Member Avatar for corlando52

I have a Dell Inspiron 6000, running Windows 7. It has the Mobile Intel
915GM/GMS,910GML Graphics chip, Driver version 6.14.10.4609. I want to run 2 external
monitors from it, sending the laptop display to monitor 1. I have it hooked up now to one
external monitor as monitor 2, using the VGA output to VGA input of the monitor. I am also
using it as the extended desktop. Can anyone help me run 2 external, separate displays?
Thanks!

Chris

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Short, practical answer for (and yes, was on the right track): legacy Intel mobile chipsets from the 915 family use two display “pipes” and generally support at most two simultaneous images (so you can’t get three independent screens from one VGA port, and a monitor’s VGA pass‑through will not produce a second independent video feed). (intel.com)

Two realistic ways to get two external screens from that laptop without changing the internal GPU hardware:

  • Matrox DualHead2Go (external multiview adapter): plugs into the VGA output and presents one very wide desktop that is split across two monitors. The OS sees a single wide display (not two separate GPUs), so it’s easy to span windows across both, but you’re constrained to a single combined resolution/refresh and some full‑screen apps can behave strangely. (video.matrox.com)

  • USB graphics (DisplayLink) adapter: a USB→VGA/DVI adapter with DisplayLink chipset installs drivers so Windows 7 recognizes the extra monitor as an independent display. This is the most flexible and common solution for older laptops that lack multiple video outputs. Expect good performance for office/productivity use but reduced performance for high-motion video or 3D; ensure you install the correct DisplayLink driver and recent USB host controller drivers on Windows 7. (support.displaylink.com)

Recommendation and quick steps: for true independent external monitors, choose a DisplayLink USB adapter and install the Windows 7 DisplayLink driver, then arrange displays in Windows’ Screen Resolution dialog. If you prefer a single wide desktop across two externals (no drivers), get a DualHead2Go and match the monitors’ resolutions/refresh. Update the Intel graphics driver if Windows won’t detect displays; Intel’s legacy multidisplay notes and the Inspiron service manual document the chipset/port limits that make the above workarounds necessary. (support.displaylink.com)

Member Avatar for Octet

Hold on, let me make sure I've understood this correctly:

You have one laptop with one VGA Output, you have connected this to your monitors VGA Input, on that monitor you also have a second VGA Output which you have connected to a second monitors VGA Input?

Unfortunately you won't be able to run two seperate displays like this, the graphics card shall only output to one monitor, whether you extend or duplicate your displays. It is up to the first monitor to extend or duplicate your displays.

Is this what you mean, good luck regardless.

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