Member Avatar for Wombie

Hello, I am new to this forum.

I use Windows XP home SP2

I have just set up Dual monitors on my desktop PC. One is 19" LG Flatron and a 17" Diamond Digital Flatscreen. Running on an AGP GeForce FX5500 video card.

The 17" is running off a DVI to VGA adapter and is set as the secondary monitor.

My problem is that this secondary monitor is not displaying colour correctly, it looks faded in areas and text is just about unreadable. I have adjusted all colour settings and it does not change the appearance at all.

I have installed all the latest drivers and nothing changed. I have changed over the connections on the video card the prob is still there. When I plug the monitors in separately they both work OK, so it's not the monitors.

I have searched the web without any results so far.

Does anyone know how to fix this problem? OR what the problem might be please?

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reported that the situation was resolved; below is a compact, practical checklist and background that complements that follow-up. It focuses on causes that are often missed and on reproducible steps to get both screens matching reliably.

Immediate, non-destructive checks:

  • Try duplicate/clone mode briefly — if both displays look the same when cloned, the GPU output is consistent and the issue is per-monitor (settings or profile).
  • Reset each monitor’s OSD (factory defaults) and set a common color temperature (for example, sRGB/6500K) before any software tweaks.
  • Run the OS’s color calibration and text-tuning tools (ClearType or equivalent) to fix white-point and text rendering differences. See ClearType basics: ClearType.

Deeper troubleshooting and fixes:

  • Manage ICC profiles: remove custom profiles and apply a known baseline (sRGB IEC61966-2.1) or create a new profile with a calibrator. Proper profiles prevent one monitor from looking “washed out.” See ICC concepts: ICC profile.
  • Be aware of signal and reporting differences: displays and converters sometimes report different capabilities to the system (EDID); a mismatch can change color and gamma behavior. Learn more: EDID.
  • If exact colour match matters, use a hardware colorimeter and calibration software to produce per-monitor ICC files. This is the most reliable long-term fix for multi-brand setups.

If the problem resists these steps, try a different output or adapter to isolate a hardware fault. Document working settings so they can be restored quickly after driver or OS changes.

Member Avatar for Wombie

Ok, I have solved the problem myself. I did not tweak the colour setting enough. It was the Gamma settings that were causing the problem with my Nvidia card.
All working great now.
Thanks, Wombie

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