2nd display (projector) will not enable...

[Koldov]

Not sure exactly which forum to start this thread in, but posting here in case it's Windows 11 related...

 

I got called to the hall yesterday after school because we had a LEA Music Service person in who couldn't get their laptop hooked up to the projector.

 

I would put a after that statement, but this was a bit strange because they come regularly (twice a week) in fact they were here on Wednesday and it worked fine.

 

No changes made to our set-up (which I admit is a bit primitive), but it's set up so it's very easy for most people to just plug in and go.

 

Anyway, get called to hall everybody is there and all eyes on me (a feeling I'm sure you all know well), so I start with the basics.... Windows + P appeared I could select the options, but nothing actually changed, unplug HDMI > VGA adaptor and replug.... nothing appeared on the projector.

 

Although this did show 'something' was happening, it could just be jack/port sensing, so I dug further in to the Windows display settings and the Intel graphics 'Command Centre'...

 

The projector was being recognised correctly as a second display (it even recognised it was an Epson projector), unplugging it removed all 'multiple display' options and re-plugging it brought them back. but I could not select duplicate or extend the Windows settings and save it as it always reverted the settings. In the Intel settings I could select the second display, but it would not 'enable' for some reason...

 

Unfortunately most of my research brings up second displays not being detected, but this was, or to just click 'enable' but it just would not 'enable' it. Tried a different HDMI > VGA adaptor but no go (have to admit that is a new one on me, I've never had to 'enable' a second display before)!

 

It's also sent through a splitter so it can be switched to a computer set-up, so I can understand comments on try with (or without) this or that... but what I'm trying to understand is that the same person, with the exact same set-up (laptop, HDMI > VGA, splitter, projector) worked fine on Wednesday...

 

I tested the computer set-up and it worked fine, so ruling out everything up to the HDMI > VGA splitter and will try one of our laptops this morning to rule that out and place the blame squarely on the person's laptop and maybe a Windows 11 driver (which I can't do anything about) or setting that I don't know.

 

EDIT: Just to update, it works fine with one of our laptops using the same set-up.

Edited April 19, 2024 by Koldov

[milesla]

Hi, Have you tried the problematic laptop with another display. Can it actually dual output to anything now?

[Koldov]

Hi, Have you tried the problematic laptop with another display. Can it actually dual output to anything now?

 

Actually that's a good shout, unfortunately they were using it to play music and so I couldn't actually do much more than basic troubleshooting (plus it's' not our laptop so I'm limited with what I could do with it anyway).

 

Although I seem to remember they said it had worked OK in another school earlier in the day...

[Sephiroth]

I've had something similar in the past which was caused by corrupt display drivers. I had the luxury of being able to re-image the machine and the problem disappeared. Best bet, especially as you can prove that it isn't your equipment, is to tell them their laptop is at fault.

[Koldov]

Best bet, especially as you can prove that it isn't your equipment, is to tell them their laptop is at fault.

 

Haha, that's always my first reaction anyway!

[milesla]

Defo sounds like a driver issue - perhaps they can just role back (they probably installed after the shutdown from the last place they were at). I recall Windows Update once put on a new driver for my computer that wasn't compatible. So I had to safe boot too roll it back.

[Koldov]

So, the LEA music service person was in again yesterday for a singing assembly... still no joy, but what can I do?

 

Everybody was looking at me like I should just be able to magic up some solution, but I do not want to start messing with their laptop!

 

Obviously SLT have no concept of what the issue is, only that it's 'I.T.' and therefore my problem...

 

 

So I guess I'm going to have to look at getting into the 21st and maybe putting in a straight HDMI run, but as it's a hall projector it's going to be possibly 15+ meters (and means getting the scaffolding out, which can't be done until the next holiday)!

 

EDIT: Update... just walked through the hall and the music service person is there with their laptop happily displaying on the projector... as I walk past I look over at them and they say.... 'it WAS my laptop'....

 

Edited April 25, 2024 by Koldov

[robintech]

Had a lot of similar type experiences with "we've got X coming in tomorrow, could you be around to help set everything up" and when asked what device they have, USB-C , HDMI, VGA, Clicker, PowerPoint, Apple Pages, Prezzi, Some always on VPN NHS laptop that our firewall will never allow through, embedded videos that are blocked on the guest network, an iPad from 2012 , 802.11g that only does 30Mbit maximum for their 2.5GB Video.

All 10 minutes before the start as students are walking in

 

And then if provided they forget to give back the USB-C to HDMI adaptor, clicker and USB stick we had to use to download it for them.

Edited April 26, 2024 by ittech2342323

[Koldov]

"The impossible we do immediately, miracles take a little longer"...