Dual monitor troubles
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So, the docking station for my lenovo work laptop has three monitor connecctions: One each for VGA, DVI, and Displayport. At work, I connect two monitors, one via DVI one via displayport and this gives a working dual monitor setup.
At home, I also ahve a docking station, and I also have a dual monitor setup, but neither monitor accepts displayport. So I got a displayport to DVI adapter. And it doesn't work.
If the displayport adaptor is not plugged in, I get video on the DVI port. When I plug in the displayport, the DVI immediately goes dark and a few seconds later the displayport monitor gives video. When I pull displayport out, the DVI comes back on.
Anyone have any ideas?
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It's the same model of docking station in both cases, I presume?
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@rhywden yes. Though I could try swapping them over.
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@pleegwat Hmmh. Then I don't really know. Though it might be worth looking into an MST hub in case nothing works out :)
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@pleegwat To me, it sounds like your laptop is doing different things because it sees the two docking stations as being two separate devices, with two separate configurations.
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@captain I guess it could be something in the adaptor that causes it to be unable to drive both outputs at the same time. But a dp-to-dvi adapter would never drive multiple monitors...
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@pleegwat Upon further research, there seem to be two types of DP to DVI adapters: active and passive.
Might that be the cause?
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@rhywden Hm, well there is a DP++ logo next to the port. Adaptor doesn't specify whether it's active or passive.
The intel graphics driver comes up with a display port monitor picker, telling me to pick up to 3 of the connected monitors to activate. Then lists only the one.
EDIT: That's at home. I never looked for it at work so I don't know what it shows there.
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And I definitely know what's wrong. I procured the wrong docking station. This is a 40A1, with only 1 digital output channel. The one at the office is a 40A2, with 2 digital output channels (and possibly fewer USB ports? Who cares).
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@pleegwat said in Dual monitor troubles:
And I definitely know what's wrong. I procured the wrong docking station. This is a 40A1, with only 1 digital output channel. The one at the office is a 40A2, with 2 digital output channels (and possibly fewer USB ports? Who cares).
That'd do it. Enjoy your VGA second screen. ;)
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@unperverted-vixen Or the MST hub I linked above.
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@rhywden Plus a pair of dp-to-dvi converters cause the screens (and the KVM switch) only accept DVI. But first tomorrow I'll see if I can get the docking station re-procured to the correct type. Probably not though.
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@pleegwat said in Dual monitor troubles:
I can get the docking station re-procured to the correct type
Exchange the two docks. Claim the single monitor one is (suddently) broken and request replacement ? (hey, i'm not saying it's ethical)
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@swayde There's always ways. Maybe someone else needs a 1-monitor dock.