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How To Change The Default Monitor In Your Laptop To A Seconday External Monitor

by Mo Goulet
7 replies
I have several laptops that changing to an external monitor is easy and quick but one of my friends has an older laptop and the option to switch primary to secondary was not available even though the secondary monitor is listed and shows in the Identification process. He took it to a local tech who went in and changed the default monitor to the secondary listed under monitors and when he got home, he found out it will only view on the external and he has no option to view his laptop screen when he is on the road. I told him to call the tech back and ask him where he made the change for default and the tech said he will be happy to tell him for $90. Does anyone here know where to go and change the default monitor?

Thanks ...

Mo
#change #default #external #laptop #monitor #seconday
  • Profile picture of the author StephenDavies
    I don't know what your level of computer expertise is so this suggestion may sound rather stupid, but does your friend's laptop have a function button setting so he can change monitors from the keyboard?

    On my laptop if you press the function key and the F8 button at the same time it will switch between the laptop screen and an external monitor. My F8 button is also marked CRT/LCD.

    My son has an older laptop and even he has that option, my laptop at work also ahs that option.

    Sorry if you have already considered this or if it isn't an option on your friends laptop.
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  • Profile picture of the author babushka99
    Banned
    In Vista - right click on the desktop, choose "Personalize" and then Choose Display Settings from there, make sure your secondary monitor is attached. You can click on "identity monitors" to find out which is which.

    Your laptop monitor should always be you 'main monitor' and from the drop down menu, you will see the other monitor, check "Extend the desktop to this monitor" and apply, and the secondary monitor becomes part of an extended desktop.
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  • Profile picture of the author rapidscc
    Yups there's a function key usually marked FN beside the CTRL button. It might be different in your case so just look for it and also look for the Button marked LCD/CRT or sometimes just marked with a symbol of a MONITOR.

    Most of the times you can cycle through the settings (Both monitors working, LCD only, External monitor only) by continously pressing the LCD/CRT button with the FN Button.

    As for the $90 for the information. Your friend should have asked the guy if it comes with 100 PLR articles and a PLR Ebook plus sales pages and Jpeg files. If that's the case it's a steal! :-)

    oMar
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  • Profile picture of the author Kelly Verge
    Assuming XP ("older laptop"):

    Right-click on desktop;

    choose properties;

    click on settings tab;

    click on the box (monitor) with the big "1"

    then click on the checkbox that says "Use this device as the primary monitor"

    finally click on "OK"
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    • Profile picture of the author Mo Goulet
      Originally Posted by Kelly Verge View Post

      Assuming XP ("older laptop"):

      Right-click on desktop;

      choose properties;

      click on settings tab;

      click on the box (monitor) with the big "1"

      then click on the checkbox that says "Use this device as the primary monitor"

      finally click on "OK"
      So far everything listed above was done...the suggestion here in the quote is the problem. The "Use this device as the primary monitor" check box is Grey and unable to check since the tech did something to make the external the primary.

      Thanks for all the suggestions ....
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  • Profile picture of the author babushka99
    Banned
    In that case, check the OTHER monitor, uncheck (as that is the primary monitor) and apply, and then this will release the 'grey' box option that you are not seeing. The reason you are not seeing this is because the other monitor is set as primary, you need to select that monitor and release the primary.
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  • Profile picture of the author garyv
    You can also look in your "device manager" for a disabled display adapter.

    Go to Start> Control Panel - Then to "System" click on the hardware tab at the top, and then click on "Device manager".

    When you are in there, if you see (!) next to a display adapter, then that means that it is disabled. Do a right mouse click on it, and enable it.

    - you can also try going to the laptop manufacturer's website, and downloading and installing the display drivers again.
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