Setting up a 2nd monitor

[ewall1]

I have a Samsung monitor (monitor 1) that has been connected to the VGA port of my HP desktop that has worked well (VGA to VGA connection).  I tried to add a second monitor (HP Elite Display E232- Monitor 2)  via the 2nd port (HDMI) on the desktop using a DVI to HDMI adapter.  When I connect up the DVI  to HDMI (Monitor 2) connection, my display freezes on Monitor 1 and Monitor 2 is blank.  What am I doing wrong?  Thanks.

[TheOldMan]

According to the support page, that PC does not have VGA output, so there most likely is a graphics card installed.

https://support.hp.com/us-en/product/hp-envy-700-300-desktop-pc-series/6886619/model/6890459/documen...

Therefore, please indicate the graphics card installed and then which ports are being used for the #1 and  #2 monitors.

[ewall1]

Thanks much Old Man Dean.  So it appears that I have one graphics device: Intel(R) HD Graphics 4600 when I look on the specs on my computer.  There are two vertically mounted monitor plugs on the back of the PC.  The one on the right (port #1) is connected with traditional monitor cables and connections.  That one works.  The one on the left (Port #2) has a different connection that connects with an HDMI adapter to a DVI cable to the second monitor.  That one not only does not work but when I set up the HDMI connection, neither monitor works and the mouse is disconnected.  So can I assume, I stick with one monitor unless I have a different graphics card?

[TheOldMan]

Here is a support page for the motherboard

https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c03748942i/

If you scroll down to the heading I/O ports and click on the Back ports topic, it will show the ports available.  Is that what you see?  Does it conform to that picture?

If yes, then just for clarity, swap the monitor connections,  moving the DVI with HDMI adapter to the other port and connecting the existing monitor to the port you say does  not work properly.  What is happening now?

[ewall1]

[ewall1]

Just uploaded photos of the back and plug in question.  The two port outlets are not interchangeable So I can't switch them.  I can disconnect the working monitor and try the 2nd port with just the DVI cable and cable connector. 

Thanks again.

Eric

[TheOldMan]

Ok  Try that

[ewall1]

Well, this is getting more interesting.  When I disconnected port 1 the one that functions correctly with the usual monitor cable and attached the DVI cable to port 2, nothing but two blank screens.  When I reconnected port 1, my functioning monitor works fine but the DVI/HDMI monitor is still blank.  So now am left wondering if port 2 is functional at all.  Any way to diagnose that?

[ewall1]

I think this may be the answer? : 

https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c05861652#2b5e2f88-94cf-4a16-a973-35e0a37ba21b

Only the video port was not closed.

[TheOldMan]

That document is tell users that the ports on the case may be disabled when a graphics card is present.  While the model PC you have could have a graphics card installed, the pictures you posted would indicate there is no graphics card, just onboard graphics.

Also, according to the picture posted, the port that is shown with nothing on it should be a DVI-D 

A DVI-D connector sends out a digital signal only, (which should support the DVI - HDMI adapter) while a DVI-I connector (the one shown with the DVI - VGA adapter) can send out a digital signal as well as analog signal using a DVI to VGA adaptor.

So now the question becomes "What DVI - HDMI adapter is being used?" and "Does a different HDMI monitor or TV show the adapter+port to support HDMI?"  Perhaps the HDMI cable is a fault if the adapter is functioning.