On laptops there is often a standard monitor connector on the back of the unit. I've noticed 3 different scenarios when it comes to the configuration...

1. The laptop and the monitor show the EXACT same thing.

2. The external monitor shows your desktop yet the laptop screen shows nothing.

3. The external monitor is viewable as a "desktop extension" (meaning what you are viewing is just to the right of the desktop that you are viewing on the built in laptop screen) [to view this setting in XP right click on the desktop, click properties, click "settings" tab and then you will see the option to "extend my desktop onto this screen."]

My question here is each video card setting just different as a factory default or is there somewhere to change the way the video card behaves. Like in the bios or something. Ideally I'd like it so that in the above listed 3 scenarios I'd prefer case #1.

9 times out of 10 this is set with the function (Fn) key and hitting one of the F keys (usually F5 or F7) at the same time and you can toggle through them. You should see either a monitor symbol or CRT/LCD symbol on one of the F keys that denotes which one.

Ratmandu said:9 times out of 10 this is set with the function (Fn) key and hitting one of the F keys (usually F5 or F7) at the same time and you can toggle through them. You should see either a monitor symbol or CRT/LCD symbol on one of the F keys that denotes which one.I can't believe I never saw this before. So you are saying I should hook up the external monitor before I boot up the machine. Wait for it to come on and then hit this function key and it might actually show the original image on the external monitor/projector??

yaijic said:On laptops there is often a standard monitor connector on the back of the unit. I've noticed 3 different scenarios when it comes to the configuration...

1. The laptop and the monitor show the EXACT same thing.

2. The external monitor shows your desktop yet the laptop screen shows nothing.

3. The external monitor is viewable as a "desktop extension" (meaning what you are viewing is just to the right of the desktop that you are viewing on the built in laptop screen) [to view this setting in XP right click on the desktop, click properties, click "settings" tab and then you will see the option to "extend my desktop onto this screen."]

My question here is each video card setting just different as a factory default or is there somewhere to change the way the video card behaves. Like in the bios or something. Ideally I'd like it so that in the above listed 3 scenarios I'd prefer case #1.

I have an older IBM X40 and a Lenovo T60. Both have a ThinkPad Configuration Utility that lets you specify the LCD only, external display only, or both. So if you plug in the external display and you don't get output to both, you might need to
find some settings to change.

You should also have some type of utility that runs the video card. It usually lets you choose the scenerio that will be run. Check the system tray and see if you have a video icon in there. It sometimes won't show you the other possible options unless you have the pther display actually connected.