Using a second monitor with a laptop

Steevo

I'm having a problem using a second LCD display with my Sony Vaio laptop. As far as I recall the driver for the Samsung LCD display is installed OK. When I turn the laptop on the second monitor shows the same as the laptop display until the laptop is fully setup (ie all that desktop icons have loaded) at which point the laptop seems to stop sending a signal to the second display, which goes blank with a message "check signal from PC".
DOes anyone know how I can stop this from happening. When I go to Display Settings in the Control Panel, the second display does not appear there so I cant change any settings for it as there aren't any!
Thanks.

Darksun

Most laptops have a function key to switch between monitor modes. It should look like two monitors, on my laptop it's Fn-F2. It should cycle between Laptop Screen Only, External Monitor Only and Dual (which allows split screen).

murphy61

That's right, but on mine, and some others I've used, it's F8. Maybe your display adapter settings are wrong? If you right click anywhere on the desktop, choose properties, settings, advanced..... apologies if you've tried this already

mikey-mike_2

on my sony it's F7

Steevo

Thanks guys. Its very strange - the function key you mentioned is there but it doesnt have any effect. Furthermore, if I start the laptop in safe mode, the second monitor works perfectly, displaying the same as the laptop monitor, but in normal mode the second monitor stops working as soon as the last of the desktop icons has loaded up at restart. I've tried the display settings menu, but it doesnt seem to regocnise that there is a second monitor attached.

Gorgeous_George

IIRC you may need to select it from DIsplay in Control Panel. Select the Settings tab.



GG

Steevo

The plot thickens..... I reinstalled the Vaio Utilities software off the sony website and now the second display is working as a duplicate, but all the HotKeys (I think thats what they call the pre-assigned keys that have extra functions like turning volume up and down) have stopped working. Furthermore, if I go to the display menu in the control panel and click on the settings tab, the only monitor shown is the default monitor, so there's no way of changing to split screen. Help!!

lizclassic54

you can define the hotkeys anytime to do what ever you like. re monitor driver i have been advised to install the latest driver for the monitor and then contact samsung's tech support. to be honest i reinstalled my nvidia driver but never got further as we use the monitor more as tv.
good luck.