Second monitor detected but blank

GbeTech · 18 Jul 2017

Hi,

After a windows update, my second monitor has become blank.
Please see attached image.

Details:
- It IS recognized in Display Settings
- It Is recognized in GeForce Control Panel
- When taking a screenshot, it shows up as if nothing is wrong
- It is NOT recognized under Device Manager

Troubleshooting:
- Connected a different monitor to the same HDMI slot, with a different HDMI cord, gives the same result. The other monitor is just blank.
- Updated / clear re-installing GeForce drivers
- Uninstalled the last Windows Update via control panel, then re-run windows update- Booted in safe mode

My thoughts:
Maybe Intel Graphics are missing? The one I downloaded said my "computer doesn't meet the minimum requirements"

Specs:
Asus ROG STRIX GL702VS-GB050T
i7-7700HQ
GTX 1070
Win10 64 Creators update

Any help is appreciated,

Gilad

slicendice · 19 Jul 2017

In nVidia Control panel, go to the setup multiple displays tab/page and take a screenshot of that. Also go Windows device manager and take a screenshot of the Displays ( NOT Display Adapters ) tree item expanded.

Give us those screenshots, then it will be easier to help. I think everything is either working exactly as it should or you have some configuration issues. When I have multiple displays enabled, all my displays except the main display are black (no taskbar nor background image).

GbeTech · 21 Jul 2017

Thanks for replying.
Here are two screenshots, one is the one you asked for, and the other is trying to compare properties of each monitor. I chose properties that seemed relevant. The only property that had a difference between the two was the upper left one, "Device stack". Marked with red.

Thanks again.

slicendice · 22 Jul 2017

OK!

First in Windows display porperties, click Identify Displays. You should see 1 on your laptop and 2 on your external display.

If nothing shows up then you should go to Intel control panel, there you can setup multiple displays to either extend or clone the main display.

Second monitor detected but blank-md-intel-001.png

Second monitor detected but blank-md-intel-002.png

GbeTech · 22 Jul 2017

Slicendice, thanks again for your help.
Since my graphics card is NVidia GTX 1070, I can't install the Intel graphics control panel. It looks for an integrated Intel GPU.

Is it possible that I don't have an integrated Intel GPU on the motherboard?

If not, the solution is to make the system recognize the integrated Intel one.
Currently, I only see NVidia. If I try to install Intel graphics driver, it get the "your system doesn't meet the minimum requirements for the driver" error.

Second monitor detected but blank-nvidia-geforce.png

slicendice · 22 Jul 2017

I see now that your laptop is running nVidia only, because it's a gaming laptop optimized for performance, thus NO Integrated graphics at all. Sorry for the confusion in my previous post, you can ignore it completely.

Your rig is a beast, by the way. ;-)

Since your dual monitor setup used to work before the update, there must be some issues with either Windows or the current drivers.

Have you tried a simple task as just rebooting the computer a couple of times? I have read reports of second monitor not working when computer has entered sleep state.

Try that and let me know if it helps.

GbeTech · 23 Jul 2017

Haha I know it's a beast :) The things that make nerds happy...

Yea, I've rebooted more than a few times since it's happened. Actually it's been going for over a week (maybe two?).
I'm pretty sure it's the result of a Windows Update, but when I tried uninstalling the updates, it didn't fix the issue. Also I got the impression it didn't "really" uninstall the updates and returned to the same state as before, only partially.

I have a strong feeling that resetting the computer (the built in windows function) will fix it, it's just that I tweak every piece of software I have pretty heavily. Recovering all those settings will take a huge amount of time.

Hey, I really appreciate the effort you're putting in. Thanks again

slicendice · 23 Jul 2017

Windows 10 is known to have a lot of issues with graphics drivers. For some everything work flawlessly, for others errors come and go. The most interesting part is that 2 completely identical computers can behave very differently. Makes no sense to me. I have had issues with drivers that one minute work, and the next they don't...and no matter what I try, it just keeps NOT working. But suddenly without any changes everything decided to start working again. No errors were generated anywhere. Makes no sense either.

I understand that you are not that willing to reset whole Windows. I too have a lot of customized settings and apps, that takes a very long time to setup. Though not gaming related, it is still annoying.

I wish you good luck with getting your beast working again. I am out of ideas. :-(

GbeTech · 23 Jul 2017

That's ok man, much appreciated.

If you had to reset, what do you think the best way to restore all the settings as easily as possible would be?

jimkromann · 30 May 2020

GbeTech said:

That's ok man, much appreciated.
If you had to reset, what do you think the best way to restore all the settings as easily as possible would be?

Sorry for bumping an old thread, but im having this exact issue, with a Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 and a fresh windows 10 install.
I can see both monitors under the display settings, in the Nvidia controll panel and in the device manager, if i unplug one and start the pc the other display works fine. They also both work fine as dual on my old pc.