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  • #2266774

    External monitor is primary and can’t see laptop monitor.

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    by vs ·

    Hi,
    A very frustrating problem has arisen for me. I am using a late model Samsung X50. I upgraded to Vista while it was plugged into an external monitor.
    Now I don’t seem to be able to use the laptop except via an external monitor. If I unplug everything and boot up the laptop by itself I just get a blank screen on the laptop. I can only see what’s on it if I plug in an external monitor. It uses ATI Mobility Radeon X700 graphics card.
    How can I regain control and be able to use laptop screen again. I have mucked around with all the display setting for extended monitors etc.

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    • #2578227

      Clarifications

      by vs ·

      In reply to External monitor is primary and can’t see laptop monitor.

      Clarifications

    • #2578078
      Avatar photo

      Wipe the HDD and reinstall your previous OS

      by hal 9000 ·

      In reply to External monitor is primary and can’t see laptop monitor.

      That way the Keys should work they way that they where designed to work.

      But if you want to stick with the Vista install look at the user manual and see which Key combinations switch between the NB Monitor and the external Monitor and try them to see if they still work. They most likely will not and you will need to download the drivers for that unit for Vista from the Makers Web Site if they have any.

      You can always try this Windows Vista Community and click on the arrows on the main picture on the opening screen till you come to the drivers window and look there

      http://preview.tinyurl.com/yt8adb

      Col

      • #2585681

        Oh Boy You’re Real Helpful

        by rkuhn040172 ·

        In reply to Wipe the HDD and reinstall your previous OS

        Hal, if you aren’t going help, why don’t you just stay away?

        • #2585576
          Avatar photo

          rickk why don’t you admit that the programmable keys

          by hal 9000 ·

          In reply to Oh Boy You’re Real Helpful

          Are unlikely to work with a different OS installed?

          If you where capable of reading I suggested that they try obtaining Vista Drivers for the Function Keys and if they couldn’t return to the original OS. This is all software dependant. Again you are showing your complete lack of knowledge of Hardware 101!

          Col

    • #2585713

      Buy a Mac

      by unhappyuser ·

      In reply to External monitor is primary and can’t see laptop monitor.

      One more issue with Vista to add to the heap.

      EMD

      • #2585682

        You’re a Moron

        by rkuhn040172 ·

        In reply to Buy a Mac

        Thanks for all your insight.

    • #2585687

      Try this

      by perezaguiar ·

      In reply to External monitor is primary and can’t see laptop monitor.

      Hi. I’m running Windows XP SP2. Something alike happened to me last week. Boot the laptop with the monitor plugged. Once Logged In, went to Display Properties (right click, Properties), clicked on the “configuration” tab… and checked that Default monitor was the one from the laptop (came with the ATI Radeon by default).

      • #2585622

        Default Monitor

        by vs ·

        In reply to Try this

        Hi – it just seems to only see my external monitor. It thinks it is primary. Even when I try to extend it just applies but with no effect. Could this be because I upgraded Vista while my laptop was on dual screen. Could Microsoft be quite so retarded that this could matter?
        Also, I’ve switched to Vista classic so that I have more resources available. I have a rating of 3.6 in the performance software checker. (I get much higher ratings in real life!)

    • #2585683

      Special Keys

      by rkuhn040172 ·

      In reply to External monitor is primary and can’t see laptop monitor.

      Mine are “Fn” and F4. Could vary by brand and model though.

      Should be labeled on the keyboard.

      Used to toggle between monitors. Used primarily for toggle between say a projector and a laptop monitor but you should get the same effect.

      Don’t listen to Hal. He’s a moron and just hates anything MS and Vista.

      • #2585623

        Fn F4 has been tried

        by vs ·

        In reply to Special Keys

        Hi its not that simple but thanks for contributing. When I hit that key external monitor flashes for a minute but laptop mon remains blank.

        • #2585575

          Try FN + F5

          by perezaguiar ·

          In reply to Fn F4 has been tried

          I had a HP Pavillion, a Sony Vaio, an Acer.. and in all of them, it’s FN F5. Please, also try this:
          right clic, properties, Configuration tab. Then, you should be able to see both monitors.. one enabled and one disabled. Try to enable the one that reffers to your laptop build in and not the ATI Radeon connection….

        • #2585574
          Avatar photo

          What has happened here is that your function keys

          by hal 9000 ·

          In reply to Fn F4 has been tried

          Have lost their Programing that comes with the previous OS. If you are unable to find Vista Drivers for this system from the maker your only alternative is to go back to the original OS and reset the Function Keys so you can switch between the internal & external monitors. This is OS dependant and when you loaded Vista you destroyed the software that allows you to switch monitors.

          Without the M’Board drivers for Vista you will be stuck with the current setup and unable to change back to the NB monitor.

          So if you read your Instruction manual and find the key/s necessary to push to switch between monitors and they don’t work and you are unable to find any Vista Drivers for the M’Board your only option to get the NB’s Monitor to work is to switch back to the original OS and then without the external Monitor installed apply Vista again. This time you’ll most likely be stuck with being unable to switch from the NB monitor to an external monitor which is much better than you are currently in.

          You’ll have to forgive rickk as he doesn’t understand basic hardware and seems to think that I’m attempting to bash everything M$ when I’m just pointing out the shortcomings of the hardware basics.

          Col

        • #2585550

          Thank You

          by vs ·

          In reply to What has happened here is that your function keys

          That makes a lot of sense. Thanks for taking the time to explain that.
          Now the real challenge begins – getting hold of Vista drivers for my X50 laptop from Samsung.

        • #2585437
          Avatar photo

          I don’t know if this will work

          by hal 9000 ·

          In reply to Thank You

          But you can try the Function Keys [b]F3 or F7[/b] as they may possibly be the correct keys to change the Monitor from External to internal.

          They seem to be the most common ones on the NB’s that I currently have here but your instruction book should be your first option to look at as that will have the right key or key combination for your NB. If you no longer have the Users Manual you can download a copy from here

          http://preview.tinyurl.com/ypg47t

          Samsung doesn’t offer any Vista drivers for this Model NB as supported here on their driver Web Site

          http://preview.tinyurl.com/yu4abq

          So you may get the necessary drivers off the Windows Vista Community but if they don’t have them available I think that you’ll have to reload XP and then install Vista with out an external monitor connected. The same applies to Keyboards & mice as well. Just remember to save any of your work first to some backup media and remember that Kodak tells it’s customers to only keep pictures on CD for about 3 years under ideal conditions as after that time the pictures degrade and become less and less viewable as time goes on. If you allow the CD and I suppose DVD Media in contact with direct sunlight or to get hot the life will be dramatically shortened.

          The Windows Vista Community may have suitable drivers though they have recently changed the site around so you may have to hunt for drivers here

          http://preview.tinyurl.com/yt8adb

          But if you know your exact Chip Set type it should be easier to find suitable drivers for Vista so the Samsung Drivers Centre may be more help that appears on the surface.

          Cheers

          Col

    • #2628821

      same problem

      by emesc ·

      In reply to External monitor is primary and can’t see laptop monitor.

      did you managed to deal with the problem somehow? I have the same effect and cant find a way out. Please post the solution of this situation.
      Pawel
      My pc is ASUS A6KM with nvidia GO7300 card
      some more remarks:
      when i enter the settings of screen there are 2 screens in there when i right click the secoind one and enable the attached mode (two different desktops, one with icon) then the notebook screen turns on and display 4 copies of regular desktop, it is described as many screens, and the second one is described as analog one
      After most opf changes it just blinks and regular desktop is displayed on TV and it is identified as no.1 screen (normally with 4 desktops tv is identified as 2 and those desktops as 1), after enabling the attached in nvidia desktop I can change the display to clone, only one screen and set my notebook screen as default but after V and nvidia settings indicate only option of using analog screen, all opther options dissapear

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