Windows 7 is detecting a non-existent 2nd monitor

As of a couple of months ago Windows has started detecting a 2nd "generic non PNP monitor" that is supposedly connected to my laptop. I wouldn't mind this but it's causing problems when I actually do try to connect another monitor. I wasn't able to find any info on the matter and was wondering if anyone else has encountered this problem.

I tried uninstalling the ghost monitor from the device manager but windows somehow "detects" it once again after a while.

I have an NVIDIA GeForce Go 6150 graphics card with the updated drivers and using windows 7 ultimate.

yurib

Posted 2011-01-19T21:54:15.563

Reputation: 1 042

@KronoS Pressing Win+P allows one to use the Windows 7 Multiple monitor dialog to cycle through the different output options (clone, extend, second only, first only). – twobob – 2018-10-19T22:16:48.733

What does win+P do? – James Mertz – 2011-01-20T03:27:55.433

Answers

This may well be a hardware issue.

The presence of a "non-PNP" VGA monitor is detected by just sensing electrical load on the RGB/HV outputs, so a faulty driver chip or short-circuited board can cause misdetection.

If this is the case, having the video card replaced will fix the problem.

mizo

Posted 2011-01-19T21:54:15.563

Reputation: 826

But make sure to try @twobob's answer first - it worked flawlessly for me.

– Marcus Mangelsdorf – 2016-07-21T10:55:03.603

1Is there is any alternative solution that this. Mine is a laptop and has same issue. – Starx – 2011-10-16T06:39:20.287

Choose main display. Ensure it is "1"

Choose "Show Desktop Only on 1" from drop-down. (hit "Apply")

Choose errant display (which is now grey, not blue) Choose "Remove this Display"

twobob

Posted 2011-01-19T21:54:15.563

Reputation: 361

3The problem is that there is no such an option as "Remove this display" in this dropdown for the ghost monitor. – thorn – 2016-03-17T21:09:48.403

4Remember to hit "Apply" after choosing to "Show Desktop Only on 1". Then the option to "Remove this display" shows up on the list – papacito – 2017-01-19T08:46:20.247

1I'd been struggling with this for a few hours. Couldn't get the ghost monitor to go away. Would normally have ignored it but once in a while things would open on the ghost. This solved the issue. I tried everything else but the "show desktop only on one" and then the disconnect device option was there. THANK YOU! – user1759942 – 2018-07-05T13:47:36.187

In device manager uninstall all the monitors in there and uninstall the video card, reboot the machine. Reinstall drivers if applicable (I didn't have to when I had this problem). I remember what a pain it was when I was having this issue.. it took me a while to figure out it was the second "ghost" monitor. I wonder if it is only affects people running windows 7? I have not seen this on XP.

Supercereal

Posted 2011-01-19T21:54:15.563

Reputation: 8 643

This issue affects all version of windows using that exact control dialog version only – twobob – 2018-07-09T13:36:31.597

3i tried that but it just "re-detects" the ghost monitor after a while... – yurib – 2011-01-19T23:24:16.983

Damn, sorry that's all I had, it fixed the problem for me. I had like 4 pnp monitors in there too... – Supercereal – 2011-01-20T13:26:51.633