Windows 98 lets a single machine connect to multiple display adapters and monitors. You can significantly expand the total viewing area of your desktop increasing the amount of applications or windows you can view simultaneously.

The multiple monitor feature of Windows 98 requires a display driver that supports the Multimonitor environment. It can be used for the following purposes:

• Desktop publishing
• Presentations: Multimonitor display can be used to prepare and deliver presentations.
• Games: Navigator and status can be displayed on separate monitors
• Business: Several applications can be displayed by tasks on different monitors
• Monitor matrix display: Up to nine monitors (3x3) can be used to create a very large display.

Following are requirements for the Multimonitor feature:

• The main requirement for multiple monitor support is drivers that support it.
• Some video drivers included in the operating system will have this support. The secondary card requires these drivers. The primary driver can use any driver that is compatible with the chipset of the card.
• You must have enough slots free in the system

Follow the steps below to set up the Multimonitor feature.

1. Set up the first display adapter in slot 1 and install the display adapter drivers.
2. Your primary card must have the highest priority. (Whichever card displays POST [Power On Self Test] in DOS is the primary display adapter.)
3. Once the first card is set up, shut down the system, install the second card and boot up. The system will find the second display adapter and install the drivers.
4. Reboot the system. On bootup, while the Splash screen is showing, the second monitor will initialize. It will show you the information about the card’s BIOS and tell you…Windows has successfully initialized this display adapter. To extend the desktop to this monitor, go to your Display Properties and then to the Settings tab…
5. Once booted up to Windows, go to the Display Properties and then the Settings tab. You will see a picture of two monitors (the primary is labeled 1 and the secondary is labeled 2).
6. Click the second monitor and check the box at the bottom that says… "Extend my Windows desktop onto this monitor."
7. Click "Apply".

You should now have both monitors working. You can now set the resolution, color palette, refresh rate, and acceleration of each card independently. Please refer to the Tips and Troubleshooting for Multimonitor Support below.

Q: Why did my second monitor fail to come up after I configured and rebooted my computer?

The likely cause of this is a conflict with the emm386.exe program. Comment out emm386.exe from config.sys and reboot your computer.

Q: Why won’t the second display adapter initialize as described in step 3 of setup?

Check the Device Manager. Make sure that both adapters are listed and conflict free.

If you see a problem with the secondary display adapter, check its properties. On the general tab, under Device Status, it will most likely tell you that the display drivers do not support multiple display adapters. If it does, try getting updated drivers for the device that is Multimonitor compliant. If you are using Windows 98 drivers for the device, then it may be a limitation of the hardware and the card may require that it be the primary display adapter.

Q: Why won’t my screen saver display between both monitors?

The screen saver you are using does not support multiple monitors. Try using built-in screen savers, such as the Flying Windows or any of the 3D screen savers.

Q: Why won’t the task bar extend over both screens?

The task bar is only displayed on one monitor. This is the correct operation.

Q: Why is Direct3D not accelerated on the second display adapter?

This is a known issue and is a limitation of either Windows 98 or the motherboard. We have verified this problem on a Socket 7 with a 430TX chipset, a Socket 5 with the FX chipset, and a Pentium II with the 440LX chipset, all with the same results running a Direct3D Tunnel test in a window. When you drag it to the other monitor, the FPS is reduced on average of 75% (from 60fps to 21fps).

Q: AGP is not the primary adapter. Why not?

That is a limitation of the motherboard. Your primary adapter is whatever card has the highest bus priority, if you get POST out of the PCI card and not the AGP card. Contact the motherboard manufacturer for possible solutions.

Q: How many adapters can you have in one system?

We have tested and validated up to four adapters. According to Microsoft, you can have as many adapters installed as you want if you adhere to the following: use Windows 98 drivers, verify that all the hardware is compatible, and have the resources and slots needed.

Q: How can I get OpenGL to work?

All secondary display adapters must be disabled in order for hardware OpenGL acceleration to be enabled.