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leet · May 2, 2005, 08:28 PM

I was able to plug a monitor into my Dell laptop and both showed the same images. Today I pluged in a monitor and it did not work. I checked out the monitor on a PC and it works. I was able go to "Display settings" and get it to work as an extended monitor(I can drag stuff over to it), but what I want is a mirror image. I changed it back now so that the extra monitor is hooked up but blank (dark)

ScottGem · May 3, 2005, 05:58 AM

Generally laptops have a key that cycles between three modes; Attached monitor, external monitor or both. Usually there is a Fn key that is held down while pressing a Function key that has an icon of a screen on it. Each press of the function key cycles through the 3 modes.

leet · May 3, 2005, 06:40 AM

Thanks, but my function keys do not have the small icons on them that some do. I got to thinking of anything that I did between the time it worked and didn't work and the only think I can think of is that I ran "Ad-aware"

ScottGem · May 4, 2005, 05:26 AM

Check your laptop's manual. What you are referring to is a hardware function. Doing anything via software will not affect it. All the Dell's I've seen have that toggle feature. Its usually on F7.

EyeNoNothing · May 18, 2005, 06:39 AM

Just got finished playing with an inspiron and I can understand your confusion. I was having the same issues with the clone on the first run, then just kept getting the extended desktop.
They key combo you may be looking for is (F8) this one had something about CRT/LCD under (F8).
I could get the three modes, but never a true cloning of the monitors. It would switch back and forth, or extend the desktop. The only difference in what I did originally and the final result... plug in the extra monitor after the laptop booted. Hope this helps :D