[ss06470]

My 32 inch hi-def tv has a vga input and when I connect it to my laptop it works. Only problem is that XP sets it up as a contiguous monitor (ie an extention of my laptop screen (to the right, left on top or below) I want it to show the same thing as my laptop screen not be a monitor used for having a bigger surface to open up more documents. I can't figure out how to do this.

Any help would be appreciated

 

[flicka128]

What type of graphics card are you using... if any?
NVidia, ATI, Intel...

 

[Sniper98G]

This option should be under the advanced settings of the display control panel. You want to set this up as a clone not a span.

 

[ss06470]

I have an intel 945 chipset. Don't know whether it is a separate graphics card or built into the motherboard

As for the other suggestion, I have looked everywhere for something that would offer a clone choice and haven't found it including opening up "advanced" Is this a choice you actually saw?

 

[Sniper98G]

Cloning is only supported by certain cards. I would think that your laptop card would support it as this is a desirable mode for most laptops. Make sure you have you card specific drivers (from the manufacturer) installed. A lot of times XP will have a driver that works for your card but does not provide full functionality. If you click on the monitor in the display options control panel it should tell you what kind of video controller you have it connected to. Once you install the manufacturers drivers you should get a snap-in under the advanced tab that will let you configure the clone option.

 

[erick295]

You could also try the S-Video output... that might show a cloned image by default.

Play around with the special function keys on your keyboard. Monitors are often controlled by the keyboard.

 

[ss06470]

I sure wish the s video option had come up earlier. They have now closed the walls behind which the vga cable lies. I still have not been abe to find the clone option. The drivers are the most recent. Any other suggestions?

 

[erick295]

Play around with the special function keys on your keyboard. Monitors are often controlled by the keyboard.

 

[gurutech]

Go into your display settings, and on the Settings tab, select your TV from the drop down (should show your video card as 1. and your TV as 2., or visa versa). Uncheck the box that says "Expand to this desktop" (or similar, the machine I am on now doesn't have dual setup). Then save your settings, and it should mirror your laptop screen. If it is blank, then check your Fn-F? keys (depends on manufacturer) for how to switch between LCD, TV, or BOTH.

 

[flicka128]

Most laptops do have that keyboard function, but I've noticed that a lot of them won't pick clone vs. span, they simply activate which monitor(s) get a signal. Certain graphics cards I find make it easier. If you run a DXDIAG (START > RUN > DXDIAG and under the display tab) to figure out what card you are running it may help in figuring out what type of menus/settings you may be dealing with.

 

[ss06470]

I very much want to thank everyone, but I was getting no where until I brought my laptop to Best Buy and said I wanted to test lcd tv's for use as a monitor. The kid right clicked my mouse on the desktop and there everything was. You can choose using the monitor alone or keep your laptop image and have the tv show it all. Sure is simple.

It isn't just the people here. The Bestbuy "geek dept was going to have to make a home visit. A local small shop computer place said i would have to leave the computer and there would be a minimal exorbitant charge. And Dell technical support (it's a new computer) couldn't figure out how to do it and I would have to get in touch with the for pay microsoft tech phone number. It took the kid in the tv dept 12 seconds to get the desktop on the tv screen