Docked laptop using screen as second display

Richmilnix · 01 Aug 2013

Win 7 Pro x64
NVIDIA Quadro K1000M

For the six months that I've owned this Lenovo W530, it's worked this way: I bring it home, put it in the dock (closed), and I use my external keyboard and display.

Yesterday, for no reason I know of, I couldn't get any video signal to the monitor. In an effort to fix the problem, I opened the laptop and changed the Windows settings to extend the display.

I'm happy with the results - a free second display - and now just want to know how to keep it this way. Where are the settings I should embed in stone to keep this - either in the video card control panel or Win7?

Things to keep in mind:

- I'm switching daily b/w this and another workspace - where I do run in 'clamshell' mode, tied to two external displays

- when using the laptop's screen in this way (as a second display), I have the resolution ratcheted down (from 1920x to 1280x) because it's farther away from me.

I'd like to find a 'fast switch' approach where I can store both sets of settings (three sets, if you consider that I sometimes need to use the laptop undocked at its native res).

Faladu · 01 Aug 2013

Welcome to sevenforums!

I suggest trying DisplayFusion.com for their product, 30 day trial so you can make sure it works for you.

It has Monitor profiles as one feature, I checked, I have been using 3 months or so myself now.

It's a great utility and reasonably priced, if you buy it, check out their other products, they give a very steep discount when you buy them at the same time.

VistaKing · 01 Aug 2013

On the Power Settings .

Click on

select Control Panel then select Power Options ( View By : Small Icons ) then select Choose what closing the lid on the left hand side . Then on the When I close the lid: select Do nothing on both On Battery and Plugged in .

In category view of Control Panel select Hardware and Software . Select Power Options then select Choose what closing the lid on the left hand side . Then on the When I close the lid: select Do nothing on both On Battery and Plugged in .

bobafetthotmail · 02 Aug 2013

As for keeping it with extend screens, it should remember the choice you made about extending screens in the display panel. When disconnected it won't (obviously) but will extend when connected to the other screen that it was set to extend screen to.

If you connect to a new screen (one it has never connected to) you need to set again your preferences.