I have recently bought a second monitor.
I would like to extend my desktop to it but after Ive ticked the checkbox in the display settings, the monitor still doesn't come on. Theres 2 sockets on the back of my computer for monitors but I do not know what I am doing wrong.
Any ideas?

Check your display settings you need to tell it you have a secound monitor (atached)and how you want to use it, if your drivers will run two monitors.

Have you rebooted since plugging in the second monitor?
Also if running windows xp click start and right click on 'mycomputer' click properties then flick to hardware and click devices (or device manager :huh:). This'll open a window with lots of devices listed; see if any have an exclamation amrk next to 'em.

If you're on vista google how to find device manager

Under Display it has no exclamation marks.
Its shows:
Radeon 9000 Family (Microsoft Corporation)
Radeon 9000 SERIES - Secondary

Tried the reboot?

Is there a control panel for the ati/radeon display settings?

Yes I've noticed there is 1 socket for the graphics card and the other socket is direct to the motherboard. This means the graphics card does not have 2 sockets to itself. Can I still have dual monitors?

Nope.

:)

Yes I've noticed there is 1 socket for the graphics card and the other socket is direct to the motherboard. This means the graphics card does not have 2 sockets to itself. Can I still have dual monitors?

Yes, depending what the onboard graphics are, if its a dell with intel graphics your pretty much screwed, however alot will allow you to run 2 monitors this way.

the 'old' method (before cards had 2 sockets) was to put in 2 physical graphics cards, which would be pretty much what you'd be doing.

Yes, depending what the onboard graphics are, if its a dell with intel graphics your pretty much screwed, however alot will allow you to run 2 monitors this way.

the 'old' method (before cards had 2 sockets) was to put in 2 physical graphics cards, which would be pretty much what you'd be doing.

How do i set this up then?

depending what your actual are doing ive used these http://www.misco.co.uk/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=263227&sourceid=2020

How do i set this up then?

install an additional GFX Card, make sure your on board is still enabled in BIOS and in windows (if it only has 'Auto' or 'Disabled' as options in the bios, it may not work)

If its showing ok in Windows Device manager, plug a monitor into each, and boot up to windows, make sure the drivers for both are up to date.

right click your desktop, and click properties, then click 'Settings' - you should see 2 displays in there, click on the one thats grayed out and tick the "Extend windows desktop" box below. and set the resolution, this should then allow you to use both monitors.

if your using an nVidia graphics card, this may cause issues as nVidias software often disables the standard dual display option in windows desktop properties as it uses its own dual setup.

Also - try using a freebie program called UltraMon which is excellent at controlling everything dual screens could need.

I have two dual screen layouts over here - one layout for my PC and then I have a seperate monitor connected to my laptop also.

Ultramon is not free any more, and its only useful once your dual monitors are set up, if you have an issue enabling the second monitor, or if it's not seen, ultramon wouldn't work.

I suspect that both monitors will have to be the same screen resolution to work properly.. are they ?

C

I suspect that both monitors will have to be the same screen resolution to work properly.. are they ?

C

this is incorrect, they can be different resolutions, can even be a TV and a monitor..

Quick question, this new monitor, are you using the VGA or DVI inputs? Does the monitor know which you are using? I know Dell monitors sometimes need a shove to make then realise which input it display.

If you are using a VGA (analogue) input make sure the monitor is not expecting a DVI (Digital) or visa versa.