Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with projector and computer

How to best set up 1 computer & 2 video cards for 2 screens?

lpctstr; — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 19:41:29 -0800

I have a computer with built-in video (GMA 3100) [1 D-sub] and also just bought a $20 video card (Radeon X1300) [1 D-sub, 1 DVI]. I'm connecting both my LCD monitor and Projector to the computer. Will I be able to use both video cards at once and show different things? Which of the two D-subs should I connect to? Which screen should get the better (DVI) connection?

Why doesn't my laptop like projectors?

robhuddles — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 07:27:53 -0800

What causes my laptop to freak out whenever I plug in a projector? I have a Toshiba Satellite P205-S667 laptop. It's running Windows Vista Home Premium. It uses the Mobile Intel 945 Express Chipset Family graphics driver.

On several occasions, my computer has completely freaked out if I hook it up to a projector. It starts by dropping the projector signal (last night, it was happening every few minutes), and then eventually progresses to completely freezing the computer, to the point that I have to press and hold the power button to turn it off to restart.

And then things get really fun. Sometimes it will restart fine, and then work for a few minutes before freaking out again. But others, Windows will refuse to boot up at all and take me into first the Startup Restore utility, and then System Restore.

This isn't specific to a single projector or even projector brand - it happened last night while using a very old InFocus, but it also occurred once while I was using a newish Dell projector and at least once on a Samsung.

I have checked to be sure that the graphics card driver is up-to-date. I tried turning off the Vista-esque features, such as the Sidebar and Aero. I've manually reset the screen resolution to match that of the projector. Last night, I even tried resetting the Theme to Windows Classic, but nothing seems to work.

Unfortunately, running my laptop with a projector is an important part of my job, so I really need help to figure out what's causing the problem and how I might fix it.

Wirelessness?

megatherium — Sun, 17 Jun 2007 12:32:49 -0800

Wireless connection to LCD projector? I can buy any number of USB-powered doodads to let me do some basic stuff -- right arrow, etc. -- wirelessly on my laptop from a distance. Is there any similar item that would allow me to connect a laptop to an LCD projector within a small distance of about 20 feet or so, so that no wire has to run between them? The projector is an Infocus, about a year old.

How to display my Mac .ppt on a PC-friendly projector?

53B3L1U5 — Mon, 27 Nov 2006 16:42:12 -0800

Is there a way to switch the display on my Mac G4 to an external projector? I have an A/V port adapter that plugs into a serial port on a video projector that I often use. Unfortunately once everything is plugged in, the video won't be displayed out the projector.
On PCs I understand there's a display output option (where you can swap between "computer screen" and "external device") under the control panels, but I don't think I've found an appropriate equivalent on my comp.
What's frustrating is that a colleague's Mac works (though his was bought in Taiwan, mine in the US)

Circular Animation for PCs

grateful — Tue, 14 Jun 2005 13:42:09 -0800

You know those circular screens they use at concerts that always have some kind of animation projected onto them? Can I replicate that on my PC? Do you know of an application or screensaver that creates the same look on a PC? I'm specifically interested in projecting circular animations onto a large wall.