Monitor Mystery

[bigshotprof]

I am trying to get a laptop with WIN XP pro to play through a Dell tabletop projector using a VGA adapter. Now I bring the wacky. The monitor will display the background image of the desktop, but NOTHING else. No bar at the bottom, on icons, no start menu--nada. Right as the computer begins to boot you see the boot screen for about two seconds then it fades to nothing until the background image loads.

Any thoughts?

[windshield]

Not really sure, but I would try adjusting the screen resolution of the laptop.

[tokenuser]

I am trying to get a laptop with WIN XP pro to play through a Dell tabletop projector using a VGA adapter. Now I bring the wacky. The monitor will display the background image of the desktop, but NOTHING else. No bar at the bottom, on icons, no start menu--nada. Right as the computer begins to boot you see the boot screen for about two seconds then it fades to nothing until the background image loads.

Any thoughts?Thats actually the way I have my laptop configured - to use the external monitor (in this case the projector) as an extension rather than a mirror of my laptop. You should be able to open up an app and drag it over to the other screen (left or right ... try both).

To make the projector mirror your laptop, right click the desktop, go to properties, click the "settings" tab. Should look like 2 screens appear in the grey box. Click the "2" screen, then uncheck the "Extend my Windows desktop ..." option.

Should now be mirroring your laptop screen.

[davmoo]

Dangit, Tokenuser beat me again! :)

It sounds exactly like Windows is expanding your desktop on to the second monitor instead of simply mirroring the first monitor.

[bigshotprof]

Yes. I think you are all right!And the worst part is that I actually knew about this a couple of years ago and completely spaced it last night. Thanks All!