No Option to Extend Monitor

konrad123 · Oct 27, 2010

Hello, Ive tried researching this problem but I cant find the exact solution. I want to extend my netbook onto my LG monitor, but I can only use the monitor as the primary display. There is simply no option to extend the monitor in the drop down list (nor when I do windows key + p). My only options are: computer only; projector only; and duplicate. I see the "extend" option in the tutorials, but its missing for me. I use windows 7 starter edition. This used to be a simple task in XP. Also, I downloaded Display Fusion, but I dont see how to fix my problem with this. Thanks for any help!

Orbital Shark · Oct 27, 2010

Hi konrad,

Have you downloaded the latest display drivers for your GFX card? It could be that an older driver is causing this issue.

OS

brianzion · Oct 27, 2010

im not sure but windows 7 starter edition has limited functions looking on windows site for you now to see, also display fusion may be able to help ( i use the pro version and its the best monitor software money can buy in my opinion) look what you get here DisplayFusion ~ Version Comparison

also there is this software UltraMon is a utility for multi-monitor systems, designed to increase productivity and unlock the full potential of multiple monitors
http://realtimesoft.com/ultramon/

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-GB/Windows7/products/windows-7-starter-top-questions

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-GB/Windows7/products/compare?T1=tab15

NO IT DOES NOT SUPPORT MULTI MONITOR

konrad123 · Oct 27, 2010

Hi OS, My GPHX drivers are up to date. I suppose the first thing I should ask is whether this is just one of the many limitations of windows 7 starter, that is, whether I should (in theory) be able to do this without a second party program, or if its just a problem specific to me?

konrad123 · Oct 27, 2010

Hi Brian, I have the free version of Display Fusion but I cant seem to find any feature that will enable me to extend my netbook to my monitor.

alphanumeric · Oct 27, 2010

It might be that the graphics chip on your netbook doesn't support dual monitors. Looking at the detailed specs/owners manual should tell you. The VGA adapter may only be there just so you can use a larger display.

konrad123 · Oct 27, 2010

Im not sure exactly what is meant by supporting dual monitors. Please note that I can project what is on my netbook screen to my monitor, but I can extend it in such a way that i can have different things going on on each screen .

alphanumeric · Oct 27, 2010

Dual monitor support means you can display different information on two different displays. The video card has extra circuitry to produce a second independent video signal to drive a second display. A video card that only supports a single display can only ever display the one window or screen. Your netbooks onboard video may not be capable of producing two separate video signals. The best it can do is send the same signal it sends to the built in LCD display out the back to the VGA connector. Really all they are doing is converting the digital signal the LCD uses to an analog VGA signal.

konrad123 · Oct 27, 2010

Thanks for the info. Does this mean that even if i were to downgrade to XP, I still could not extend my screen onto an external monitor?

alphanumeric · Oct 27, 2010

If it is in fact a limitation of the hardware (video card), then switching to XP won't help. The manual should tell you if dual independent displays are supported. My daughter has an HP mini netbook, but she hasn't tried connecting an external display to it yet. I think I'll have a look at the manual for it, I believe I have it saved as a PDF file on this PC somewhere.

EDIT: I take the "your manual should tell you" part back. The "Users Guide" for my daughters netbook implied only single monitor support but it didn't say outright one way or the other. I guess I'll have to see what paper manuals actually came with it for more info. She's using it right now, but I should be able to borrow it for some testing later on today or tomorrow. What make and model is your netbook?

brianzion · Oct 27, 2010

konrad123 said:
Hi Brian, I have the free version of Display Fusion but I cant seem to find any feature that will enable me to extend my netbook to my monitor.

on the icon in the taskbar right click and click on desktop wallpapers

brianzion · Oct 27, 2010

This used to be a simple task in XP your quote in post 1, so you have had it working on two monitors? like i said in post 3 windows starter does not support multi monitors put a linux distro on that should do it like kubuntu Kubuntu | Friendly Computing

brianzion · Oct 27, 2010

UltraMon did you have a look?http://realtimesoft.com/ultramon/

alphanumeric · Oct 27, 2010

My daughters netbook has windows 7 starter on it so I guess connecting an external monitor won't do me much good. I suppose one could try booting from one of the many Linux live distros. My netbook doesn't have an internal optical drive so I'd have to connect a USB drive or use a USB thumbdrive. I may not get to this for a while if at all.

brianzion · Oct 27, 2010

alphanumeric said:
My daughters netbook has windows 7 starter on it so I guess connecting an external monitor won't do me much good. I suppose one could try booting from one of the many Linux live distros. My netbook doesn't have an internal optical drive so I'd have to connect a USB drive or use a USB thumbdrive. I may not get to this for a while if at all.

netbooks are ok but limited intended for light computer work on the move but yes there are netbook editions of linux distros out there plus they make for it easy now with thumb drive install they have all the info over at there sites ubuntu and kubuntu are great for this just check there guidelines and the best thing its all free

konrad123 · Oct 27, 2010

Unfortunately my manual is in a language I cant understand, Dutch. I bought it in Belgium because I am here for 1 year. My netbook is a Samsung N150. Thanks for your help.

brianzion · Oct 27, 2010

konrad123 said:
Unfortunately my manual is in a language I cant understand, Dutch. I bought it in Belgium because I am here for 1 year. My netbook is a Samsung N150. Thanks for your help.

go to samsung website thy should have manual SAMSUNG United Kingdom - Main

konrad123 · Oct 27, 2010

What i meant by the xp comment was that i had done it on another computer with xp (at the time i didnt realize it was a limitation of win 7 starter). If I put the linux on instead, will I be able to extend the screen? I will try Ultramon first either way.

brianzion · Oct 27, 2010

konrad123 said:
What i meant by the xp comment was that i had done it on another computer with xp (at the time i didnt realize it was a limitation of win 7 starter). If I put the linux on instead, will I be able to extend the screen? I will try Ultramon first either way.

go and check here about the linux distros DistroWatch.com: Put the fun back into computing. Use Linux, BSD.
and look for the system requirements for the distros

konrad123 · Oct 27, 2010

At least no matter what happens now I have an english version of my manual! Thanks, I didnt even know I could get it online.

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