Monitor not detected

Question

I have a new Lenovo IdeaCentre PC and it detected my 1st monitor, but won't detect my 2nd monitor (they are both brand new). I have double checked and all my cables are installed correctly.

Answer 1

Hi Kim Green,
Welcome to Microsoft Q&A forum. I'm happy to help.

Please troubleshoot with the following suggestions:

• Keep the same port and cable, swap the monitor. This will make sure both monitors are good.
• Keep the same port and monitor, swap the cable. This will make sure the cables are good.
• Keep the same cable and monitor, swap the port. This will make sure the ports are good.

If everything is in good condition. Please provide me some further information:

• Your computer detects the 1st monitor but not the 2nd. Does it matter which port you need to use first, or both ports will behave the same.
• How do you connect the signal cable and the power cord to your monitors?
• Which ports are you using on your computer?
• Are you using any external hub or you connect your monitors directly to your computer?

I hope that with enough information, we will be able to find the root cause and resolve your issue.

Thank you for your time.

Answer 2

Hello, my name is Jan and I'm happy to help you today. I'm sorry you're having this problem with your monitors. . If the suggestion didn't work, here are another suggestion you can try.

• Power cycle/reset your computer. Shutdown the computer Unplug all external USB devices Press the power button for 10 seconds to turn off then unplug your AC adapter for 30 seconds then plug in your power adapter. then start your device. Then try to extend the monitor again by pressing Windows key + P
• Clean and install the graphics drivers . Download the latest drivers directly from the manufacturer support website. Then select the Custom and Clean installation option. Then restart the computer.

Answer 3

If your Lenovo IdeaCentre PC is not detecting the second monitor, there are a few troubleshooting steps you can take:

1. Check Connections: Ensure that all cables are securely connected to both the monitor and the PC. Sometimes, a loose connection can cause detection issues.
2. Use Windows Display Settings: Press Windows + P to open the Project menu and select either "Extend" or "Duplicate" to see if the second monitor is detected.
3. Update Drivers: Make sure that your graphics drivers are up to date. You can check for updates through the Device Manager or the manufacturer's website.
4. Try Different Ports: If your PC has multiple output ports, try connecting the second monitor to a different port to see if it gets detected.
5. Test the Monitor: If possible, connect the second monitor to another computer to ensure that it is functioning correctly.
6. Check for USB-Attached Monitor Issues: If your second monitor is connected via USB, there may be issues with the display configuration not being retained after reboot, as noted in some cases with USB-attached monitors. This can cause the system to default to a different display mode after restarting.

If these steps do not resolve the issue, consider checking the manufacturer's support resources for further assistance.

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References:

• When using USB-attached monitor, display configuration may not be retained after reboot
• Handling Two Monitor Configurations
• Docking station external monitors not working when a Windows 10 version 1703-based portable computer is connected
• Monitor Hot Plug Detection
• About multiple display monitors