I've got an XP laptop which I use frequently to display presentations on an
external monitor. Until recently, I've connected the VGA out from my laptop
to a converter box, which then takes an RCA or S-Video out signal to a
television set. Unfortunately the converter box recently died on me, however
my laptop does still have a direct S-Video out.

The one complaint/question I have, is when I use the S-Video out from my
laptop to a TV, I cannot get the display to appear on both devices when I
select the function key combo for external display. (When I used the
converter box, it would let me display on both devices)

Anyone know of a configuration where I can tell it to display on both
devices when switching to the external monitor through S-Video out?

Video is 32MB nVidia GeForce4 420

This is something you would configure from Display Properties (Right
click on desktop > Properties > Advanced, locate the tab for your
graphics controller). However, an easier way that should work is by
using the Fn + another key, which could be F8, or perhaps F7 - this may
depend on your laptop. Using this key combination cycles the display
through the various available options, like Laptop only > External
monitor only > Clone mode > extended mode. I'd expect your laptop has
an Fn key for this purpose.

Thanks - I didn't see anything in display properties. This is what I'm
saying though - When I used the Fun key combo (F3 on my laptop) with the
converter box hooked up to my VGA out, it would cycle through and let me
choose either display or both. But since the converter box died, I can only
use my S-Video out. When connected this way, using the Fn key combo only
lets me choose one display or the other (not both).

"bxf" <bill@topman.net> wrote in message
news:1134122610.206828.236060@g14g2000cwa.googlegr oups.com...
> This is something you would configure from Display Properties (Right
> click on desktop > Properties > Advanced, locate the tab for your
> graphics controller). However, an easier way that should work is by
> using the Fn + another key, which could be F8, or perhaps F7 - this may
> depend on your laptop. Using this key combination cycles the display
> through the various available options, like Laptop only > External
> monitor only > Clone mode > extended mode. I'd expect your laptop has
> an Fn key for this purpose.
>

I can only guess that the reason you found it necessary to use the
converter box in the first place is that there is something
unconventional in your configuration. If the graphics card supports
what is normally referred to as "CLONE" mode (i.e. same display on
multiple monitors), there should not be a need for any accessory
hardware.

I don't know why there is no Nvidia tab hanging off Display Properties
> Advanced. May be useful to check the Nvidia site for the latest driver for your video card.


MPalicki wrote:
> Thanks - I didn't see anything in display properties. This is what I'm
> saying though - When I used the Fun key combo (F3 on my laptop) with the
> converter box hooked up to my VGA out, it would cycle through and let me
> choose either display or both. But since the converter box died, I can only
> use my S-Video out. When connected this way, using the Fn key combo only
> lets me choose one display or the other (not both).
>
> "bxf" <bill@topman.net> wrote in message
> news:1134122610.206828.236060@g14g2000cwa.googlegr oups.com...
> > This is something you would configure from Display Properties (Right
> > click on desktop > Properties > Advanced, locate the tab for your
> > graphics controller). However, an easier way that should work is by
> > using the Fn + another key, which could be F8, or perhaps F7 - this may
> > depend on your laptop. Using this key combination cycles the display
> > through the various available options, like Laptop only > External
> > monitor only > Clone mode > extended mode. I'd expect your laptop has
> > an Fn key for this purpose.
> >