DVD on laptop with external monitor?????

[talmageb]

wondering why on some laptops when playing a DVD with for example a projector as an external monitor it will not display the video on both the laptop screen and the prjector. i have seen on some laptops it will and others it wont. i have tried playing around with display settings and video card settings and nothing seems to wotk.

my overall question is is it embedded hardware settings or can this be changed? this would be a great help if anyone has any tips on this.

thanks...

 

[bazzert]

I've only seen this very recently my HP laptop was being used by a teacher as his Fujitsu refused to play the DVD.

I'd never seen this before but couldn't investigate as he had a class to teach.

I've not yet tried this on some of our other laptops (Acer, Compaq, IBM) if I get time I'll try and post results.

 

[cdogg]

On laptops, you normally have to hit a Function key combination. The combination varies from manufacturer to manufacturer. For example, on older Dell laptops, it was FN + F5. Each time you hit the combination it would toggle between Projector, to Laptop, to Projector and Laptop.

Also on most laptops, you can see the current setting in the BIOS and change it there too.

~cdogg
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884

 

[talmageb]

Thanks fellows , but CDOGG i am not sure if you understood my issue. I am aware of how to toggle between laptop and projector with the function key and Fkey combo. The issue is (diplaying both at the same time) what I mean is having the DVD "video image" playing/ displaying on the laptop monitor and the projector screen simultaneously. on some laptops it will and on others you can only toggle between the 2 and my client wants to display them at the same time on both. Not sure if this is a setting that can be changed anywhere and that is really what I was getting at. Sorry if I was not clear on the issue. Any additional help/info would really be great. I did not think to check the BIOS, but I will...

Thanks again,
T

 

[cdogg]

Nope, we're on the same page!

The feature you are looking for is part of that "toggling". For instance on several Dell and Compaq laptops I support, it toggles between 3 modes:

1) Laptop only
2) Projector only
3) Laptop and Projector

It's the 3rd option obviously, that you are looking for. If toggling doesn't work, then you should be able to set it manually in the BIOS. However, it is possible that the model laptop you're working on doesn't support the 3rd option.

~cdogg
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884