Comments for How do I connect a monitor to my laptop and have it work?

Comment from Greg on 2012-02-05

2012-02-05T20:37:32Z

I tried to change the power settings to "do nothing" when the lid is closed but it has "sleep" as a default & I am unable to change it, even as the administrator. It says access is restricted. Any suggestions? Its a Samsung RV511 if that helps. Thanks-

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Comment from AK on 2012-01-06

2012-01-06T15:01:20Z

Great Article. Thank you so much for sharing!!

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Comment from dylan on 2012-01-05

2012-01-05T17:40:45Z

i have a dell laptop and i just bought a new lcd tv and i can only get my computers background to show up on my tv. what do i do?

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Comment from Bill O'Dell on 2011-11-26

2011-11-26T18:52:14Z

I have a hp laptop and use a seperate monitor and keyboard. I would like to know if I can close the laptop somehow and still be able to use the computer?

Sure. Just make sure that the power settings are set to "do nothing" when the lid is closed. (Realize also that depending on your laptop this MIGHT interfere with airflow and cause it to run warmer.)

26-Nov-2011

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Comment from Gravey on 2011-11-22

2011-11-22T11:06:52Z

THANK YOU!
Alfred, try doing what Mark J said...it worked for me, but only after the F8 thing.

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Comment from Cambria on 2011-08-25

2011-08-25T18:59:49Z

Now I feel like a dummy! I'd been hitting F8 over and over, among other highly more sophisticated steps, only have the bright idea of actually LOOKING at the icons and noticed that on my HP Mini...It's F2, not 8. Sometimes I'm really blond.

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Comment from Jacqueline on 2011-08-24

2011-08-25T02:11:41Z

What do I do when my function key doesnt work because my kid spilled on it? HELP!!!

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Comment from Mark J on 2011-07-19

2011-07-19T21:36:28Z

@Alfred
You might want to try the Display options from the Control Panel, and click on Connect to a Projector. That's sometimes worked for me.

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Comment from Charity on 2011-07-19

2011-07-19T18:11:00Z

Thank you so much. I could not figure out why my other laptop was able to connect automatically and this one did not. Both of mines are Dells as well. Also, for the one that automatically connected I can close it and still have access to using the laptop-I too have a keyboard connected. Do you know how I can make it as where my other Dell does the same thing? As it bothers me to see 2 screens.

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Comment from alfred fonseca on 2011-07-19

2011-07-19T17:37:23Z

The above intructions are both in words and
graphics the best I ever saw, so why still cannot
connect my laptop to outside monitor? I am in
despair and don't know what else I can try.

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Comment from vanny on 2011-06-01

2011-06-01T20:45:36Z

I have a hp pavillion and the screen is damage. How can i connect the laptop to a desktop monitor?

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Comment from Leona Torres on 2011-04-06

2011-04-07T05:33:12Z

i have a Polaroid flat screen and my toshiba laptop cannot connect to my tv can you help me please??? i cnt read my laptop very well my eye sight and i am in need please help

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Comment from Norman on 2011-03-22

2011-03-22T16:59:13Z

Many Thanks it was brilliant I am a Trainer and its going to help a lot.
Norman

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Comment from Alan Jiang on 2011-02-07

2011-02-07T21:01:08Z

I found the Fn and equivalent of the CRT/LCD on my Acer laptop, but the problem is, the screen of my laptop itself is not working, so when I push the button I have no idea whats happening (it's connected to an external monitor). Also, I can't log in or anything without seeing what I'm doing. Question-Will this method work before you're at the desktop (if you're still loading windows, for example)

Best I can offer is ... maybe. Perhaps probably? Prior to Windows 7 this was handled differently by each computer manufacturer. After Windows 7 it's often handled by the OS in response to the WindowsKey+P function.

07-Feb-2011

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Comment from larry on 2011-01-02

2011-01-02T19:34:35Z

I have a dell inspiron 8600 and am trying to hook up a 2nd monitor. The only thing that shows up on the monitor is my wall paper. I can move my pointer arrow to the external monitor, but nothing else happens. any thoghts?

Not sure what you're expecting - it sounds like it's working. Open an application and use your mouse to drag that application window to the other monitor.

03-Jan-2011

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Comment from Danny Balanduk on 2010-12-29

2010-12-29T15:02:02Z

i can get my tv to connect to my laptop and it works great for about 10 seconds but then my tv goes black and stops getting a signal... when i unplug it and plug it back in it works again for another 10 seconds roughly but then disconnects again... how can i fix this???

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Comment from Hai Pham on 2010-10-25

2010-10-25T07:31:02Z

Thank for that.
I have Lenovo T400 and Toshiba CRT 32" .
Is there any chance to make it happened?
Is there any others tip: I did change a lot in resolution and refresh rate :).
Thank Leo,

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Comment from LInda Flikweert on 2010-10-23

2010-10-24T00:33:54Z

Great help! the FN-F4 function worked right away. Thanks

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Comment from Louise on 2010-10-09

2010-10-10T01:32:07Z

I have a Dell Latitude D510 Laptop.... shattered screen I am trying to put a monitor on it to retrieve my data on the laptop..... I press Fn and F8, I've tried everything nothing happens???? Any help out there????

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Comment from Jinx on 2010-09-26

2010-09-26T18:53:48Z

I have to press FN and f4, but i'm not seeing the pop up with the display settings, nor can i make both screens be different... Help please!

Check the documentation for your computer. From the article: "Your list of configurations or combinations may be different, or in a different order. There is no standard, and each laptop may be different."

27-Sep-2010

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Comment from Paul Howard on 2010-08-22

2010-08-22T17:31:41Z

Have a Toshiba Satelite 1135-S1551. LCD monitor works fine until after it boots. I should see my desktop, etc but it's blank.

At first I suspected a bad video card but realized that probably isn't it because it works at boot up.

Any ideas?

Paul

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Comment from Christobella on 2010-08-08

2010-08-08T08:46:39Z

Have broken Apple monitor. would like to link up new apple laptop monitor to old apple laptop in order to retrieve/transfer music and important files from old harddrive. Can this be done?

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Comment from s on 2010-02-22

2010-02-23T00:44:51Z

for my laptop i have to press Fn and F7

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Comment from William on 2010-01-15

2010-01-16T05:00:38Z

hey iv got a vista and i cant connect my pc to my lcd tv Please help me thanks

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Comment from tony on 2009-04-07

2009-04-08T01:09:01Z

i have tried fn and the f8 combination sometimes it work an sometimes not

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Comment from dave macheca on 2009-01-10

2009-01-10T23:19:57Z

How can I use the laptop as a desktop? When I try to close the lid on my Dell laptop the monitor goes dark.?

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Comment from jo mills on 2008-12-10

2008-12-11T01:32:46Z

I have read all yoiur advise, however here is my problem...I have a laptop OPS as windows vista. I hooked up the correct cable to my tv and plugged it into the port on my laptop. It acts like it wants to switch but says no signal. I am sure all I need to know is what "magic" key/keys to press to make the change. It worked once and I cannot remember what I did. I don't have a fn key CRT/LCD to press.How do I make the switch.
I am so frustrated.
Thank you Jo

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Comment from Ed Vance on 2008-12-06

2008-12-07T00:11:54Z

To: Jom

My AcerNote light laptop uses Fn key + F1 to show what F key to use with the Fn key.

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Comment from David Irwin on 2008-12-01

2008-12-01T21:24:30Z

They do make external video cards for laptops as well. They connect to USB and provide analog or digital video. I have an Aluratek model UAV 100F.

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Comment from Jom on 2008-11-29

2008-11-30T06:28:26Z

uhh i pluged in the cable into my toshiba laptop and put the cable into the samsung tv useing the vga cord.
it starts up fine but then it just cuts off... i don't use a dell so i don't know where the crt/lcd botton is it's just alot of pictrues which i don't know what they mean at the f1 f2 f3 ect. thing. i have found the fn botton though. the resilution is correct too.
if you could help me that would be great i really looked forward to playing on the big screen. anyways thank you if you could help me.I'm going to keep trying through trial and error but if you could get back to me thats great

How about checking with the documentation that came with your Toshiba, or the Toshiba support site. I'm sure it's one of those Fn+another key, but they'll have to tell you which one for your specific model.

- Leo
30-Nov-2008

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Comment from Stuart on 2008-11-29

2008-11-30T04:13:49Z

Vista should also be aware that Presentation Settings behavior may be masking another problem. The graphics card probably has software that controls some of the same things that PS does. In my case, updating the driver for my NVIDIA graphics card and then using the NVIDIA Control Panel (accessed by right-clicking on a blank part of the desktop) solved my problem. Now setting up an external monitor is easy and reliable.

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Comment from Dan on 2008-11-27

2008-11-27T14:57:13Z

To Richard Deem
Yep! When I close and reopen the lid, the monitor is resized to the laptop screen size. I have XP.

To Doug Proctor
Keeping XP on a new machine is an option but I guess I'll go for Vista since I develop free/sharewares apps. For the moment, I give them to my friend to test on his Vista box. Getting Vista would make me independent. He has the highest Vista version (I don't know the name) but given the trouble he is having with it, I'd appreciate comments on the best Vista version for my purpose (just an Internet, office and development machine.

To Michael Horowitz
Great link. Thanks!

Lastly, how about connecting an external keyboard to a Dell Inspiron? I have 2 spare keyboards but couldn't find a suitable connector on the laptop.

Dan

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Comment from Michael Horowitz on 2008-11-26

2008-11-26T21:19:56Z

A new connection for an external monitor is starting to appear called a Display Port. This is an interesting article on the topic.
http://lenovoblogs.com/insidethebox/?p=161

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Comment from Doug Proctor on 2008-11-26

2008-11-26T18:59:56Z

To Dan:
I choose not to go with Vista when I purchased a PC in June 2008, but I had to build it and purchase XP software. This is - and should continue to be - an option, and it just isn't that hard to build one.
Doug

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Comment from Dan on 2008-11-26

2008-11-26T18:07:04Z

Thanks all for the input. I'll feedback here as soon as I have a chance to hook it up. Fortunately, I could keep away from Vista so far but I don't know how long I'll be able to escape it. This is off topic but let me ask you this in case my 7 year-old XP machine gives up on me : Which version of Vista should I get? I just use my PC for the usual stuff and to develop applications in Delphi (32 bit). Thanks for your time.

Dan

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Comment from Richard Deem on 2008-11-25

2008-11-25T17:45:31Z

This is all fine and good for Windows XP. However, Windows Vista has this annoying feature called "Presentation Settings." Sometimes it comes on when I hook up my external monitor and sometimes it doesn't. When it does turn on, it flashes on and off about 10 times over the course of a minute before you can actually see anything longer than about 5 seconds. It defaults to preventing your screen saver from going on (which is useful if you really are doing a presentation, but not otherwise). In addition, Vista has the annoying "feature" of randomly going into mirrored, single or multiple displays depending upon what it "decides" to do when the external display is attached. The magical button may or may not fix the problem, and usually doesn't once you close the lid (since that is a different setting altogether on your laptop). The problems are actually much more significant than the article would indicate, especially if you are using Vista.

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Comment from Packrat1947 on 2008-11-25

2008-11-25T16:36:52Z

No drivers are needed. Just hook it up and go.

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Comment from Dan on 2008-11-25

2008-11-25T16:25:59Z

RE:hook up a monitor to my laptop

Thanks Leo. This is very useful (I have a Dell Inspiron). I didn't try to hook the second monitor yet.

My question is : Do I need to install the monitor driver first?

Thanks, Dan

Nope.

- Leo
26-Nov-2008

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Comment from novice on 2008-11-24

2008-11-24T11:42:16Z

this is something really useful!

i presume the reverse is not possible? i.e. watching for example DVD player's output on laptop's LCD, because laptops dont have a video input channel?

i guess this is why graphic cards cant be added / upgraded in laptops

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