I have a sony laptop running windows XP. For some reason, I'm no longer able to get it to connect properly to an external monitor or projector. The fn F7 command no longer works.
Any ideas why this might be happening? It doesn't seem to be a hardware issue but I can't be sure. Could some system file be corrupted? If so, which one and how do I fix the problem? If it does turn out to be a hardware problem with the key itself, is there a work around?
Posted by Mucus (Member # 9735) on :
Do you see the second monitor when you go to Display Properties(Settings?)?
Posted by The Rabbit (Member # 671) on :
Let me check.
Yes, I can and I can extend my desktop onto the external monitor.
I can it to use only the external monitor but I can't get the two monitors to mirror each other.
I need that for projecting presentations, any suggestions?
Oh, and thanks. I always feel like a such dweeb when I have to use windows.
Posted by scifibum (Member # 7625) on :
Rabbit, maybe some of the suggestions in this thread will be applicable. Specifically this one looks promising:
quote:I did find that I could turn the clone mode on via right clicking on the desktop and choosing "graphic options-->Output to-->Intel Display Dual Clone." Alternatively, I could do the same thing by going to Control Panel and opening up the Intel Extreme Graphics Control and going to "Intel Dual Display Clone" under the devices tab, clicking "Device settings" and checking the "full Screen (no border) box and then hitting Apply.
If neither of these paths is available/applicable, there might be something similar available in the display settings if you click the Advanced button.
Posted by Mucus (Member # 9735) on :
Hmmm, its been a while so bear with me. Is it possible to enable the monitor without clicking the "extend desktop" button?
Alternatively, sometimes your graphics vendor will provide drivers which will give you greater control, in the case of ATI look for a Catalyst Control Centre while with Intel they add a Graphics Properties option when you right click on the desktop.
Edit to add: the above looks like the Intel option, also, in Powerpoint there is an option for "presenter view" if you're using ppt, which may be helpful
Posted by scifibum (Member # 7625) on :
The above is a workaround if the FN keys won't work. After reading a bit more, there are things you can try to get the FN keys to work again. It sounds like there are some Sony services/drivers that might not be starting up correctly. There are posts on that thread that describe a couple of ways to try to ensure those things are working.
Posted by The Rabbit (Member # 671) on :
I don't get "graphic options" when I right click on the desk top and I don't have "Intel Extreme Graphics Control" in my control panel. I can't seem to find anything that will work in the advanced options either.
At least I am now able to use the external monitor even if I can't get the built in monitor to mirror it.
Posted by The Rabbit (Member # 671) on :
I don't seem to have hotkeys installed and the links in scifibums link are outdated but I'm still working on it.
I've got a new problem. When I'm in dual monitor mode, the mouse gets stuck in the second monitor and the only way I've been able to get it back to my primary monitor is to reboot the computer. I've tried alt tab and the windows key to no avail. Any ideas?
Posted by Mucus (Member # 9735) on :
Is your cursor just getting stuck on edge of the larger monitor that doesn't match up with its border with the smaller monitor? Alternatively, you can just turn off or deactivate the second monitor, that should get your cursor back to the main one in a hurry, but thats pretty weird.
Posted by The Rabbit (Member # 671) on :
The monitors are very the same size. I'm simply unable to move the mouse back to the main monitor. If I turn off the second monitor, I simply don't have a mouse at all.
Posted by The Rabbit (Member # 671) on :
OK, I managed to download and reinstall the notebook utilities from sony and that has fixed the problem.
Thanks to everyone for their help.
Posted by scifibum (Member # 7625) on :
quote:Originally posted by The Rabbit: OK, I managed to download and reinstall the notebook utilities from sony and that has fixed the problem.
Thanks to everyone for their help.
Awesome, glad you were able to get it working.
Posted by The Rabbit (Member # 671) on :
It does seem like my Hot Keys file was corrupted. It was still there, but after I reloaded the notebook utilities and restarted, my virus software flagged me that Hot Keys was being added to the startup file.