3 monitors connected, but 2 are active, the 3rd monitor is forced inactive

[dturovskiy]

When I'm trying to use 3 monitors, 2 are active and the third monitor is forced inactive, I've already tried updating the graphics driver, reducing the resolution of the active display, using Win+P to set it to extend, and none of that worked.

When I try to configure the display extension directly from Start -> Settings -> System -> Display, I get the error “Failed to save display settings. Try a different combination of these settings."

I dual-boot with Linux that perfectly supports triple monitors with no problems, which leads me to believe it's a software lock in Windows, I want to know how to get around this software lock.

My processor: https://ark.intel.com/content/www/us/en/ark/products/64899/intel-core-i7-3610qm-processor-6m-cache-u...

And from Intel info: https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/articles/000025673/graphics.html

• System Model: HP ENVY 17 Notebook PC
• CPU: Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-3610QM
• iGPU: Intel(R) HD Graphics 4000
• Driver Model: WDDM 1.3
• dGPU: AMD Radeon HD 7800M Series
• Driver Model: WDDM 2.0
• 1st monitor: HP M27fe FHD 1920x1080 - DisplayPort => HDMI
• 2nd monitor: HP 24f 1920x1080 - HDMI => HDMI
• 3nd monitor: built-in laptop monitor 1920x1080
• Drivers:

a. for Intel, I used all the latest and previous drivers that I found in the Internet;

b. for AMD I used both the latest and the oldest drivers for Windows, as well as intermediate versions of the drivers.

On the laptop itself, I have 2x DysplayPorts and 1x HDMI port.

As for the BIOS, I don't have any video card settings either. It looks like here:https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/using-3-monitors-simultaneously-problems-in-th...

[WAWood]

Sounds to me like a driver issue, as I am using three monitors in Win11 -- so there is no "software lock" to prevent that.

Maybe something in this HP info will help ...

Here are a document and video from HP Support about setting up displays using multiple monitors:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ciln29Dfxp8

https://www.hp.com/my-en/shop/tech-takes/post/mastering-triple-monitor-setup

[dturovskiy]

Thanks for the reply, but it doesn't solve my problem

The situation is as follows: I have two Displayport => HDMI cables. And two outputs on the laptop Displayport.

Everything works as follows on Windows:
1. Or built-in monitor + monitor 1
2. Or built-in monitor + monitor 2
3. Or monitor 1 + monitor 2

All monitors are defined normally in the device manager

On Linux - all three monitors work simultaneously, regardless of the connected ports. Displayport => HDMI, HDMI => HDMI. I can add screenshots from additional graphics and monitor management utilities if needed

[WAWood]

Since they work in Linux but not in Windows, given the same hardware, that indicates the issue is a graphics driver problem -- and if you have the current drivers from HP, there is really nothing else you can do.

[dturovskiy]

I determined that when connecting two monitors, the built-in switches to the AMD video card, so the hope is to force it to turn on through the registry

[WAWood]

If you have Switchable Graphics, with an integrated video chip and a separate AMD chip, then Windows determines which chip is used, and as far as I know, there is no way for you to specify it.

[dturovskiy]

I found a possible solution to my problem, but I can't find an alternative HP driver anywhere

https://community.intel.com/t5/Graphics/Can-not-set-up-3-monitors-with-Intel-HD-Graphics-4000/m-p/36...

And I can't install drivers from DELL, I get an error



Also, for some reason I don't have monitor settings in AMD settings,



AMD support directs me to HP support, HP support directs me here, in the community

[WAWood]

As I said, it's likely a drivers issue, especially if Linux works and Dells work -- they both have different drivers than the HP.