Dual Video mode nVidia 5700LE

[beaky]

Finally broke down and got a big new TV, complete with A/V inputs. I eventually want to relegate my current PC  to media storage and playback duty after I build a sim-dedicated rig this summer, so I started tinkering with things to see if I can output via S-Video to the TV from the card and still be able to use a VGA monitor with it (master plan includes a KVM switch so that I can control the "media server" from my main terminal).
Followed the directions as best I could, but got some very peculiar results:
First attempt, with VGA monitor as the master: all video content was showing up on the TV, with mouse cursor, toolbar, and icons displayed on the VGA monitor but no video.
Tried making the TV the primary display, but that caused the mouse icon to "go" to the TV, but toolbars and icons still on VGA monitor.
 That's when I gave up, as it took some doing to get things back to normal (TV is set up in a loft over my workstation and the mouse cable barely reached farenough for me to see the TV).
 Clearly I don't know what I'm doing, but it seems that even if I'm going dual as opposed to "clone" that the same thing should be displayed on both?
 I need to use "dual" as opposed to "clone" or "span" modes so that I can set separate resolutions, etc. for TV and monitor, but I don't necessarily need anything shown on the TV besides video output... but does the above sound normal to anyone who's done this?

BTW, two other weird things happened: XP went back to the default sounds setup, and also made some random changes inthe appearence of my desktop (toolbar colors, shortcut layout).

[congo]

BTW, two other weird things happened: XP went back to the default sounds setup, and also made some random changes inthe appearence of my desktop (toolbar colors, shortcut layout).

Oh , now that would suck. Sounds like it reverted to a default theme.

[beaky]

Oh , now that would suck. Sounds like it reverted to a default theme.

It sure did- fortunately I usually just have Sounds disabled, so no big there.
But... why, i wonder? Is the nVidia software just not playing nice with XP? I've messed with every other function of that application with no problems. Weird.

[congo]

I dunno mate, the dual thingy always gets me into trouble, you'd think it would be as easy as clicking a darn button with a picture of the correct configuration on it. I really, really want to be chief stoker in hell for naughty application writers.

The simplest and most useful functions like networking and multiple displays are so screwed up that mere mortals are left in despair.

[richardd43]

I tried the TV connection also and was not impressed at all. that was 2 years ago with an ATI card.

I recently bought a new LCD TV with a DVI input on it. It is just like having dual monitors hooked up.

I took the Samsung monitor out of my system and use the TV as the second monitor when it is required.

The TV is a 26 inch Acer and does not have the greatest resolution but the price was right and it liiks good when in use.

[beaky]

Thanks guys-
Fortunately, I was only going dual as an experiment, to see what the s-vid output looks like . It looks like crap (yes, I did sort of get Dual Mode working, and... blecch! No amount of tweaking made it look better). So-called "super-video" is basically a load of hype... it's no better, usually, than a composite signal. Cable run is about 20 feet; probably a factor, but I'm ditching the S-video idea.

[kipman725]

I have never had problems with the nvida display software and multi monitors.  
clone = same thing on both displays
horizontal span = desktop spread over 2 monitors
vertical span = desktop spread over 2 monitors verticaly

it may work better if you set your main monitor to the same resolution as your tv.

[beaky]

[quote]I have never had problems with the nvida display software and multi monitors.