Windows 10 Extendable screen

[DSAGEY]

Hello,

 

I have tried looking, but I am unable to locate one, but does anyone know if you are able to purchase VGA splitters that allow you to extend your screen?

 

Our computers have VGA & HDMI ports, but we tend to use VGA due to the visualisers being VGA.

 

I'd be grateful for any advice or alternative to be able to extend the screens, as this is something teachers have asked for.

 

Thanks

[FN-GM]

A splitter only splits the same image so they will be identical on both screens.

 

You should be able to use that HDMI port to extend the screen. If you need 2 x VGA instead of 1 x VGA and 1 x HDMI you could use this HDMI to VGA adapter.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/234188122329?hash=item3686b328d9:g:iPIAAOSwa85hQgsG

 

Thanks

[DSAGEY]

I have got one of those, but I'm unable to use the VGA port and HDMI port at the same time on the computer - the screen just goes blank.

[mavhc]

Does depend on what the graphics chipset supports, but anything <10 years old should do all 3 outputs, laptop screen, vga, and hdmi.

 

What model computer?

 

In theory a vga extender could exist, but in practise it would be way too expensive.

[LeMarchand]

Which screen goes blank (the VGA or HDMI connected one?).

A few things I'd try:

 

• See if you have a native HDMI screen you can test with to rule out the adapter being duff. (Whilst I've tended to buy cheapies at home with no problem, some we bought at work wouldn't work whilst a more expensive model would).
  
• Check your graphics drivers are up to date and, in Device Manager, aren't "Microsoft Basic Display".
  
• What model visualiser is it? Ours have various video outputs/inputs that people occasionally decide to mess around with.
  

[DSAGEY]

We have Lenovo V530s (https://www.laptopsdirect.co.uk/lenovo-v530s-07icr-core-i5-9400-8gb-256gb-ssd-windows-10-pro-desktop-pc-11bm002buk/version.asp) we only got them in April this year.

 

If that doesn't work, then it will just be the case that the teachers can't extend their screens - they never used to be able to.

[TMBS]

Hi

 

We extend quite a few of ours in school. With most computers we've had to add a separate Graphics card to do so, which will allow you to extend the screen. If you already have a VGA and HDMI port you should be able to use both, not sure why the screen goes blank, it could be the computer can't power both at once.

 

Have you gone into the Display settings and set up both monitors with the option to extend? If not this article shows you how (sorry if I'm teaching you how to suck eggs but not sure how techie you are):

 

https://www.dummies.com/computers/pcs/computer-monitors/how-to-add-a-second-monitor-to-your-pc/

 

We've just started using the display port on the computer to do this too, as it's a cheaper option than buying a graphics card. You just need a Displayport to VGA (or HDMI) cable depending on your monitor.

 

If you need any help, or want to chat my technician would be more than happy to talk you through it. Just send me a PM

[TMBS]

We have Lenovo V530s (https://www.laptopsdirect.co.uk/lenovo-v530s-07icr-core-i5-9400-8gb-256gb-ssd-windows-10-pro-desktop-pc-11bm002buk/version.asp) we only got them in April this year.

 

If that doesn't work, then it will just be the case that the teachers can't extend their screens - they never used to be able to.

 

They never used to be able to use computers either but IT has luckily moved on now , otherwise you'd be out of a job! Can't should never be an option, we can always try and usually with help from Edugeek succeed

 

From a teaching point of view it's really useful to extend the screen when inputting marks, or teaching via Meet/Teams. So I think this will come as more of an expectation.

 

Teaching them how to use their extended screen is a whole new ball game though...

[mikkydoos]

I use these.... great for splitting.

 

https://www.startech.com/en-gb/audio-video-products/st122le

 

There is an HDMI version available.

 

You will need a dual port graphics card to extend to a second screen though.

[mavhc]

We have Lenovo V530s (https://www.laptopsdirect.co.uk/lenovo-v530s-07icr-core-i5-9400-8gb-256gb-ssd-windows-10-pro-desktop-pc-11bm002buk/version.asp) we only got them in April this year.

 

If that doesn't work, then it will just be the case that the teachers can't extend their screens - they never used to be able to.

 

I'm 99% sure that should work with both outputs at once, probably drivers or cables as others have mentioned.

[Koldov]

Bit worrying... from the manual (my bold):

 

Video features

• The integrated graphics card supports the following:

– DisplayPort 1.2 out connector

– HDMI 1.4 out connector

– VGA-out connector

• The optional discrete graphics card provides an enhanced video experience

and extended capabilities.

[LeMarchand]

• The optional discrete graphics card provides an enhanced video experience

and extended capabilities.

 

Good spot! Not looking good for working without an additional card + lead adapter. (Though pretty poor that the capability isn't already baked in).

[Koldov]

From the Lenovo Datasheet:

 

Graphics Options

Intel® Integrated

 

Optional Discrete Graphics

NVIDIA® GT730 2GB GDDR3 VGA + HDMI

NVIDIA® GT730 1GB GDDRG DP + DP

[Koldov]

I think for laptops it is presumed that the main laptop screen will be used but will usually have the option for a second screen to be used and therefore the chipset will almost always have that capability 'baked in', not so much for small desktop computers with integrated graphics. Although I agree that with any modern computer the chipset should really be more than capable of doing this and I'm not sure why any manufacturer would produce a chipset that doesn't. I can't really see that it could even be cost cutting exercise, so maybe it is possible with the correct manufacturer's drivers...?

 

I'm not entirely sure what the Lenovo datasheet is trying to say as to what the ports the 'Intel Integrated' graphics drives... just the VGA, just the HDMI, or just the 'Display Port'... It does look like to drive more than one port at a time an optional GFX card is needed. If that's the case I'm sure someone like @ICTDirect_Dave could rustle up something suitable for the the OP at a reasonable price.

 

If enabled the 'Display Port' may give more options but I will wait for others with more knowledge to chime in, however this is interesting:

 

https://www.displayport.org/cables/driving-multiple-displays-from-a-single-displayport-output/

 

Our computers have VGA & HDMI ports, but we tend to use VGA due to the visualisers being VGA.

 

@DSAGEY - Do you mean projectors? I did have reply based on 'visualiser' cabling options, but with projectors I'm wondering how you are using them at the moment?

 

If you are only using VGA, are you using splitters at the moment to output a 'duplicate' screen on both monitor + projector?

 

Does the HDMI output or Display Port output work if you use them on their own (without the other 2 outputs being plugged in)?

 

Is there anything in the Graphics Options to suggest it is multi-display capable?

 

Edited September 23, 2021 by Koldov

[ICTDirect_Dave]

Anything from intel 3rd generation onwards should be able to handle multiple simultaneous displays. I've not yet encountered a desktop that have them restricted.

I'd double-check you've got the latest intel graphics drivers installed and set up correctly first.

 

If you stillwant to send a pair of discrete vga outputs then I've got some lovely nVidia Quadro NVS Low profile graphics cards that offer a pair of vga. They're £15 each and will solw your issue.

[TMBS]

We have Lenovo V530s (https://www.laptopsdirect.co.uk/lenovo-v530s-07icr-core-i5-9400-8gb-256gb-ssd-windows-10-pro-desktop-pc-11bm002buk/version.asp) we only got them in April this year.

 

If that doesn't work, then it will just be the case that the teachers can't extend their screens - they never used to be able to.

 

We use the Lenovos, they have a Displayport so you can just get a Displayport to VGA (or HDMI depending on your monitor) cable for approx £8. This works for us and is the cheapest option.

[stevewill6]

If it got the display port as in the image on the website try that? We use display port adapters on almost all our desktops for dual screens.

[Oaktech]

I'd be making sure that you have the right driver installed. I've had a few instances where newer hardware has built with the microsoft basic display driver instead of the correct manufacturers driver?

[KK20]

This is where you will have fun depending on your CPU (im assuming you are using the onboard VGA that is baked into the CPU). You will need a USB docking/port replicator, these have built in VGA, we use them as "cheap docking stations" for our laptops like these https://uk.dynabook.com/discontinued-products/pa3927e-1prp/

 

If you want to "extend" then you wont have a problem. If you want to "clone" then you will as you are down to intel drivers supporting clone - I think 5th gen and above support clone with external display. The workaround is to disable the intel adapter and let windows install the basic adapter.

Edited September 24, 2021 by KK20