How do I connect a monitor to my laptop?

[judicious]

Hi All!

I was wondering if I had to purchase something extra to connect my laptop to another monitor? I want to use two screens at once, but just draw things around to the other screen so I can watch movies in one and do other things in another. Can someone tell me the name of the cord or thing I have to buy?

Thanks!

 

[kimsland]

The Connection:
Your Laptop should have a VGA plug at the back, you may need an adaptor to convert 15Pin VGA to LCD connector

The Settings:
In Control Panel - Display Advanced settings, does your laptop support dual display?

You may need to post your System Specs for more support on this, you can also update your Profile as well, with this information.

 

[judicious]

Windows: Windows XP5.1 (Build 2600) Service Pack 2
Internet Explorer: 6.0.2900.2180
Memory (RAM): 1016 MB
CPU Info: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 CPU T5500 @ 1.66GHz
CPU Speed: 1660.5 MHz
Sound card: SoundMAX HD Audio
Display Adapters: Mobile Intel(R) 945GM Express Chipset Family | Mobile Intel(R) 945GM Express Chipset Family | NetMeeting driver | RDPDD Chained DD
Screen Resolution: 1280 X 800 - 32 bit
Network: Network Present
Network Adapters: Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Network Connection - Packet Scheduler Miniport | Broadcom NetXtreme Gigabit Ethernet - Packet Scheduler Miniport | Nortel IPSECSHM Adapter - Packet Scheduler Miniport
CD / DVD Drives: F: HL-DT-STRW/DVD GCC-4247N
COM Ports: COM10 | COM3 | COM13
LPT Ports: LPT1
Mouse: 5 Button Wheel Mouse Present
Hard Disks: C: 18.4GB | D: 36.8GB | E: 701.4MB
Hard Disks - Free: C: 3.9GB | D: 27.9GB | E: 233.8MB
USB Controllers: 5 host controllers.
Firewire (1394): Not Detected
PCMCIA (Laptops): Not Installed
Manufacturer: Hewlett-Packard
Product Make: HP Compaq nc6400 (RY015UP#ABA)
AC Power Status: OnLine
BIOS Info: AT/AT COMPATIBLE | 05/07/07 | HP - 17040720
Time Zone: Pacific Standard Time
Battery: High
Motherboard: Hewlett-Packard 30AD
Modem: Agere Systems HDA Modem
Sony Ericsson W960 USB Modem

I'm not sure if it supports dual display..how do i find out? both monitors has vga...do i have to buy a converter or can I just buy a vga cord and use that? thanks!

 

[kimsland]

You know you could have just updated your profile.
After weeding through all this, I have worked out that you're running Xp

When you say that you have two VGA monitors.
I originally thought that you wanted to have 1 LCD and 1 External monitor as dual display. Using two monitors cannot work (unless you want to swith them - using a digital swithing box) but this won't show different screens.

Please check the Advanced or full settings area of your Display settings in Control Panel. For dual display option.

I may leave this for others with more specialist, dual displaying, information. As I'm limited in this area.

 

[LookinAround]

You are currently using the Intel 945GM integrated chipset for graphics support. For starters, am pretty certain you need use a separate graphics card to support dual monitors (of any type).

For a desktop, it's easy to add a graphics card to the desktop chassis. Not the case for notebooks where any graphics card is typically soldered into the motherboard making it difficult to change/add after the fact

/*Edit*/
To clarify one thing, you CAN still connect a monitor to the laptop and have your desktop display appear on the laptop screen or the connected monitor or both... but that's the SAME desktop display appearing on each which is not what you're after.

 

[judicious]

yea...i pretty much would like to have dual screen on my laptop and monitor...

 

[Didou]

You simply need to tell us if your laptop has a video output of some sort (VGA, DVI, HDMI, etc.). Can you link to a website displaying the technical specifications of your laptop ?

 

[LookinAround]

And I stand corrected.

While it;s true you can't add a separate video controller for better performance, apparently the Intel 945GM chipset on your laptop is supposed to support dual monitor with each having its own display output . See this link for info and setup directions Mobile Intel® 945GM Express Chipset Family Multi-Monitor: Understanding Options for Multiple Displays


You will also need their Graphics Media Accelerator Driver installed.

 

[Didou]

This review of the HP nc6400 shows your laptop indeed has a VGA port. If your external display has a VGA input port, all you need to do is get a VGA cable & connect the two together. By default the same image will be replicated on both screens but you simply need to play around with the display options to set them up the way them to function.

 

[kimsland]

Good page find LookinAround; these links are so hard to find.
Probably took you 30 secs though, no doubt.

 

[judicious]

thanks! i got it...i used the vga cable n plugged it in..and changed the settings on the Display properties through Control Panel. Thanks! :grinthumb

 

[LookinAround]

you bet!

glad i double checked on your graphics chipset. Learned more, myself, along the way. :approve:

/* Edit */
And kimsland, as they say "Google is your friend". Just a matter of keepin your friends focused on what you;re after

 

[shepanator]

I just attach my monitor with the cable thats on it, hold 'fn' and hit my F5 key, the 'fn' key should be a different color, there will be little pictures the same color on your 'F' keys, look for one thats a picture of a monitor, hold 'fn', and hit that key. It works for me, maby not you though.