How do I hook up a monitor to my laptop? I can not get the monitorĀ to work.
I see people struggle with this all the time. Itās actually somewhatĀ frustrating, since the answers are actually simple, just not obvious.
You need to know the magic keystroke.
And you need patience. Just a few seconds worth, but you absolutelyĀ need it.
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Most laptops built today include an external monitor connection.Ā Most are VGA, but some are starting to include DVI digital videoĀ connections instead.
The ātrickā, if you want to call it that, is that they are notĀ enabled by default. You need to take action to send video out thatĀ port. Typically, and this varies from laptop to laptop, there is aĀ keystroke that does exactly that.
Ā
Unfortunately, itās not a simple as turning it on or off.
First, realize that in order to enable the CRT/LCD keystroke youĀ typically need to be holding down an additional key; on my Dell itās aĀ blue āFnā key. It operates very much like CTRL orĀ SHIFT, in that you hold it down to enable the blue functions that areĀ printed on the key tops. So in my case itās Fn +Ā CRT/LCD to enable the external monitor.
Second, realize that itās not on/off. Pressing the keyĀ repeatedly cycles though a series of combinations. For example, eachĀ time you press that key, you may cycle through these combinations:
- LCD (laptop screen) only, the CRT (external screen) is off.
- CRT only, the LCD is off.
- LCD and CRT both on, and displaying the same thing on bothĀ screens.
- LCD and CRT both on, but displaying different things ā together theyĀ form a larger virtual desktop where the LCD might be displaying theĀ right side, and the CRT the left.
When you type the keystroke, the configuration changes to the nextĀ one in the list; when you reach the last, it starts over at theĀ beginning.
Your list of configurations or combinations may beĀ different, or in a different order. There is no standard, and each
laptop may be different.
Third, and this is perhaps most important because itās the source ofĀ much frustration, it can take up to 5 or even 10 seconds for eachĀ new setting to take. And 5-10 seconds is a long time when youāreĀ standing in front of people trying to ready your presentation. IĀ continually see people get very frustrated when they try, wait oneĀ second and assume that because it didnāt work instantly it didnāt workĀ at all, and keep trying thinking that nothingās working.
If you take nothing else from this article takeĀ this: after typing the keystroke to change your LCD/CRTĀ configuration, give the new combination at least 5 seconds toĀ take before you decide it didnāt work. Be patient. There are severalĀ hardware related reasons for this; most typically the time it takesĀ your CRT or projector to āsync upā to the signal that itās suddenlyĀ receiving.
The last combination where both your laptop screen and your CRT areĀ on and displaying two different portions of a single virtual desktopĀ warrants a little more clarification.
The likelihood of the LCD and the CRT being the same resolution orĀ āsizeā in pixels is very low. You can see this when you look at theĀ display settings in Windows:
You can see that while my laptopās LCD is 1440Ć900, the CRT/VGAĀ output is set to 800Ć600. While you can often change the resolution ofĀ the VGA output, itās unlikely that youāll be able to match the nativeĀ resolution of your LCD. The result is what you see ā a virtual desktopĀ thatās not a perfect rectangle. Thatās something you simply need to beĀ aware of as you move applications between the two for your display.
Iāll admit that it can be a little frustrating at first to get theĀ hang of how your laptop handles external monitors and how thoseĀ external monitors react, but once you do youāll find that the externalĀ VGA output on your laptop might be one of its most important features.Ā Just ask anyone whoās made presentations in front of an audience.
this is something really useful!
i presume the reverse is not possible? i.e. watching for example DVD playerās output on laptopās LCD, because laptops dont have a video input channel?
i guess this is why graphic cards cant be added / upgraded in laptops
RE:hook up a monitor to my laptop
Thanks Leo. This is very useful (I have a Dell Inspiron). I didnāt try to hook the second monitor yet.
My question is : Do I need to install the monitor driver first?
Thanks, Dan
26-Nov-2008
No drivers are needed. Just hook it up and go.
This is all fine and good for Windows XP. However, Windows Vista has this annoying feature called āPresentation Settings.ā Sometimes it comes on when I hook up my external monitor and sometimes it doesnāt. 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 āfeatureā of randomly going into mirrored, single or multiple displays depending upon what it ādecidesā to do when the external display is attached. The magical button may or may not fix the problem, and usually doesnāt 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.
Thanks all for the input. Iāll feedback here as soon as I have a chance to hook it up. Fortunately, I could keep away from Vista so far but I donāt know how long Iāll 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
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 ā and should continue to be ā an option, and it just isnāt that hard to build one.
Doug
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
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 Iāll 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 donāt know the name) but given the trouble he is having with it, Iād 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 couldnāt find a suitable connector on the laptop.
Dan
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.
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 offā¦ i donāt use a dell so i donāt know where the crt/lcd botton is itās just alot of pictrues which i donāt 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.Iām going to keep trying through trial and error but if you could get back to me thats great
30-Nov-2008
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.
To: Jom
My AcerNote light laptop uses Fn key + F1 to show what F key to use with the Fn key.
I have read all yoiur advise, however here is my problemā¦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 āmagicā key/keys to press to make the change. It worked once and I cannot remember what I did. I donāt have a fn key CRT/LCD to press.How do I make the switch.
I am so frustrated.
Thank you Jo
How can I use the laptop as a desktop? When I try to close the lid on my Dell laptop the monitor goes dark.?
i have tried fn and the f8 combination sometimes it work an sometimes not
hey iv got a vista and i cant connect my pc to my lcd tv Please help me thanks
for my laptop i have to press Fn and F7
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?
Have a Toshiba Satelite 1135-S1551. LCD monitor works fine until after it boots. I should see my desktop, etc but itās blank.
At first I suspected a bad video card but realized that probably isnāt it because it works at boot up.
Any ideas?
Paul
I have to press FN and f4, but iām not seeing the pop up with the display settings, nor can i make both screens be differentā¦ Help please!
27-Sep-2010
I have a Dell Latitude D510 Laptopā¦. shattered screen I am trying to put a monitor on it to retrieve my data on the laptopā¦.. I press Fn and F8, Iāve tried everything nothing happens???? Any help out there????
Great help! the FN-F4 function worked right away. Thanks
Thank for that.
I have Lenovo T400 and Toshiba CRT 32ā³ .
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,
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 signalā¦ when i unplug it and plug it back in it works again for another 10 seconds roughly but then disconnects againā¦ how can i fix this???
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?
03-Jan-2011
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 (itās connected to an external monitor). Also, I canāt log in or anything without seeing what Iām doing. Question-Will this method work before youāre at the desktop (if youāre still loading windows, for example)
07-Feb-2011
Many Thanks it was brilliant I am a Trainer and its going to help a lot.
Norman
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
I have a hp pavillion and the screen is damage. How can i connect the laptop to a desktop monitor?
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 donāt know what else I can try.
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.
@Alfred
You might want to try the Display options from the Control Panel, and click on Connect to a Projector. Thatās sometimes worked for me.
What do I do when my function key doesnt work because my kid spilled on it? HELP!!!
Now I feel like a dummy! Iād 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 Miniā¦Itās F2, not 8. Sometimes Iām really blond.
THANK YOU!
Alfred, try doing what Mark Jacobs saidā¦it worked for me, but only after the F8 thing.
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?
26-Nov-2011
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?
Great Article. Thank you so much for sharing!!
I tried to change the power settings to ādo nothingā when the lid is closed but it has āsleepā 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-
Is it necessarily bad to have your laptop hooked up to your monitor 24/7? Iāve heard of some cases of this resulting in the video card going bad.
14-Jul-2012
My Dell desktop screen wont light up after I have followed the directions above, is there anything i could be doing wrong?
You my dear, are a genius!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you :)
Thank you so much! Really helpful
Many thanks. Having been given a second-hand free-standing screen, with no written instructions and minimal guidance, Iāve spent a number of frustrating hours over the last three days trying to set it up to give me the second option (additional screen only), and had come to the conclusion that it was not possible. It was not until I read your article that I discovered that Fn + F8 is an instruction to change to a new configuration, rather than being a prompt for a dialogue box in which I would enter the instruction, as Iād assumed. If you were on this side of the Atlantic, Iād buy you a pint!
Hereās how to buy Leo a beer. :-)
Thanks for the tip, Mark. A Blackhook is on itās way.
hi leo
I am a much old hp, when I connect vga to tv , the desktop screen is fine, however I cant play any movies
the movie will be playing on my laptop but the tv screen will be just frozen and greyish in colour
I can still see all the windows icons , I cant however watch the movie on the tv.. please assist
I have a laptop gateway M275 and that lcd is not working properly sy me can I connect my laptop to monitor ao lcd plz
That shouldnāt be a problem. Right now Iām using my laptop with an external monitor.
tryin to hook hp laptop to samsung monitorā¦ā¦connecters are not the sameā¦ā¦.can i buy anything to make it work.THANKS
Depends on what connectors you have. Not everything is a simple conversion. Some are.
Thanks:
You got me up and running connecting to another monitor, the one in my laptop wend back and could don read it.
Thanks Again
I han an HP Pavilion running Vista, I pluged up my Sony Bravia TV with HDMI cable and got the second monitor to work, but now it will not recognize the built-in display and load a āDigital Flat Panelā monitor every time on startup when no monitor is connected and the screen is square and not fully utilized. Help Iāve looked for an answer everywhere, loaded and reloaded drivers, disable, uninstalled, and tried every adjustment in the control panel there is.
i have the exact problemā¦i am also using a Samsung TV as external monitor but when its not connected the laptop screen using a Digital Flat Panel (have no other choice) makes my screen so small ā¦whats happening..please send me a feedback when you have a solution to thisā¦TIA
I have a HP 2000 with a cracked screen and was wondering if the screen on my dead dell Inspiron would work on my HP
Typically not, if youāre talking hardware swap.
i have a toshiba im trying to dual screen with a dell desktop screen and the desktop screen is saing ā in power save mode,press any key or move the pointerā and yet it still dose nothing?
reach me at {email removed} thanks!
Thank you soooo much!
Hi Leo great info it works but all I can do is pull stuff from my laptop onto the screen now do I get the desktop onto the actual screen I used the resolution setting and I said put laptop onto monitor all it did is put the wall paper
My question is I have a Samsung monitor model number 2333t and I want to connect it to a hp 15 laptop but the lap top doesnāt have the places to plug the bigger chords that goings into the monitor is there a way to hook it up or connect Io a surface 3 we have been trying to google it but are not finding anything please email me at {removed}@outlook.com thank you
Iād bring it into a shop and ask if they have an adapter which would work for you.
I am working on a Gateway, and I canāt figure out how to connect my Gateway laptop via hdmi to my viewsonic monitor. My husband has connected everything, but the screen is not at full size on the bigger screen, and I cannot close my computer without it shutting off. Please, help!
Can I connect my Toshiba Satellite to my Dell monitor using the USB port on the Toshiba? The monitor comes with a USB cable connected to it. Iāve plugged it into a USB port on the Toshiba, and pressed Fn-F5 with no success.
Iām assuming this whole discussion is for video component only. Do you use the speaker out port of a laptop to get the audio component (like playing a video or movie)?
It depends on the capabilities of your computer and monitor. An HDMI connection, for example, carries both audio and video. Most others ā DVI, VGA and so on ā are video only, and thus need some other way to then connect the audio as well.
Have a dell insp 6000 good info
this worked thanks now for the learning curve as i work it
I typed Display on windows search and went from there it takes about 5 min to 10 min for the new crt to load up i called a tech ss well
Heres to all us techies
I have a Samsung laptop. Regretfully, I āupgradeā (thatās a real euphemism) from Windows 7 to Windows 10. It would appear that the function keys ā or the necessary one ā have been disabled. From other boards, it appears Samsung has no fix and I am too far down stream to easily revert to Windows 7. Any thoughts on how to make the laptop respond? I am trying to retire a desktop and use the laptop for printing with the truer color of the CRT monitor.
I think one of my adorable monsters fell on my laptop- while it was open upside down from the looks of it! But of course nobodyās fessing up. Now Iāve got a busted computer. The screens busted, and I canāt get it to connect to any outside screens. I know how to get it to play on one, because I already was because they broke the screen months ago, but with the bottom cracked, the ports wonāt work! Help!
Hooking up Lcd monitor to laptop my video blue screened me then took a dive now canāt see a thing on lap top. Yes itāt time for new, faster technology. Hey had the monitor around, giving another ditch effort/last chance to perform/just work it/get happy/staying alive a lilā bit longer with this aging old dinosaur of a laptop. Next I trying for big T.V to be my monitor. So Excited !!!! Love technology & absorbing all the incredible knowledge, coming atcha with a speedy force. Just having a ball. Enjoy the day.
i have a toshiba using windows xp and need to connect to the external monitor . how is this done?help
Read the article you are commenting on. If the instructions donāt work, it may be that the monitor your are trying to connect to is incompatible with XP.
I have a Dell laptop the monitor is out trying to get a Sony monitor to work is this possible??
Most, if not all external monitors should work as long as your computer has a matching connection, DVI, SVGA or HDMI.
Should be, as long as the connections match.
ThƩ screen of my laptop is bad and thƩ key board same please is there any way i can use ans external key board to activate thƩ external display
In most cases, if you plug in an external keyboard and an external monitor it should work. I do that often.
Good afternoon can you please help me with my problem my laptop is lenovo ideapad the monitor went blackout ams I want to access the desktop and then use it to project as well what should I do to use the extano monitor and also project?
I believe the article you just commented on addresses your question.
Most laptops have an Fn key sequence to toggle between the laptop screen and an external screen. In the article, itās +F8. On my machine itās Fn+F10. Look for an icon of 2 screens or something similar.
That REALLY depends on the specific model of computer you have. If plugging in an external display doesnāt work automatically, youāll want to check with the manufacturer to see if an external keyboardās key sequence will enable it.
THANK YOU SO MUCH
I have a 17ā³ HP laptop about a year old that I would love to add an addition screen to it and would like it to be a touch screen (laptop is not touch screen) is that possible?
Iāve heard scenarios where touch screens can get added, but honestly ā¦ itās not easy and typically very unreliable. Touch is something you really want baked into the system from the start.
I have a 17ā³ HP laptop about a year old that I would love to add an addition screen to it and would like it to be a touch screen (laptop is not touch screen) is that possible? Thank you, for your time I was hoping it would work, but I can add another monitor with no problems canāt I
Adding a monitor is possible on almost all laptops.
But adding a touch screen is extremely difficult.