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Laptop screen disabled when connecting a projector

Anonymous
2012-03-08T16:58:22+00:00

Original Title: <connecting a pojector>

Hello, I am trying to connect an Acer H5360 projector to my Pavilion dv9750 laptop running Vista Home Premium using an HDMI cable. 

Whenever I connect the projector, either noting happens and by typing FN+F4  I can have my desktop projected or, after some time, automatically my desktop is being projected (w/o typing anything). In both cases, the desktop disappears from my laptop's screen (!)

The only way to have my laptop's screen active again is by disconnecting the HDMI cable AND even this is not absolutely deterministic: It does happen that the laptop's screen stays inactive after the extraction of the HDMI connector and until it's power is cycled

My question  is how do i set up the system to always mirror the lap screen to the projector, whenever the projector is attached, while always leaving the lap's screen active? before, while and after attaching the projector.

I'd like to add just that i never imagined that it's be so complicate to just attach a projector. For instance, when i attach the same projector with the same cable to my xoom  tablet i simply see it projected! without doing anything more than the *physical connection*

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Devices and drivers

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  1. Anonymous
    2012-03-09T06:18:54+00:00

    How many times do you have to press the key combination?

    Fn + F4 key combination is to switch between monitors. Try pressing the fn + f4 a few times untill you get to show both monitors ON.

    When the laptop monitor is OFF and the projector is ON, press the key combination and the projector should be OFF and the laptop monitor should be ON. Pressing the key combination the second time turns both the laptop monitor and projector ON. There should be no instance that both will go OFF.

    If that won't work try enabling your Dual Display:

    Right click on the Desktop -> Output To -> Intel Dual Display Clone -> Notebook + Monitor. It may vary defending on your setup, I am using a HP notebook and Acer LCD as second monitor.

    Multiple monitors: frequently asked questions

    http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/Multiple-monitors-frequently-asked-questions

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  1. Anonymous
    2012-03-10T06:14:02+00:00

    << 3) laptop with the screen background and no icons nor notification etc + acer at 1280*800. Again, this is the best; above this i had the option of something x 960 and it seem unstable and there are some black lines between the desktop background and the bottom notification bar

    This indicates you are in extended mode, you don't have the desktop icons and taskbar on the laptop  (monitor 1) because the projector (monitor 2)  is set as the Primary monitor.

    << What i still miss is 1) the ability to have the full desktop with icons on both displays

    You can do this in Dispay settings by clicking on the (monitor 1) and clicking on the check box before "This is my main monitor" and  See the link below on how to:

    Change display settings on multiple monitors

    http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/Change-display-settings-on-multiple-monitors.

    You can also simply turn ON Presentation. See the following link on how to turn on Presentation Settings:

    Adjust settings before giving a presentation

    http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/Adjust-settings-before-giving-a-presentation

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  1. Anonymous
    2016-08-21T18:44:50+00:00

    My Gateway laptop did not sync with projector and function key plus f4 did the trick. ?Thanks

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  2. Anonymous
    2013-09-13T17:11:04+00:00

    This is a bigger problem.  We all know how to switch from 'Extend' to 'Duplicate' views.  The issue is, I believe, with another conflict.  Perhaps conflicting video cards?  We can place the output into 'Duplicate' view and it will AUTOMATICALLY switch back into 'Extend' view.  There is an obvious actual issue, not simple user ignorance.  Please advise with helpful advice to fix the true problem if you have any further insights.

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  3. Anonymous
    2012-03-09T20:15:33+00:00

    Thank you sir,

    I played with the nvidia (don't have intel) and told it i wanted the two displays and now, if I wait enough time and, sometimes if i repeat the FN+F4 (because strangely it does not always react in the first time), the displays cycles as follows

    1. lap only in 1440x900
    2. acer only in 1440X900 (this is the best i could set)
    3. lap with the screen background and no icons nor notification etc + acer at 1280*800. Again, this is the best; above this i had the option of something x 960 and it seem unstable and there are some black lines between the desktop background and the bottom notification bar

    I tried to reboot and it seems consistent now.

    What i still miss is 1) the ability to have the full desktop with icons on both displays and 2) a consistent reaction to FN+F4

    Thanks again

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