Using a laptop as 2nd display

hesatease

New member
Not quite seeing what I'm encountering out there. Perhaps someone has some experience with this.

I have an Asus-built Nvidia GTS450 video card with both a VGA and DVI output. The VGA output has a 17" Dell LCD monitor hooked to it as my main display. Using a DVI-VGA adapter, I've got a cable hooked into the VGA output of my Compaq Presario F500 running Vista 32bit and I'm trying to use the laptop as a secondary monitor onto which I can extend my desktop.

So far, I've gotten to the point where the PC's graphics card seems to be detecting that there is a second display hooked up. This is evidenced by the fact that it shows two displays in the screen resolution setup window and I can change options (resolution, etc.) for the second. My mouse even moves off-screen, but the laptop will show only its own desktop.

Is there some sort of way to boot the laptop differently or switch it's display for it to realize it's a second monitor? Thanks in advance!
 

My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Custom Build
OS
Windows 7 Home Premium x64
CPU
Intel Core i5 2500k
Motherboard
Asus P8P67 Pro
Memory
4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 1600MHz
Graphics Card(s)
Nvidia GTS450
Sound Card
Realtek integrated audio
Monitor(s) Displays
Dell 17" LCD
Screen Resolution
1440x900
Hard Drives
Hitachi 1TB HDD
PSU
Cooler Master 700w
Case
Cooler Master 690 II Advanced
Cooling
Cooler Master GeminII S
hi, you cannot do what you are trying to achieve. the port on your laptop is used to send a signal from the gfx card, it in now way is tied to the monitor on your laptop. the reason your computer might be seeing a second monitor is because the pins are grounded once you plug it in, but it now way can it take control of your laptop monitor and use it via the VGA port for the gfx card.

you are basically trying to take a desktop, and hook its gfx card port up to another gfx card port on another desktop. there is nowhere for the video to go as they both SEND a signal.

sorry.
 

My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Custom Built
OS
Windows 7 Ultimate x64
CPU
AMD Phenom II x4 955 ~4.1Ghz
Motherboard
AsRock Extreme 4 990FX
Memory
G.Skill 8Gb 1600 (2x 4Gb)
Graphics Card(s)
2x GTX 460 EVGA in SLI
Sound Card
Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Surround 5.1 USB Sound Card
Monitor(s) Displays
ASUS 24 in LED
Screen Resolution
1920x1080
Hard Drives
2x WD 500Gb @7200rpm in RAID 0
SATA3 Force GT 60Gb SSD
120Gb WD HDD (minor backup)
1Tb external nightly back-up of RAID 0 Drive
PSU
Corsair TX750W
Case
Azza mid tower
Cooling
Corsair H80 Liquid cooling
Keyboard
Logitech G110
Mouse
mx518
Internet Speed
15mb/3mb
I suspected as much. Thanks for the reply
 

My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Custom Build
OS
Windows 7 Home Premium x64
CPU
Intel Core i5 2500k
Motherboard
Asus P8P67 Pro
Memory
4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 1600MHz
Graphics Card(s)
Nvidia GTS450
Sound Card
Realtek integrated audio
Monitor(s) Displays
Dell 17" LCD
Screen Resolution
1440x900
Hard Drives
Hitachi 1TB HDD
PSU
Cooler Master 700w
Case
Cooler Master 690 II Advanced
Cooling
Cooler Master GeminII S
I'm replying because I am in a similar situation. I have a desktop and laptop with Windows 7 64-bit Professional (both) and want to find some way to make the laptop a second monitor. The only solution I could really find was a Maxivista program that does it through the network.

The only other thing I could find was an old CNET video that uses something that looks like Windows 95 (or ME) and makes it seem like it's way simpler than it actually is.

I know there has to be a way, and I could only assume that with all of the "Windows 7 was my idea" type commercials for ease of use and comfort when doing whatever with the computer, something like this would be built in to the system features.
 

My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Dell XPS430
OS
Windows 7 Professional 64-bit
CPU
Intel Core2 Quad 2.5Ghz
Memory
8GB
Graphics Card(s)
Galaxy GTX 660 GC 2GB
Monitor(s) Displays
Dell 19"
Screen Resolution
1920x1080
Hard Drives
Hitachi 750GB

Western Digital 500GB
Cooling
Heat Sink + Fans
Mouse
N/A
Internet Speed
14 Mb/s
Please also note... Laptops don't have a 'Video In'. The VGA port on the Laptop is for Video out for projectors or external monitors.

Most computers do not have a 'Video In' by default, this includes laptops. You need a special card or breakout box to get video input.
 

My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Alienware Area 51 Desktop and Dell Inspirion 17R (N7010)
OS
Windows 7 Ultimate x64 and Home Premium x64
CPU
Intel i7 960 (3.2 GHz Quad Core)
Motherboard
Alienware Intel based X58
Memory
12 Gigs (Triple Channel)
Graphics Card(s)
Alienware OEM nVidia GTX 560 Ti (1.25 Gig)
Sound Card
Creative Labs X-Fi Titanium
Monitor(s) Displays
Samsung PX2370 LED 23" Monitor
Screen Resolution
1920x1080
Hard Drives
2 320 Gig SATA in Raid 1 Configuration (System/App)
1 1 Tera SATA (Games)
1 1 Tera SATA (Data/Music/Videos)
PSU
750 Watt Power Supply
Case
Alienware Area 51 Desktop
Cooling
Liquid Cooled
Keyboard
Logitech G510
Mouse
Microsoft Trackball Explorer
Internet Speed
Cable
Please also note, do not repeat answers that have already been covered.

I mean, since programs like Maxivista (which is EXPENSIVE for what it does) can do it over the network, I thought there would be some form of remote controller within Windows 7 for other Windows 7 computers within the network and were connected via homegroup (but maybe would require a password or something).
 

My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Dell XPS430
OS
Windows 7 Professional 64-bit
CPU
Intel Core2 Quad 2.5Ghz
Memory
8GB
Graphics Card(s)
Galaxy GTX 660 GC 2GB
Monitor(s) Displays
Dell 19"
Screen Resolution
1920x1080
Hard Drives
Hitachi 750GB

Western Digital 500GB
Cooling
Heat Sink + Fans
Mouse
N/A
Internet Speed
14 Mb/s
Laptops don't have video-in ports as mentioned above. Your best bet, given LCD prices, is to just get a second monitor.
 

My Computer

OS
Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1
CPU
Intel Core i7-2600
Motherboard
Gigabyte GA-P67A-UD3P-B3
Memory
12 GB Patriot Extreme DDR3-1333
Graphics Card(s)
Nvidia GTX 470
Monitor(s) Displays
Dell UltraSharp 2209WA
Hard Drives
OCZ Agility3 240 GB, WD5001AALS, WD7501AALS
PSU
OCZ ModStream 700W
Case
CoolerMaster HAF 912 Advanced
Cooling
CoolerMaster Hyper 212 Plus
Please also note, do not repeat answers that have already been covered.

I mean, since programs like Maxivista (which is EXPENSIVE for what it does) can do it over the network, I thought there would be some form of remote controller within Windows 7 for other Windows 7 computers within the network and were connected via homegroup (but maybe would require a password or something).

Actually, I clarified the answer because if someone asks if it is possible to do something like that, it should be explained further why it cannot be done.

Secondly, you are referring to a program, not what the person is trying to do with a cable that is currently physically impossible to do.

Microsoft provided software in the Operating System is not going to do what you are suggesting either. The only thing Windows has provided so far is Remote Desktop Connection which will allow you to connect to a remote computer, or Remote Assistance to share screens with another or friend. At best, the Remote Desktop Connection that Windows 7 has will provide 'multi-monitor' support with Windows 7 or 2008 based systems, IE: If you have a multiple displays on your computer, you can connect to another Windows 7 computer or 2008 machine and make use of your multiple monitor setup with that computer, but that is about it.

Only third party programs, such as the one you mention, where coders put in a lot of effort to do something of that nature, and will charge a fair amount of money for, will provide that solution. In this case, this is one of those 'rarely done' type configurations and never considered by other groups.
 

My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Alienware Area 51 Desktop and Dell Inspirion 17R (N7010)
OS
Windows 7 Ultimate x64 and Home Premium x64
CPU
Intel i7 960 (3.2 GHz Quad Core)
Motherboard
Alienware Intel based X58
Memory
12 Gigs (Triple Channel)
Graphics Card(s)
Alienware OEM nVidia GTX 560 Ti (1.25 Gig)
Sound Card
Creative Labs X-Fi Titanium
Monitor(s) Displays
Samsung PX2370 LED 23" Monitor
Screen Resolution
1920x1080
Hard Drives
2 320 Gig SATA in Raid 1 Configuration (System/App)
1 1 Tera SATA (Games)
1 1 Tera SATA (Data/Music/Videos)
PSU
750 Watt Power Supply
Case
Alienware Area 51 Desktop
Cooling
Liquid Cooled
Keyboard
Logitech G510
Mouse
Microsoft Trackball Explorer
Internet Speed
Cable
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