I want to run a second monitor from my laptop. I set it up as per the instruction book and it seems to work. I can move icons on to it but when I open one of these it opens on my laptop screen but not on the second one. If the laptop is left I get very good slideshows on the second screen that's why I think I have almost go it. What I want is a better screen to work with thats why I want the second one to work the way I want it. Should I be able to do this or not? I Toshiba laptop running XPNot familiar with your options on that laptop but - I run dual mon's and with my Nvidia 1700 have a control panel from which I can SELECT dual out - and which screen is #1 and which is #2 ..... plus there is also an option within DESKTOP/properties/settings.

When setting it all up I had to fiddle between both sets of options to finish up with what I wanted. In your case - what do you see in desktop/properties/settings? Are there two options showing? Plus too - is there a control panel for your graphics?On my Display Properties Panel I have 5 Tabs Themes,Desktop,Screen Saver,Appearence and settings. Under Settings I have a panel showing two monitors which I can move about as I wish. This seems to work fine untill I try and MAKE the second one my primary display It then goes BLANK and shuts down. There is also a drop down panel showing that I have plug and play monitors on Mobile Intel(R) 945GM Express Chipset family. This shows that I seem to have two of these. TYhere is also a colour quality panel.Ahh OK - so you are SEEING two options in settings. That should normally be enough to gain control.

I still can't help wondering tho if there is some sorta control panel for the graphics hardware too ..... if not then not sure how you can avoid the problem of #2 going blank when you want it as primary.

Maybe - long shot - check properties in Device manager for the graphics - see if there are any options showing up or not. Out of ideas for now.

Thanks for your help. Twas graphics related. All fine now. Cheers