Linking a laptop to a monitor

topcat77 · 08-18-2007, 01:19 PM

Is it possible that linking a laptop to a seperate monitor can cause incompatibility issues? I broke the screen on my laptop and was advised to link it to a seperate monitor and just use the laptop as the processor and keyboard.

I've had many problems today. The internet and Windows running slow, sometimes crashing for a while whilst typing in forums and media players not working properly.

My laptop spec is:

Toshiba Satellite L100-79
Intel Celeron processor @ 1.70Ghz
896MB RAM
XP Home Edition
Graphics: ATI Radeon Xpress 200M Series

At start up, everything comes up on the monitor but also distortions on the laptop screen due to the cracks in it. The screen has been disabled so I can keep it open to still use as a keyboard and could this be causing my problems?

Obviously, my processor is sending information to two screens at the same time so could this be why I'm having problems? I can't afford a new processor so would I be best just keeping the laptop closed and using a seperate keyboard?

Also, I do keep the laptop screen back as I'm worried there could be leakage from the screen due to the cracks.

Can anyone give some advice please?

**TheMatt** · 08-18-2007, 06:51 PM

Not sure what you are describing here. Do you have it set to the correct resolution? It should be the resolution of the external monitor, not the broken internal one.

sallykay · 08-23-2007, 07:54 AM

I am trying to connect a separate monitor to my Toshiba laptop, which also has a broken LCD. When Vista is running in safe mode, it will come up on the new monitor; when it starts normally, it will not, and it says "no signal".

I first bought an HP monitor to try. It wouldn't work; I tried hooking it up to another Toshiba laptop; still wouldn't work. Tried another VGA cord on both computers; still wouldn't work. I hadn't tried the safe mode yet though.

I brought home another bigger monitor yesterday, and tried again. Nothing. Then I tried the safe mode, and lo and behold, everything came up on the new monitor screen; however, when I restarted in normal mode, nothing. It says no signal.

**TheMatt** · 08-23-2007, 08:06 AM

It sounds like you have to configure the external monitor from within your graphics card setup. Unfortunately this is kind of a catch 22 type of thing. I will talk with the other team members to see if they have any idea.

dai · 08-23-2007, 08:35 AM

in safe mode,did you set up the external monitor in the graphics contol program before restarting
for the correct resolution and refresh rate

sallykay · 08-23-2007, 08:37 AM

Thank you. Yes, I tried matching the settings as close as possible; I couldn't do it exactly though.

dai · 08-23-2007, 08:42 AM

check what the monitor supports and try each one

topcat77 · 09-12-2007, 09:48 AM

Unfortunately, my laptop packed up last Sunday and I've had to buy a new CPU.

I think maybe it overdid itself by linking it to the monitor without changing the settings mentioned or the LCD maybe leaked into the system.

Lesson learned though, I guess.

08-18-2007, 01:19 PM	#1 (permalink)
topcat77 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 15 OS: Windows XP	Linking a laptop to a monitor Is it possible that linking a laptop to a seperate monitor can cause incompatibility issues? I broke the screen on my laptop and was advised to link it to a seperate monitor and just use the laptop as the processor and keyboard. I've had many problems today. The internet and Windows running slow, sometimes crashing for a while whilst typing in forums and media players not working properly. My laptop spec is: Toshiba Satellite L100-79 Intel Celeron processor @ 1.70Ghz 896MB RAM XP Home Edition Graphics: ATI Radeon Xpress 200M Series At start up, everything comes up on the monitor but also distortions on the laptop screen due to the cracks in it. The screen has been disabled so I can keep it open to still use as a keyboard and could this be causing my problems? Obviously, my processor is sending information to two screens at the same time so could this be why I'm having problems? I can't afford a new processor so would I be best just keeping the laptop closed and using a seperate keyboard? Also, I do keep the laptop screen back as I'm worried there could be leakage from the screen due to the cracks. Can anyone give some advice please?

08-18-2007, 06:51 PM	#2 (permalink)
TheMatt TSF Enthusiast Join Date: May 2006 Location: Boston Posts: 13,701 OS: Win 3.1, 98, NT 4.0, XP Debian 4.0, Kubuntu 6.06 My System Blog Entries: 3	Re: Linking a laptop to a monitor Not sure what you are describing here. Do you have it set to the correct resolution? It should be the resolution of the external monitor, not the broken internal one. __________________ - Matt M - KB1OSC - Folding@Home 85015 [url="http://www.techsupportforum.com/hardware-support/"] If TSF has helped you, please consider donating. If I have stopped responding to a thread, feel free to send me a PM with a link to the thread. It is advisable to subscribe to threads so you will receive updates when replies are posted. You can subscribe to threads from the "Thread Tools" Menu. »Memtest86 »Prime95 »UBCD »SpeedFan »NHC Personal »Everest »Sandra »PC Wizard »RivaTuner »ATi Tool Click here for Useful Articles and Guides

08-23-2007, 07:54 AM	#3 (permalink)
sallykay Registered User Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 7 OS: XP	Re: Linking a laptop to a monitor I am trying to connect a separate monitor to my Toshiba laptop, which also has a broken LCD. When Vista is running in safe mode, it will come up on the new monitor; when it starts normally, it will not, and it says "no signal". I first bought an HP monitor to try. It wouldn't work; I tried hooking it up to another Toshiba laptop; still wouldn't work. Tried another VGA cord on both computers; still wouldn't work. I hadn't tried the safe mode yet though. I brought home another bigger monitor yesterday, and tried again. Nothing. Then I tried the safe mode, and lo and behold, everything came up on the new monitor screen; however, when I restarted in normal mode, nothing. It says no signal.

08-23-2007, 08:06 AM	#4 (permalink)
TheMatt TSF Enthusiast Join Date: May 2006 Location: Boston Posts: 13,701 OS: Win 3.1, 98, NT 4.0, XP Debian 4.0, Kubuntu 6.06 My System Blog Entries: 3	Re: Linking a laptop to a monitor It sounds like you have to configure the external monitor from within your graphics card setup. Unfortunately this is kind of a catch 22 type of thing. I will talk with the other team members to see if they have any idea. __________________ - Matt M - KB1OSC - Folding@Home 85015 [url="http://www.techsupportforum.com/hardware-support/"] If TSF has helped you, please consider donating. If I have stopped responding to a thread, feel free to send me a PM with a link to the thread. It is advisable to subscribe to threads so you will receive updates when replies are posted. You can subscribe to threads from the "Thread Tools" Menu. »Memtest86 »Prime95 »UBCD »SpeedFan »NHC Personal »Everest »Sandra »PC Wizard »RivaTuner »ATi Tool Click here for Useful Articles and Guides

08-23-2007, 08:35 AM	#5 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 56,216 OS: win 7 32x 64x rtm	Re: Linking a laptop to a monitor in safe mode,did you set up the external monitor in the graphics contol program before restarting for the correct resolution and refresh rate __________________

08-23-2007, 08:37 AM	#6 (permalink)
sallykay Registered User Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 7 OS: XP	Re: Linking a laptop to a monitor Thank you. Yes, I tried matching the settings as close as possible; I couldn't do it exactly though.

08-23-2007, 08:42 AM	#7 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 56,216 OS: win 7 32x 64x rtm	Re: Linking a laptop to a monitor check what the monitor supports and try each one __________________

09-12-2007, 09:48 AM	#8 (permalink)
topcat77 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 15 OS: Windows XP	Re: Linking a laptop to a monitor Unfortunately, my laptop packed up last Sunday and I've had to buy a new CPU. I think maybe it overdid itself by linking it to the monitor without changing the settings mentioned or the LCD maybe leaked into the system. Lesson learned though, I guess.