Laptop compatability with data projector

Rosie75

I bought a Toshiba Equium M50 laptop from PC World in the summer and was told, when asked, that there would be no problem connecting it to a data projector. Now that term has started (I'm a university lecturer and need to use Powerpoint to deliver lectures and aid seminars) I'v discovered that, yes, I can connect the two devices, but the display on my screen isn't projected by the projector. Am I being stupid (I know about F5 / selecting source, etc, and am able to use the projector fine with my work laptop) and is there something I have overlooked, or are some laptops just not compatible with data projectors? Any advice gratefully received (even if to tell me what a techical ignoramus I am).

albertross_2

is it at a higher resolution than your work laptop?

do you get anything on screen?

Rosie75

1. Not sure - will have to check when I'm next in work, but I doubt it as the work laptop is a much more expensive Toshiba model
2. I just get a blue screen.

albertross_2

If you can, try it with a normal big screen, and toggle the fn+ f5 or F8, to see if anything is being output from the vga port.