Replicating a display on multiple monitors with a VGA splitter box.

Q: How do I set up my display drivers when using a one to four monitor VGA Splitter Box?

A: Make sure you have a monitor plugged into port 4 of the splitter and then the operating system should see it.

The Problem

Needed a monitor opposite my MIDI keyboard. Must clone one of the two displays in front of the computer keyboard.

Solution

Use a VGA splitter box to distribute the VGA out of the computer to two identical resolution monitors. Purchased a 4 port VGA Splitter. Plugged monitors into ports one and two. (Logical hey?)

Result

Blank screen on both clone monitors. Spent hours trying workarounds.

Failures

At least in Windows XP you can not turn off Plug N Play. I tried unplugging the splitter and connecting the monitor directly to the PC then after setting up the display in nvidia control panel saving the profile with the hopes of re-loading it once the splitter is reconnected. This can’t be done as an error is generated on loading the saved profile.

The Answer

The monitor must be conected to the computer via pins 5 and 12 of the VGA cable to receive setup data. This is only enabled on port four of the splitter. There is no mention of this in the manual.