Multi Screens with a Laptop

[501]

Hi,

I have a laptop and would like to use two monitors. I want to be able to open my laptop in the dock and have a monitor connected to the docking station, and have my desktop act like it would if I had another video card attached. I was told that this feature is avaiable in O/S XP, but can it be done not using any hardware and with an add on in 2000?

Thanks in advance.

 

[mwiner]

dual monitors has been supported since Windows 98 SE. So you should be able to get it working fine in Windows 2000. When you connect the other monitor and you hit the function key to change the display output settings (something like FN-F8 or something). Sometimes you need to hit it a couple times to get it to the right setting. Typically they scroll though like laptop monitor off/external on, laptop on/external on, laptop on/external off. When you get it so that you can see the images on the laptop and the external monitor check your display settings. You should then have the ability to change it from cloneing to "extend my desktop onto this monitor".

good luck

-Matt

 

[501]

I have the display working on the external screen ok, but there is no option to extend the desktop. I went into the Advance settings as well. The laptop is a DELL with a Radeon 7500 VC.

 

[mwiner]

Make sure you can see the video on both the laptop monitor and the desktop monitor then try rebooting.

I know that 2000 supports dual monitors because that is what I use everyday.

 

[501]

The video is on both screens, carbon copy on both screens. Rebooted and still nothing. No option to extend desktop avaiable. I also have dual monitors setup on my desktop, but I have put another video card in the machine unlike the laptop.

 

[ftechguy]

If you're using your docking station, I'm 99% sure that mirroring will be your only option. Try connecting your monitor directly to the vga port on your laptop. Then, the extend your desktop option should become available in the display properties.

 

[501]

Tried both ways, no go.

 

[bcastner]

I do not think it is n OS software issue. It is a video card and docking system implementation issue.

 

[ftechguy]

Have you downloaded the latest hydravision software from ATI?
the MR7500 definitely supports extended desktop and I don't think Dell would cripple it somehow.

 

[501]

Doesn't work. Does not allow the desktop to extend to another monitor, just gives you more desktops.

 

[Greatgazzoo]

Does your docking station allow for an external video card? If it does you could use any dual video card on the market. I know that most do not but there are a few out there that allow external video cards to be used.