (sometimes not) etc.

My question is: how can I set up a dual-display configuration where both
displays consistently display something, so that they don't all of a sudden
stop working?

What is the make/model of your graphics card,?
How much memory does it have on it?
What driver release are you using on it?
I also suggest that you shut down and reseat the graphics card and its
separate power cable if it has one.

"JanneL" <> wrote in message
news:315C3E90-B9B7-4DC4-A8AE-...
>I have a set-up where I have one regular monitor and one video projector:
>my
> display card features VGA- and DVI-out; I've hooked the VGA-out directly
> to
> the primary monitor and the DVI-out to the projector via a VGA adapter on
> the
> DVI output. I'm now running Vista Home Premium.
>
> I've had this configuration on a Win 2000 and a Vista machine - both
> exhibit
> the same non-desired behavior: after setting the proper display settings,
> the
> set up works fine for a while (days). Then, the secondary display
> (projectors) stops displaying any image. Then neither projector displays
> an
> image - only some of the start-up graphics when hard-booting (on both
> displays), and I can only get an image on the primary display by
> physically
> unhooking the secondary display (the projector) from the PC.
>
> I haven't changed any settings or installed additional software when this
> change in behavior happens.
>
> Then there are numerous other glitches, such as sometimes video in Media
> Player (10 and 11) display on display 1 only and not on display 2,
> sometimes
> displaying something on both displays requires setting a low refresh rate
> for
> display 2 (sometimes not) etc.
>
> My question is: how can I set up a dual-display configuration where both
> displays consistently display something, so that they don't all of a
> sudden
> stop working?

"JanneL" <> wrote in message
news:315C3E90-B9B7-4DC4-A8AE-...
>I have a set-up where I have one regular monitor and one video projector:
>my
> display card features VGA- and DVI-out; I've hooked the VGA-out directly
> to
> the primary monitor and the DVI-out to the projector via a VGA adapter on
> the
> DVI output. I'm now running Vista Home Premium.
>
> I've had this configuration on a Win 2000 and a Vista machine - both
> exhibit
> the same non-desired behavior: after setting the proper display settings,
> the
> set up works fine for a while (days). Then, the secondary display
> (projectors) stops displaying any image. Then neither projector displays
> an
> image - only some of the start-up graphics when hard-booting (on both
> displays), and I can only get an image on the primary display by
> physically
> unhooking the secondary display (the projector) from the PC.
>
> I haven't changed any settings or installed additional software when this
> change in behavior happens.
>
> Then there are numerous other glitches, such as sometimes video in Media
> Player (10 and 11) display on display 1 only and not on display 2,
> sometimes
> displaying something on both displays requires setting a low refresh rate
> for
> display 2 (sometimes not) etc.
>
> My question is: how can I set up a dual-display configuration where both
> displays consistently display something, so that they don't all of a
> sudden
> stop working?

Make sure both monitors are always powered on when you boot your computer.
Sounds like "overlay" issues with media player. You can turn overlay off
from settings but sometimes that setting doesn't stick.