Vantec USB External Video Adapter

User’s Manual

Model: NBV-100U

www.vantecusa.com

Copyright © 2008 Vantec Thermal Technologies. All Rights Reserved.

Safety Instructions

Always read the safety instructions carefully

Keep this User’s Manual for future reference

Keep this equipment away from humidity

If any of the following situations arise, get the equipment checked by a service technician:

• The equipment has been exposed to moisture.

• The equipment has been dropped and damaged.

• The equipment has obvious sign of breakage.

• The equipment has not been working well or you cannot get it work according to User’s Manual.

Copyright Statement

No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form by any means without the prior written permission. Other trademarks or brand names mentioned herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.

Disclaimer

Information in this document is subject to change without notice. The manufacturer does not make any representations or warranties (implied or otherwise) regarding the accuracy and completeness of this document and shall in no event be liable for any loss of profit or any commercial damage, including but not limited to special, incidental, consequential, or other damage.

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Table of Contents

1. Introduction.............................................................................................................. 3

Applications......................................................................................................... 3

Features.............................................................................................................. 4

Specifications………………………………………………………………………..... 4

Package Contents............................................................................................... 5

System Requirements........................................................................................ 5

2. Installation................................................................................................................ 6

3. Using the Adapter..................................................................................................... 9

Display Modes..................................................................................................... 9

Extend Your Windows Desktop to Add-on Monitor (Default)................................... 9

Video and DVD Playback in Extended Mode...........................................................10

Mirror Your Windows Desktop................................................................................. 11

Be the Primary Monitor............................................................................................ 12

Adjusting Resolution, Color Depth and Refresh Rate........................................ 12

Standby and Hibernate, Shut Down and Restart............................................... 14

Disconnecting the Adapter................................................................................. 14

Using Dual Adapters.......................................................................................... 14

Uninstall the Adapter and Driver........................................................................ 16

4. Troubleshooting...................................................................................................... 17

5. Regulatory Compliance.......................................................................................... 18

FCC Conditions.................................................................................................. 18

CE...................................................................................................................... 18

WEEE Information............................................................................................. 18

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1. Introduction

The Vantec USB External Video Adapter is a quick and easy way to add an additional monitor to your computer. An additional monitor provides more desktop area allowing you to multitask more efficiently or run several programs at once. Adding an additional monitor usually meant having to buy an expensive video card and installing it inside your case. With the Vantec USB External Video Adapter, installation is as simple as connecting it to a USB port and connecting it to your monitor. Adding a monitor to your computer has never been easier.

Applications

Office

View large spreadsheet across two screens

Multitask more effectively without overlapping windows

Read email on one screen and open attachments on the other

Presentation

Display multiple screens presentation with one computer

Provide multiple screens exhibition at trade shows

Graphics

Use second display for palettes or tools menu bar

Display a panoramic view of large image

Data Entry

Type documents on one screen while viewing reference material on the other

Wall Street

Display multiple screens at same time with one computer

View charts and live data at the same time

Entertainment

View videos/TV on one screen and your desktop on the other

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Features

• Easily add an additional monitor without opening your computer

• Supports up to 1600 x 1200

• Supports Widescreen resolutions

• Supports Video Playback

• Supports Extended Desktop, Mirror and Primary Modes

• Supports up to 2 USB External Video Adapters simultaneously

• Compatible with DVI or VGA monitors

• Hot Swappable; Add or remove monitor without rebooting

Specifications

Model: NBV-100U

Device Support: Monitor & Projector

Supported Resolutions:

Color

Depth

Resolution

640x480

Refresh rates available at 16 bit color quality

60 72 75

Refresh rates available at 32 bit color quality

60 72 75

800x600

1024x768

1280x960

1280x1024

1360x768

1366x768

1368x768

1400x1050

1440x900

1600x1200

1680x1050

56 60 72 75 85 56 60 72 75 85

60 75 85

60 85

60 75 85

60 85

60 75 85

60

60 75

60

60

60

60 75 85

60

60

59 60

60

60

60 75 85

60

60

59 60

Display Modes: Extended Desktop/Mirror/Primary

Computer Interface: USB 2.0

Monitor Interface: DVI or VGA

Power Supply: USB Powered

Material: Plastic

Dimensions: 84.3 x 54 x 17.8 mm

OS Supported Windows 2000/XP/Vista 32-bit

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Package Contents

Before installation, please check the items in the package. The package should contain the following items:

• USB External Video Adapter x1

• Driver CD x1

• USB Cable x1

• Quick Installation Guide x1

• DVI to VGA Converter x1

System Requirements

The minimum requirements for the PC are:

• CPU 1.2GHz or higher. Intel Pentium/Celeron family, or AMD

K6/Athlon/Duron family, or compatible processor

• 256 MB of RAM

• At least one USB2.0 port

• 30Mb of available disk space

• Windows® 2000 SP4, XP SP2 32-bit, Vista™ 32-bit

• Super VGA (800 x 600) or higher resolution monitor

Additional requirements for DVD playback on adapter-attached monitor:

• Dual core CPU 2.0 GHz or higher

• The adapter screen resolution set to 800x600 with 16bit color

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2. Installation

Follow the procedures below to install the driver and then connect the adapter:

1. Insert the provided driver CD into your CD-ROM drive. The setup program will run automatically. If not, locate and double-click the Setup.exe file under the Driver folder on the CD.

Notice for Windows Vista users:

Windows Vista users will encounter a User Account Control dialog box when attempting to install a program. Enter an administrator password or click Allow to start the installation.

When prompted with Windows Security dialog box, select Install this driver software anyway

.

Notice for Windows 2000 users:

If the following message appears, please download and install the required patch first and then execute the Setup.exe file on the CD.

2. Select I accept the terms in the License Agreement and click Next.

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3. Install Core software.

4. Install NBV-100U Driver

5. If prompted to restart your computer, click Yes to restart or No to manually restart later.

Note that a reboot is always needed for a successful installation. If the reboot prompt doesn’t appear, make sure to manually reboot your computer.

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6. Connect the adapter to your computer and monitor.

Connect the mini-B (smaller) end of the USB cable to the adapter. Then connect the

Type-A (larger) end of the USB cable to a USB 2.0 port on your computer

If your monitor is not yet connected to the adapter, connect it and power on your monitor.

The equipped DVI-I (DVI-Integrated) connector transmits both the digital and analog signals. This means it supports either of these two connection types:

• It can be connected to a DVI-D (digital) monitor using a DVI cable (not provided)

Or, it can be connected to an analog VGA monitor using the provided DVI to VGA

Converter and a VGA cable (not provided).

7. After you connect the adapter, Windows will automatically complete the installation.

8. Once the installation is done, an extended screen will appear on the add-on monitor.

For Windows Vista, if the add-on monitor is blank, please reboot your system again.

If required, you can connect and disconnect the add-on monitor at any time without disconnecting the adapter from the USB port on your computer.

Sometimes it takes time for the add-on monitor to show the video.

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3. Using the Adapter

Display Modes

There are several ways you can utilize the monitor attached on the adapter. The add-on monitor can be configured to use either “mirror mode”, “extended mode” or be the primary display as described in this section.

Extend Your Windows Desktop to Add-on Monitor (Default)

In this so-called “extended mode”, your display will be spread over the add-on monitor(s). This mode allows you to perform multiple tasks more effectively without overlapping windows.

Extended mode is the default setting. To set up the adapter to use or restore extended mode, follow these steps:

1. Position the mouse anywhere on your computer desktop, right-click and select Personalize >

Display Settings on Vista or Properties > Settings on XP/2000.

2. In the Display drop-down menu, select the option: “DisplayLink Graphics Adapter”.

3. Check the Extend the desktop onto this monitor box on Vista or Extend my Windows desktop onto this monitor box on XP/2000.

4. Drag the icons in the window at the top of the screen to match the physical arrangement of your primary monitor and add-on monitor.

The add-on monitor connected to the adapter may be identified as either "2" or “3”, depending on your computer, although there may not be a total of 3 screens connected.

5. Click OK to close the settings screen.

Once the setting is done, to use your extended desktop, simply drag and drop your open windows over to your second monitor. However, note that some applications may not support display on the extended desktop.

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Cursor disappeared ?

If you’re in extended mode but the add-on monitor is not connected, the desktop still extends to the add-on monitor and it’s possible that your cursor has moved to the extended desktop so that you cannot find it on the primary display. To solve the problem in such a case, connect the add-on monitor to the adapter or keep moving your mouse to try or unplug the adapter first to bring the cursor back to the primary display.

Video and DVD Playback in Extended Mode

On Windows Vista with extended mode, it’s suggested that you run video or DVD playback programs on your primary monitor instead of the add-on monitor to give better playback performance.

Mirror Your Windows Desktop

This mode is referred to as “mirror” or “clone” mode. In this mode, your original screen (the primary display) will be mirrored to the add-on monitor.

In mirror mode, the adapter will automatically select the settings (screen resolution, color quality, and refresh rate) for the add-on monitor. You can manually adjust the settings as desired, however, the settings of the add-on monitor are limited to those of the primary monitor. For example, even though your add-on monitor supports a resolution of up to 1680x1050, if your primary monitor only supports a resolution of 1280x1024, the add-on monitor will only be able to use a resolution of 1280x1024.

If you change the video output to extended mode and then want to switch back to mirror mode, follow these steps:

1. Position the mouse anywhere on your computer desktop, right-click and select Personalize >

Display Settings on Vista or Properties > Settings on XP/2000.

2. In the Display drop-down menu, select the option: “DisplayLink Graphics Adapter”.

3. Uncheck the Extend the desktop onto this monitor on Vista or Extend my Windows desktop onto this monitor on XP/2000.

4. Click OK to close the settings screen.

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Be the Primary Monitor

To make the add-on monitor the primary display:

1. Position the mouse anywhere on your computer desktop, right-click and select Personalize >

Display Settings on Vista or Properties > Settings on XP/2000.

2. In the Display drop-down menu, select the option ends with DisplayLink Graphics Adapter.

3. Check the This is my main monitor box on Vista or Use this device as the primary monitor box on XP/2000.

On some PCs and laptops it is necessary to disable the main display (i.e. uncheck the Extend the desktop onto this monitor or Extend my Windows desktop onto this monitor box for the main display) as part of the same settings change.

4. Click OK to close the settings screen.

The add-on monitor will remain as the primary if the PC enters hibernate or suspend mode or is rebooted. If the add-on monitor is unplugged, the main display becomes primary again.

Adjusting Resolution, Color Depth and Refresh Rate

There are three components that make up the screen mode:

Resolution: In common usage, this refers to the number of pixels displayed on the screen horizontally and vertically.

Color Depth: This defines the number of different colors that can be shown on the screen at the same time.

Refresh rate: Measures the rate that the entire screen is rescanned. Higher frequencies reduce flicker.

Some monitors advertise the supported modes through the video connector. If this is the case, the adapter identifies the supported modes from the monitor. If the monitor does not advertise the supported modes, the adapter software chooses a set of common screen modes for the monitor.

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The software supports the modes listed below.

Resolution

Color Depth Refresh rates available at 16 bit Refresh rates available at 32 bit color quality color quality

640x480 60 72 75 60 72 75

800x600 56 60 72 75 85 56 60 72 75 85

1024x768 60 75 85 60 75 85

1280x960 60 85 60 85

1280x1024 60 75 85 60 75

1360x768

1366x768

1368x768

60

60

60

60

60

60

1400x1050

1440x900

1600x1200

60 75 85

60

60

60 75 85

60

60

1680x1050 59 60 59 60

*Note that interlaced modes are not supported.

About the resolutions and refresh rates available to users

The resolutions and refresh rates available to the user through Windows are a compromise of the support from the following elements:

■

The USB display adapter

■

The primary monitor and the add-on monitor

■

The primary video card on your computer and installed drivers

Therefore, for example, if your monitor doesn’t support a resolution of 1600x1200, then 1600x1200 is not possible even if you are using a USB display adapter with 1600x1200 support. This ensures that the monitor cannot be put into an unsupported mode, which might damage it.

If cloning the primary display, the video component will try to use the preferred monitor mode. In some cases, this may not be the most appropriate mode for the cloned desktop. It is recommended that the primary display resolution be changed to closer match the default resolution of the add-on monitor.

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To configure the three components (resolution, color depth and refresh rate) of a screen mode, follow these steps:

1. Position the mouse anywhere on your computer desktop, right-click and select Personalize >

Display Settings on Vista or Properties > Settings on XP/2000.

2. In the Display drop-down menu, select the option: DisplayLink Graphics Adapter.

3. To change the screen resolution or color quality, select those options on the screen. Be sure to select one of the supported resolutions and color quality numbers in the table above. For the add-on monitor, you can also select any resolution or color quality supported by that monitor.

4. To change the refresh rate, click Advanced… and then click Monitor.

5.

Select a refresh rate from the Screen refresh rate drop-down list and then click Apply.

 

6. Click OK to close the settings screen.

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Standby and Hibernate, Shut Down and Restart

When the adapter is connected to a computer and an external monitor, if the computer goes into standby or hibernate mode, the external monitor display will go blank.

When the computer returns to an active state, the external monitor display will keep the same settings it had before the computer went into standby or hibernate mode. However, if the add-on monitor was set for extended mode, windows that were previously on the external monitor will not move back to that secondary monitor. Also, if the add-on monitor is in extended mode and the computer requires a login after standby or hibernate mode, the login screen will appear on the primary computer monitor, not the external monitor.

If the computer is shut down, restarted and logged in, again the add-on monitor will return to the same mode as it was before shutdown.

Disconnecting the Adapter

If the adapter is unplugged from the computer, the add-on monitor will go blank. All windows and icons will move to the primary screen.

On reconnection of the adapter, the adapter will return to the same mode as it was before disconnection. However, windows and icons that were previously on the screen will not be moved back.

Using Dual Adapters

Up to two adapters can be simultaneously attached to one computer. To use two adapters:

1. Install the driver as described in the “2. Installation” section and connect the first adapter to your computer.

2. Then connect the second adapter to your computer. The system will automatically complete the installation.

While two adapters are connected to a computer, in most cases both adapters support extended and mirror modes. The only exception is Windows Vista XDDM mode as described below.

Limitation for dual adapters on Windows Vista in XDDM mode: In this mode one extended screen and one mirrored screen is supported. Only the first connected adapter can be configured to use extended mode; the second adapter is forced to use mirror mode. When you bring up the

Windows display settings dialog box, you will find that only one …DisplayLink Graphics Adapter

(representing your first attached adapter) is configurable.

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What is Vista XDDM mode?

XDDM refers to Windows XP Driver Mode. It is a video card driver mode used in some legacy computers that running the new generation Vista OS. It provides an interface similar to Windows

XP user Interface on Vista and one of its characteristics is that it doesn’t support Windows Aero interface. To see the current display video driver mode, right-click on Computer and select Device

Manager . Then expand the Display adapters item.

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Uninstall the Adapter and Driver

If for any reason you want to uninstall the video adapter and its driver, please take these steps:

1. Open the Control Panel and double-click Programs and Features on Vista or Add or

Remove Programs

on XP/2000.

2. Select NBV-100U and click Uninstall or Remove.

3. Click Yes to confirm the removal. During the removal process a couple of DOS windows will pop up.

4. Click Yes to restart your computer and then unplug the adapter now.

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4. Troubleshooting

Q1:

The display on the add-on monitor is blank.

A: If the monitor power LED is green (in most cases), wait a moment for the monitor to show the video as sometimes it takes time for the secondary monitor to show the video. You can also reboot your system to try again. Also make sure the computer is not in standby or hibernation mode, which will lead the add-on monitor to be blank.

If the monitor power LED is red (in most cases), check that the connection is properly made. If the problem still exists, uninstall the driver, unplug the adapter, reinstall the driver and try again.

Q2: The add-on monitor is flickering.

A: This is usually caused by a low refresh rate. To solve this problem:

• In mirror mode, increase the refresh rate of the main monitor. This will in turn increase the refresh rate of the add-on monitor.

• In extended mode, increase the refresh rate of the add-on monitor.

Q3: When I play MPEG file by Windows Media Player on the extended monitor, how come the display becomes abnormal when I switch it to full screen mode?

A: If your system is Windows XP SP1, we suggest you upgrade it to SP2 to solve this problem.

Q4: When playing the video in full screen mode, the motion is not smooth.

A: Try the following tips to improve the smoothness of movie playback:

• Reduce the resolution of the display to 640x480 or 800x600.

• Use the adapter in extended mode.

• Terminate any other CPU intensive applications running on the computer.

 

If you still have issues playing media content on the adapter, try the following steps:

• As some media players require DirectX hardware support to correctly operate, try a different media player which requires less DirectX support.

• Drag the media player to the add-on screen and close the player. Restart the player and it should open on the add-on monitor. Now try playing the media file again.

• Try reducing the hardware acceleration level of the primary display (NOT the add-on monitor) to levels 1,2 or 3 and restarting the media player. The hardware acceleration can be found by right-clicking on your desktop and click Properties > Settings > Advanced >

Troubleshoot . Some players use this setting even when playing on a different display.

• The video playback may be unusual when the add-on monitor is mirroring the primary display and there is another extended screen connected to the computer. The extended screen must be disabled before the content will be correctly cloned to the add-on monitor.

Q5: In extended mode, the add-on monitor appears to have a black border around the desktop.

A: This happens when the resolution used by the add-on monitor is larger than the resolution used by the primary monitor. To solve this problem, configure the add-on monitor to use the same resolution as the primary monitor.

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5. Regulatory Compliance

FCC Conditions

This equipment has been tested and found to comply with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions:

(1) This device may not cause harmful interference

(2) This device must accept any interference received. Including interference that may cause undesired operation.

Important!

Changes or modifications not expressly approved by the manufacturer responsible for compliance could void the user’s authority to operate the equipment.

CE

This equipment is in compliance with the requirements of the following regulations: EN 55 022:

CLASS B

WEEE Information

For EU ( European Union ) m ember users: According to the WEEE ( Waste electrical and electronic equipment ) Directive, do not dispose of this product as household waste or commercial waste. Waste electrical and electronic equipment should be appropriately collected and recycled as required by practices established for your country. For information on recycling of this product, please contact your local authorities , your household waste disposal service or the shop where you purchased the product.

Vantec Thermal Technologies.

43951 Boscell Road

Fremont,CA 94538

Tel: (510) 668-0368

Fax(510) 668-0367

Web: www.vantecusa.com

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