Two Monitor Setup - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Tamerlain · 10-02-2006, 09:03 PM

Inspired by the "Two Freakin' Monitors" thread, I decided to hook up my old monitor to my laptop. I've got it running alright, but as you can see, it's just a duplicate image. http://img223.imageshack.us/my.php?i...onitorsux4.jpg

I used google to try and get some information about how to set it up properly, but the articles I found started talking about doing something with display adapters and I realized I was getting in over my head. I checked my display adapters though, and apparently I have 2 of them? In the device manager they're both listed as Mobile Intel(R) 945GM Express Chipset Family.

Am I supposed to somehow point one of those display adapters at my other monitor? Or am I just missing some piece of hardware in my laptop and I should give up trying to run two monitors?

Any help you could give me would be greatly appreciated.

-Tamerlain

shakran · 10-02-2006, 09:09 PM

to run two monitors you need a video card capable of handling both monitors seperately. Most laptops do not have this capability.

Dilbert1234567 · 10-02-2006, 10:11 PM

Actually most do. Right click on your desktop, select properties, then the settings tab, click on the box that has a 2 in it (your second monitor), then below the screen resolution slider, check the 'extend my windows desktop onto this monitor. this will add the monitor in relation to where monitor one is on the above box, i.e., if monitor 2 is right of monitor 1, then as you move your mouse right on your main screen, it will pass on to the second monitor when it hits the end. By dragging the boxes with number in them (the monitors) you can rearrange the layout the computer has to match the real layout

Tamerlain · 10-03-2006, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dilbert1234567

Actually most do. Right click on your desktop, select properties, then the settings tab, click on the box that has a 2 in it (your second monitor), then below the screen resolution slider, check the 'extend my windows desktop onto this monitor. this will add the monitor in relation to where monitor one is on the above box, i.e., if monitor 2 is right of monitor 1, then as you move your mouse right on your main screen, it will pass on to the second monitor when it hits the end. By dragging the boxes with number in them (the monitors) you can rearrange the layout the computer has to match the real layout

I tried that last night before I posted, but the same thing kept happening. I tried it again just now and I noticed that when I click "extend my desktop onto this monitor" and hit OK or Apply, after it flickers, the box is unchecked and when I mouse-float over the second monitor it says "Not Active."

-Tamerlain

Dilbert1234567 · 10-03-2006, 05:34 PM

Hmmm, try reducing the resolution on your main monitor as low as it can go, and the color depth as well, and then try again, some video cards cannot handle 2 full displays at the same time. If you see 2 video devices in device manager, that generally means you can use both at the same time as 2 different monitors. if it works, increase the resolutions until it doesn't work.

Tamerlain · 10-03-2006, 07:47 PM

Nope, still nothing. I made them both 800x600 and it kept displaying the same screen on both monitors.

I guess I just can't run two monitors off this laptop. Kind of disappointing.

-Tamerlain

healer · 10-03-2006, 09:00 PM

When you plug in the external monitor, does it display the mirror image of your desktop all on its own, without you having to do anything? If so, try the following:

If your laptop has a Function (Fn) Key on the bottom left-hand side of the keyboard (it usually sits next to the left Ctrl key and most laptops have them) then you should have a corresponding video output switching key. Look for a picture of a monitor/screen on your F8 or F4 key (F8 is the most common in my experience).

Now press Fn+F8. This should switch the external monitor off. Go to the display settings and right-click on the '2' in the window and click attached. This should enable the Extend my desktop check box and as soon as you click apply the external monitor should come on as an extended desktop.

Hope this works.

Tamerlain · 10-03-2006, 10:28 PM

Healer, you win!

It was actually Fn+F5 - I had been using it to switch between just running the external monitor, just the laptop or both at the same time. Now it's working like I want it to.

Thanks again for the help everybody.

-Tamerlain

10-02-2006, 09:03 PM	#1 (permalink)
Tamerlain Insane Location: Victoria	Two Monitor Setup Inspired by the "Two Freakin' Monitors" thread, I decided to hook up my old monitor to my laptop. I've got it running alright, but as you can see, it's just a duplicate image. http://img223.imageshack.us/my.php?i...onitorsux4.jpg I used google to try and get some information about how to set it up properly, but the articles I found started talking about doing something with display adapters and I realized I was getting in over my head. I checked my display adapters though, and apparently I have 2 of them? In the device manager they're both listed as Mobile Intel(R) 945GM Express Chipset Family. Am I supposed to somehow point one of those display adapters at my other monitor? Or am I just missing some piece of hardware in my laptop and I should give up trying to run two monitors? Any help you could give me would be greatly appreciated. -Tamerlain __________________ I never let school interfere with my education.

10-02-2006, 10:11 PM	#3 (permalink)
Dilbert1234567 Devils Cabana Boy Location: Central Coast CA	Actually most do. Right click on your desktop, select properties, then the settings tab, click on the box that has a 2 in it (your second monitor), then below the screen resolution slider, check the 'extend my windows desktop onto this monitor. this will add the monitor in relation to where monitor one is on the above box, i.e., if monitor 2 is right of monitor 1, then as you move your mouse right on your main screen, it will pass on to the second monitor when it hits the end. By dragging the boxes with number in them (the monitors) you can rearrange the layout the computer has to match the real layout __________________ Donate Blood! "Love is not finding the perfect person, but learning to see an imperfect person perfectly." -Sam Keen

10-03-2006, 05:34 PM	#5 (permalink)
Dilbert1234567 Devils Cabana Boy Location: Central Coast CA	Hmmm, try reducing the resolution on your main monitor as low as it can go, and the color depth as well, and then try again, some video cards cannot handle 2 full displays at the same time. If you see 2 video devices in device manager, that generally means you can use both at the same time as 2 different monitors. if it works, increase the resolutions until it doesn't work. __________________ Donate Blood! "Love is not finding the perfect person, but learning to see an imperfect person perfectly." -Sam Keen

10-03-2006, 07:47 PM	#6 (permalink)
Tamerlain Insane Location: Victoria	Nope, still nothing. I made them both 800x600 and it kept displaying the same screen on both monitors. I guess I just can't run two monitors off this laptop. Kind of disappointing. -Tamerlain __________________ I never let school interfere with my education.

10-03-2006, 10:28 PM	#8 (permalink)
Tamerlain Insane Location: Victoria	Healer, you win! It was actually Fn+F5 - I had been using it to switch between just running the external monitor, just the laptop or both at the same time. Now it's working like I want it to. Thanks again for the help everybody. -Tamerlain __________________ I never let school interfere with my education.

10-02-2006, 09:09 PM	#2 (permalink)
shakran Tone.	to run two monitors you need a video card capable of handling both monitors seperately. Most laptops do not have this capability.