how do i set up my laptop like it was when i first got it?

August 7, 2006 3:47 AM

how do i get my video card to display the picture on the tv and the laptop monitor at the same time?

hi...

when i first got my laptop it was configured in a particular way. when i connected the s-video cable the display would show on both the tv and the laptop screen. this was very handy.

since then i've had to reformat and despite reinstalling the drivers all in the right order (according to the manufacturers instructions) and trying everything i could in terms of configuring the video card settings i've never managed to get it back the way it was. now, when i plug the s-video cable in, i have to close my laptop lid in order to switch over to the tv display, and to get the laptop display back i have to unplug the cable and press the laptop's lid display switch again.

i'm sure there's just something simple i've not thought of, or it's a certain configuration that exists but that i don't know what it's called or something.

i know this is probably going to end up with people asking what kind of machine i'm using etc so it's a dell inspiron 8600 with an ati mobility radeon 9600 pro turbo. i'm generally i think looking for advice from someone who's got a lot of video card knowledge as opposed to general IT advice!

any advice would be much appreciated.

thanks,

lee

posted by leemajors to Computers & Internet (5 answers total)

On my Inspiron 8200, I can cycle through all the different combinations of panel/external display using Fn-F5. Is the 8600 similar?
posted by flabdablet at 4:07 AM on August 7, 2006

I have a Radeon 9600 graphics card in my desktop. To check if it works the same way - there's a little red ATI icon on the taskbar, and right-clicking on it brings up a menu. One of the options is schemes, and you can choose a different scheme in here (tv on, laptop on, both on). For more advanced options, you can go to settings/ATI display settings/displays.

Maybe you should have it set to both screens on always? That sounds like it would have the behaviour you want.
posted by jacalata at 4:26 AM on August 7, 2006

One other thing I just tripped over myself, and that's a high-enough end laptop for this to be an issue: the scan converter that creates the NTSC image has a maximum input resolution, usually 1024x768. Is your LCD running at a higher scan rate than that?
posted by baylink at 12:15 PM on August 7, 2006

Response by poster: flabdablet: thanks, i will check this.
jacalata: great thought, i have wandered round these settings however i don't think i've tried "schemes", so will have a play.
baylink: would this be similar for PAL?
posted by leemajors at 2:39 PM on August 7, 2006

Response by poster: thanks for all your help guys. i now think i've pretty much sorted out what i need however a new problem has occurred, and i think it might be what baylink pointed out:

set in theatre mode, when i play video the TV just shows the video full screen and the laptop screen shows me the desktop etc. this is brilliant. however now it seems that i can't set the laptop resolution any higher than 1024x768 when i am running the dual screen mode.

as soon as i unplug the s-video cable, the computer goes back to its original resolution, 1680x1050.

any further thoughts?
posted by leemajors at 4:14 PM on October 4, 2006