Monitors not working as external display w/ laptop.

chiefsfan17 · 09-26-2008, 03:12 AM

Okay here is my situation: My house got struck by lightning 2 days ago, my desktop went busto but it's in the shop getting fixed. I had two monitors in the same surge protector as the desktop, and now they're not getting a display - but I don't think they're broken...here's why: Instead of using my desktop for now I am just using my laptop, but I tried to hook my monitors up to it (I have had this setup in the past for a few months - the laptop and the same exact 2 monitors). The monitors both turn on and show pictures on the screen (the default dell floating stuff when the monitor is not actually showing windows or something). The laptop also reads the monitors when I plug them in and it says they are working properly. I've tried DVI and VGA cables for both of them and neither works, but I'm pretty sure the cables are working because the laptop knows when the external monitor is hooked up or isn't hooked up. The laptop was not plugged in anywhere during the storm, so it's fine. Tomorrow I'm going to try these monitors with another laptop, I just don't have one to try them with right now. Any ideas?

Also my laptop is a Dell Inspiron E1705.

**TriggerFinger** · 09-26-2008, 06:33 AM

If you have used these monitors before with your laptop, why not use the same cables you have used before? Also testing them on another laptop seem a bit complicated since these things are really for desktops. Besides these were hooked up to a desktop that is just currently under repair, so I guess it makes sense if you test it with another desktop.

chiefsfan17 · 09-26-2008, 07:15 AM

What? I used these before with my laptop with the same cables I'm trying it with now, and the same cables I use them with on the desktop. The cables have always been the same.

**TriggerFinger** · 09-26-2008, 07:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chiefsfan17

What? I used these before with my laptop with the same cables I'm trying it with now, and the same cables I use them with on the desktop. The cables have always been the same.

Thank you for clarifying that out. My bad for not understanding your post very well. If I may suggest, try it on a desktop too.

09-26-2008, 03:12 AM	#1 (permalink)
chiefsfan17 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 3 OS: Vista	Monitors not working as external display w/ laptop. Okay here is my situation: My house got struck by lightning 2 days ago, my desktop went busto but it's in the shop getting fixed. I had two monitors in the same surge protector as the desktop, and now they're not getting a display - but I don't think they're broken...here's why: Instead of using my desktop for now I am just using my laptop, but I tried to hook my monitors up to it (I have had this setup in the past for a few months - the laptop and the same exact 2 monitors). The monitors both turn on and show pictures on the screen (the default dell floating stuff when the monitor is not actually showing windows or something). The laptop also reads the monitors when I plug them in and it says they are working properly. I've tried DVI and VGA cables for both of them and neither works, but I'm pretty sure the cables are working because the laptop knows when the external monitor is hooked up or isn't hooked up. The laptop was not plugged in anywhere during the storm, so it's fine. Tomorrow I'm going to try these monitors with another laptop, I just don't have one to try them with right now. Any ideas? Also my laptop is a Dell Inspiron E1705.

09-26-2008, 06:33 AM	#2 (permalink)
TriggerFinger Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: USA Posts: 11,802 OS: Vista SP1, XP SP3, PCLinuxOS2007	Re: Monitors not working as external display w/ laptop. If you have used these monitors before with your laptop, why not use the same cables you have used before? Also testing them on another laptop seem a bit complicated since these things are really for desktops. Besides these were hooked up to a desktop that is just currently under repair, so I guess it makes sense if you test it with another desktop. __________________ DBAN - Memtest86+ - BartPE - Linux LiveCD - ImgBurn - HDD Diags - Disk Copy HOW TO BURN AN ISO FILE

09-26-2008, 07:15 AM	#3 (permalink)
chiefsfan17 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 3 OS: Vista	Re: Monitors not working as external display w/ laptop. What? I used these before with my laptop with the same cables I'm trying it with now, and the same cables I use them with on the desktop. The cables have always been the same.