Use laptop with two additional monitors and NOT laptop screen? Only 1 HDMI slot

Working_in_pyjamas

I'm working from home for the foreseeable future, at work I have a desktop computer linked to two monitors. One side is the main monitor and I can drag other documents, applications etc over to the second screen eg be looking at emails on one screen and have a word document open on the other.

For home working I have a Lenovo ThinkPad with a tiny screen, my aim at home is NOT to use the laptop screen (which is too small to work on long term) and instead to have two monitors functioning as above, so different displays on both screens.

The laptop has the following ports:

•     Power/charging port
•     Ethernet port
•     2 x USB ports (will be plugging a wired mouse and wired keyboard into these)
•     HDMI port

The monitors I have are...

LG22EA53VQ monitor, with the following ports:

•     HDMI
•     VGA (marked as D-SUB)
•     DVI-D

HP 2159M monitor, with the following ports:

•    HDMI
•     VGA
•     DVI-D

I've used the HDMI port on the laptop and plugged it in to the HDMI port on the LG monitor, I can set up the dual screen function using the mini laptop screen and the LG monitor. I then tried to link the two monitors with a VGA cable but nothing displays on the HP monitor.

Is there any way of achieving using two monitors and NOT the laptop screen? If so are there any particular cables or adapters that I'd need to buy? I have googled but there are so many permutations depending on what ports are available, I'd be very grateful for any guidance, thanks in advance.

forgotmyname

Use virtual desktops from your task view button?

Working_in_pyjamas

forgotmyname said:

Use virtual desktops from your task view button?

Thanks, never heard of that but off to google it...

Working_in_pyjamas

Just had a look at a quick youtube video and unfortunately I don't think that is a solution, I need to somehow not use the laptop screen but use a dual screen set up displaying on both the external monitors

Andy_L

The ports on the monitors are for inputs only, hence going laptop to monitor to monitor doesn't work. 
You need something like this 
https://www.amazon.co.uk/StarTech-com-USB-Dual-HDMI-Adapter/dp/B0725K1MHH
NB that is not a recommendation for that model
You could probably use a cheaper single port model and use the existing laptop output, although theres a chance it might confuse the laptop and not work

Johnmcl7

Which Thinkpad model do you have?    If it can work with a dock that's likely the best way to get the dual video output.  There are USB adapters that will output to another monitor but I find they can be inconsistent in use and ended up switch the PC's to docks instead.

Working_in_pyjamas

Andy_L said:

The ports on the monitors are for inputs only, hence going laptop to monitor to monitor doesn't work. 
You need something like this 
[link removed - as a new user it won't even let me quote your post with a link in!]
NB that is not a recommendation for that model
You could probably use a cheaper single port model and use the existing laptop output, although theres a chance it might confuse the laptop and not work

Thanks, uncanny as I was just looking at that on Amazon - it was available on Prime but somebody must have bought the last one as it's now marketplace only.

Would you know if this type of device would need any kind of driver or download to work? The work laptop is super locked down, it accepted a wired keyboard and wired mouse with no issues but I was just looking at a similar device, made by the same company too - Startech USB32HDDVII - and it needs drivers downloaded, there is zero chance of the laptop allowing that!

DoaM

No idea if something like this may work: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Splitter-Cable-Female-Support-Black/dp/B07VS63BJZ/

What make and model is your laptop?

Chino

DoaM said:

No idea if something like this may work: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Splitter-Cable-Female-Support-Black/dp/B07VS63BJZ/

This suggests that it wouldn't work the way the OP wants:

It can only connects one input device (eg. DVD player) to two HDMI output devices (eg. TV), but only one output device should be active at any time.

Working_in_pyjamas

Johnmcl7 said:

Which Thinkpad model do you have?    If it can work with a dock that's likely the best way to get the dual video output.  There are USB adapters that will output to another monitor but I find they can be inconsistent in use and ended up switch the PC's to docks instead.

Sorry I missed your reply, think we crossposted - it's a Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 11e

DoaM

Chino said:

DoaM said:

No idea if something like this may work: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Splitter-Cable-Female-Support-Black/dp/B07VS63BJZ/

This suggests that it wouldn't work the way the OP wants:

It can only connects one input device (eg. DVD player) to two HDMI output devices (eg. TV), but only one output device should be active at any time.

I saw that, but it also says it support 2 TVs at the same time. This may be a better option? https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07NW3GB34/

I also looked for USB-HDMI converters but ones which also included USB ports. (OP only has 2 USB ports and already plans to use them). There are options on Amazon but the marketplace sellers don't inspire confidence.