kgingeri
asked on
Acer laptop dual display not working
I am trying to trouble shoot a problem for a friend who has a Acer Travelmate 4200-BL50, Inel display (either900 or 950 not sure) and he is having problems get it to use both displays at once - especially with PowerPoint. Is there know issues with this laptop or the display type? In the display properties, the second display shows up but you cannot select it in PowerPoint and there is no output to an external device (projector or monitor). Could it be a hardware issue?
Typically with laptops you need to press a fn+fkey combination to enable the external display. If you could tell us the exact model we could tell you the keys to press.
ASKER
Right Johnny, I should have mentioned that I've done that. I also have attached a projector that is powered so that the adapter can sense that there is something connected (some adapter require this). I believe I successfully extended the desktop and saw wallpaper on the projected screen by PowerPoint will not let us select it for a slide show. Let me mention, I am not a beginner at this - I use PPT all the time and many different laptops and computers. This one is weird - so I was wondering if anyone else has seen this behavior. I will check with my friend re his version of XP/Office etc - (I think my friend has Office 2003 - I'll have to verify). The laptop is a Acer Travelmate 4200 - BL50 with "Intel Centrino Duo" Intel Core Duo Processor T2300 and Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950.
Thanks for your consideration!
Thanks for your consideration!
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ASKER
No I don't think we are just straight PowerPoint. I will check it out and get back to you...
Thx,
Karl
Thx,
Karl
ASKER
OK Johnny (and any others reading this post), I have solved the problem (at least sort of?)
As I was working with the laptop, I started ePresentation manager and clicked the 1024x768 res - which is not his native res (1280x768 is) - this did NOT change his laptop display but did kick in the external monitor so now we could extend the desktop! (previously we could only clone it). The monitor was plugged in from boot up and all, as I know some cards need to see the monitor physically attached. SSSOOOOO... near as I can tell, just starting the ePresentation manager kicked something in the driver (we notice the screen flicker a couple of times). I proceeded then to connect the laptop to a project (not just a monitor) to be sure it would work (hey, ya never know), and guess what?! It didn't!!! We were back to only cloning again!!! :(
We fiddlesd quite some time and figure the sequence (although we are not real sure) is as follows:
a) be sure monitor/projector(beamer for as some call it) is connected before power up
(note I did not test to see if it would work otherwise - it might)
b) be sure the BIOS display is set for LAPTOP ONLY (yeah, I know you'd think it should be both
internal and external)
c) when Windows boots run ePresentation manager (find it in the Acer Empowering Technology
menu item) - you don't have to do anything other than run it
d) now call up your display properties and select the #2 display by clicking it and the choose the
Extend Desktop check-box and Apply - the extend Desktop check-box should stay set and you
should now have a working second display.
At any rate, if the above doesn't work for you try things in various orders - it will work one way or another.
Thanks for the Hint Johnny!!
Karl the happy camper *<:o)
As I was working with the laptop, I started ePresentation manager and clicked the 1024x768 res - which is not his native res (1280x768 is) - this did NOT change his laptop display but did kick in the external monitor so now we could extend the desktop! (previously we could only clone it). The monitor was plugged in from boot up and all, as I know some cards need to see the monitor physically attached. SSSOOOOO... near as I can tell, just starting the ePresentation manager kicked something in the driver (we notice the screen flicker a couple of times). I proceeded then to connect the laptop to a project (not just a monitor) to be sure it would work (hey, ya never know), and guess what?! It didn't!!! We were back to only cloning again!!! :(
We fiddlesd quite some time and figure the sequence (although we are not real sure) is as follows:
a) be sure monitor/projector(beamer for as some call it) is connected before power up
(note I did not test to see if it would work otherwise - it might)
b) be sure the BIOS display is set for LAPTOP ONLY (yeah, I know you'd think it should be both
internal and external)
c) when Windows boots run ePresentation manager (find it in the Acer Empowering Technology
menu item) - you don't have to do anything other than run it
d) now call up your display properties and select the #2 display by clicking it and the choose the
Extend Desktop check-box and Apply - the extend Desktop check-box should stay set and you
should now have a working second display.
At any rate, if the above doesn't work for you try things in various orders - it will work one way or another.
Thanks for the Hint Johnny!!
Karl the happy camper *<:o)
Boy, seems a little too complicated eh.