I have a laptop at work that is connected to 2 monitors thru a dock, the user usually keeps the laptop lid closed and it has worked fine in the past. Recently it has started detecting a ghost monitor, when I connect to the PC thru our RDP software it shows 3 screens, but I verified the 3rd is not the laptop screen, it will show 4 when it is opened. I verified nothing else is plugged into the dock or the laptop and have updated the drivers and BIOS for the laptop. Anyone else ever run into an issue like this?
📎 AI Summary:
A user reported that a laptop connected to two monitors through a dock intermittently shows a third “ghost” display in remote sessions, despite updating laptop drivers and BIOS. The response suggested first checking whether Windows Display Settings also detects the extra screen—indicating a dock, cable, firmware, or EDID issue—or whether only the remote-access software creates it via a virtual display driver; overall, the exchange was practical and diagnostic, with more system details requested.
A user reported that a laptop connected to two monitors through a dock intermittently shows a third “ghost” display in remote sessions, despite updating laptop drivers and BIOS. The response suggested first checking whether Windows Display Settings also detects the extra screen—indicating a dock, cable, firmware, or EDID issue—or whether only the remote-access software creates it via a virtual display driver; overall, the exchange was practical and diagnostic, with more system details requested.
Solution
Hi wschmitt — yes, this can happen with docks, but the key is determining whether Windows itself detects the extra display or whether your remote-access software is creating a virtual display.
If Windows Display Settings shows only the three real panels, but the remote session shows four, the leading hypothesis is a virtual/indirect display driver installed by the remote-access product. The remote software name and version would be important in that case.
Please post the laptop model, dock model, Windows version, remote-access software, and the output from those two PowerShell commands. That should distinguish a dock/EDID enumeration issue from a remote virtual-display driver.
First: identify where the ghost display originates
- Log on locally with the laptop lid open.
- Open Settings → System → Display.
- Select Identify.
- Check whether four display rectangles appear there.
- Open Device Manager → View → Show hidden devices.
- Expand Monitors and Display adapters, but do not uninstall anything yet.
Code:
Get-PnpDevice -Class Monitor | Format-Table Status,FriendlyName,InstanceId -Auto
Get-PnpDevice -Class Display | Format-Table Status,FriendlyName,InstanceId -AutoIf Windows also detects the ghost monitor
- Shut the laptop down completely.
- Disconnect the dock from the laptop.
- Unplug power and all display cables from the dock.
- Leave it disconnected for about 60 seconds.
- Reconnect dock power first, then the monitors, and finally the laptop.
- Check the laptop manufacturer's support site for a separate dock firmware update. Updating laptop drivers and BIOS does not necessarily update dock firmware.
- Test each monitor individually through the dock.
- Swap the dock’s DisplayPort/HDMI ports and cables to see whether the ghost follows a particular port.
Please post the laptop model, dock model, Windows version, remote-access software, and the output from those two PowerShell commands. That should distinguish a dock/EDID enumeration issue from a remote virtual-display driver.
I guess we will just to just use our crystal ball to figure out the name and model of this equipment.
Either way, the AI's guidance is sound in this case about updating the dock firmware. If it's not a major brand though good luck finding the support page for it if it even has firmware updates.
Last edited:
datawizard0103
Fantastic Member
I’d recommend checking the RDP software’s display settings first, especially if multi monitor support is enabled, since it can sometimes retain an old display layout. On the laptop, go to Settings > System > Display > Multiple displays and see if Windows lists the ghost monitor and lets you disconnect it. You can also power the dock completely off by unplugging its power for 30 seconds and reconnecting it. If the dock uses DisplayLink, check its display configuration as well.
