External monitor with laptop won't work Solved/Closed

Question

hey I have an acer laptop with vista. I just got another monotor to hook it up to but cannot get it to work. It works when I first start up the laptop. First it goes to the acer loading screen and loads it(this happens on the external monitor) then it goes to a screen that asks whether I would like to start windows normally or not, this happens if I shut it down by just pressing the button. Then no matter which of these I choose the monitor stops working and it switches back to using the laptop screen. 

Thanks in advance and I'll try to answer any other questions to the best of my abilityConfiguration: Mac OS X Safari 525.20

BobK60517 · Accepted Answer

After posting my last reply I found out what's going on with my Acer laptop. The Fn + F5 button doesn't work because it is being over-ridden by a system tray applet in the bottom right-hand corner. This applet looks like a blue square with a gray border, and is called "Intel extreme graphics 2 for mobile". It replaces the Fn + F5 hardware approach with a software approach. 

Using this applet, I can direct the laptop's output to my TV. The only thing is that I first have to set my laptop's primary screen to a resolution that my TV accepts if I want to have the same display on both my laptop and TV. 

This applet has lots of options for setting up both my primary and secondary displays, but up until now I've been ignoring it and didn't realize what it does.

Mr. Bishop · Answer

you need to press Fn and F8 while the monitor is attached and it should power on if tat doesnt work left click your desktop and click properties and then go to settings and you might have to enable the double monitor feature

mtbceri · Answer

1) Turn off Samsung monitor.

2) Unplug DVI cable from notebook.

3) Turn on Samsung monitor.

4) Select "source" on control panel of Samsung monitor. Select "digital"

This worked for me.

panzerfaust · Answer

Deoi,

Yeah I just gave up after I hooked up my GF's brand new HP vista 64 bit laptop to my tv screen... it worked perfectly.. this lead me to believe that it's a resolution issue with the acer and the acer laptop just isnt capable of projecting a display to a screen XX" inches, u know?  BC I hooked it up to a 19" sony monitor I had laying around and it worked fine... so I am betting on this reason as to why it dosent work... bascially laptop is just an old POS lol.. good luck man sorry wish I had a better answer for ya!

regards,
panzer

yukichan612 · Answer

Yeah, I have a similar problem with my laptop. My screen is broken so I connected it to an old monitor which used to work. But for some reason, now it's not reading anything. The monitor works and it starts out fine, but then it tells me that the Power Saver is enabled and switches to my laptop screen. Anyone know how to fix that?

Samskara · Answer

I also facing the same issue as Panzer. My laptop was working fine with my TV till Friday of last week. Then when I unplugged it and connected it to my 19 inch External Monitor, it wont work (it used to work fine the previous day). It stopped working with the TV also.

I restarted the comp and unplugged all cords. Like panzer says I suspects its something to do with the resolution. Not sure what the solution is...so I dropped my laptop at the shop for a checkup. I am glad I am still under warranty...)

Music Chick · Answer

I love you! My monitor now works. YESSS!!! Clickimg then selecting output works, guys. Thanks again!

Larobi · Answer

Hey I had this problem as well and how I got it to work was I placed my computer in safe mode.  Yeah it was that simple.  When it was acting funny it would show the startup of windows and then switch back to the laptop monitor.  This happened several times and I was starting to get upset.  I then just turn the computer off by holding down the power button.  He came up with the option to put the computer in safe mode and I chosed it.  It's kinda of limited in what you can do, but you should be able to switch your monitor settings while the computer is in safe mode.  I only used it to get my files off there. I hope this helps somebody.

gelong · Answer

Mat, better get some external LCD and connect it to the notebook. Anyway, I also facing the same problem with yr guys. And now i'm using external LCD while waiting bonus (in dream) from my boss to buy new CPU. 

My question is, if I pull out the notebook's LCD from the body, does the notebook still working? Anyone hv any idea?

Jaedice · Answer

Well that's discouraginng, I have had this very frustrating problem that corrects after a restore SOMETIMES.  SO irritating..  I thought it had something to do with some windows update because restoring to an earlier date worked for a long time but now that restore date seems to have disappeared...sigh  

When I saw all of you describe my exact trouble I thought that there might be some solution in the end..WTH are we going to do, friends?  This has carried on FAR too long for me!  I think my acer just might FLY!!  Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee......UGH

Desperately Seeking Solutions

BobK60517 · Answer

I was having a similar issue with my Acer laptop. The VGA port would work while booting up, but once windows started I wasn't getting a picture on my TV. I found a solution that works for me. I opened the Display properties (right-click on desktop or use Control Paned ! Display). Then I went to the "Settings" tab. It showed two monitor boxes: The first was my laptop screen. The second was grayed out. I clicked on box #2 and then checked the box under it that reads "Extend my Windows desktop onto this monitor" and pressed the Apply button. Once I did this my TV showed a signal again. Next I made sure I was clicked on box 2, and then changed the screen resolution and color depth to values that my TV accepts, once again clicking the Apply button.

Now the trick is that is doesn't mirror the primary screen, but acts as a second screen. To put something on it you slide a window off the laptop's screen in the direction of box 2. The relationship between screen 2 and screen 1 can be changed by re-arranging them on the Display tab. For example, my monitor 2 box sits to the right of my monitor 1 box in the Display panel. So on my laptop screen, I slide a window off the right-side of my laptop screen, and it slides onto my TV. I slide my mouse cursor off the right side of my laptop and it appears on my TV, where I can then work with the windows I have there.

mevsacer · Answer

I have a an Acer laptop with a smashed screen, recently the external monitor would not turn on except in safemode and I was stuck looking at nothing. The fn +f5 combination did not work.  It had previously worked fine.  I found that the easiest way to use my external monitor was to select one of my users and once they were selected, I then used the fn +f5 key combo and it worked fine.  To select a user account, I randomly clicked around the screen until one of them opened because my screen is busted.  It took a little time but once it dd I could hear my computer begin to work.  This was the easiest solution for me.  There is a good chance this will only work with acer laptops using vista, however, I recommend that anyone try it who is having this problem

set · Answer

As my laptop's screen lost the backlite, I was using an external monitor (windows xp). It was working fine, until one day I screwed up one of the settings of the display properties. My computer stopped sending signals to the external monitor.
I tried everything from updating the drivers to updating the bios. Nothing worked. Finally I resorted to the system restore function ( start --> all programs -->accessories --> system toos--> system restore)
I just reverted back the system to the previous day's restore point. My external monitor started working fine.

Nacl96 · Answer

Thank you very much - the reply that mentions the applet in the task bar (bottom right of screen) regarding the icon that is a blue screen with a gray boarder worked for me... I right clicked selected to send graphics and checked (highlighted) monitor... it was on "notebook" and 5 seconds later I can see everythion my dell 22" screen.  I also am working off an ACER laptop... Thank you again!

tee_89 · Answer

for ACER laptops you have to plug in the cord first then press Fn && F5 until the icon laptop and tv screen pops up!

buddyearl · Answer

Well, I have been without my labtop for 3 weeks,  and I tell you when I was reading what everyone's input.
you all really saved me money, I was going to send this HP to the shop or buy another because they said the monitor was gone. so my hats off to you Mr. Bishop opening the door to Mehdi and helping myself with the F4.....so THANKS

mjfrans · Answer

Thanks for the advice about the Fn and F8, saves me a lot of time which I would otherwise have spent on the phone with the technical help desk. once again, thanks.

young money · Answer

mine has the same prob I cant seem to fix though my other computer worked my clicking function f4 could be a diff one of these on ur comp not sure they change depending on cpomputer

JT · Answer

You have to change your monitor settings to dual monitor weather it be clone or extended desktop! You usually do this with you display manager and since you said you were running vista! Search CCC in your start menu and click the first one and it will guide you through the steps!

middie · Answer

u guys are awesome!! thank for the help

pat · Answer

i have a problem with my notebook, when i'm installing a software  I cant see the accept button thats why I decided  to plug it to an external monitor and disabled the monitor of my notebook to extend my desktop to the external monitor, now my problem is I cant enable the monitor of my notebook.
thanks in advance! please help me

BoneMonster · Answer

had same prob fixed mine by right click on windows screen and gave the option of graphic out put and was able to switch between monitors by selecting desired option

curious · Answer

Thanks! This helped me.

NADIASPARKLES1 · Answer

WELL I TOO WAS HOOKING UP MY LAPTOP, AN ACER TO AN OLD DELL VGA MONITOR.  WHEN IT FIRST LOADS UP YOU SEE THE BRAND NAME OF THE LAPTOP APPEAR AND THEN FOLLOWED SHORTLY BY WINDOWS BEGINS TO LOAD.  AFTER THAT IT USUALLY SWITCHES BACK TO THE LAPTOP SCREEN.  THEN THE VGA MONITOR WOULD SAY CHECK SIGNAL.  SO HERE IS WHAT I HAD TO DO IN ORDER TO GET MY LAPTOP TO WORK.  FIRST I WOULD SUGGEST TO GET THE MONITOR TURNED ON FIRST AND WARMED UP SO THAT YOU DON'T MISS THE BRAND NAME OF THE LAPTOP APPEAR WHEN YOU FIRST TURN IT ON.  WHEN I TURNED ON MY LAPTOP ACER WOULD APPEAR, EXACTLY THEN I WOULD QUICKLY PRESS F5 TO BRING UP ADMINISTRATIVE OPTIONS MENU, FROM THAT MENU YOU HAVE THE OPTION TO PRESS F8 FOR MORE ADMINISTRATIVE DIAGNOSTIC OPTIONS.  SO PRESS F8 AND IT WILL BRING UP A LIST OF DIFFERENT OPTIONS.  *SAFE MODE, SAFE MODE WITH NETWORKING, SAFE MODE WITH COMMAND PROMPT.*  WHEN YOU SEE THESE OPTIONS ON THE SCREEN YOU GO DIRECTLY BENEATH THE SAFE MODE OPTIONS AND PICK ENABLE VGA MODE.  THEN LET THE COMPUTER BOOT UP AND WINDOW S WILL LOAD UP AND YOU WILL BE ABLE TO USE YOUR OLD MONITOR WITH YOUR LAPTOP.  BUT CAREFUL AS SOMETIME FOR SOME REASON WHILE SWITCHING USER ACCOUNTS I HAVE FOUND THAT THE ACER WILL SWITCH OFF AGAINJ AND GO BACK ITS SCREEN.

Tenzin · Answer

thanks the graphic option helped me... great work guys thanks

Evan · Answer

What you are going to want to do it go to 'Start' and select 'Control Panel' and then 'Display' (make sure the monitor is connected to the laptop through this process). Then from there you can set up the connection between the laptop and the monitor. Make sure you click 'Apply' whenever you want a change to be made.

sunny · Answer

thank you

itskendichick · Answer

its not working for me

Brina Boo · Answer

Hey I hope this helps someone, but I have an ACER laptop and I had to go to my CONTROL PANEL, and under HARDWARE AND SOUND, I had to click on CONNECT TO A PROJECTOR. The option I chose was DUPLICATE. Once I did this the screen from my laptop was duplicated to my tv screen so maybe this could be what some of you have to do.

External monitor with laptop won't work

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