Can't connect laptop to external monitor

mike1591 · Jul 10, 2014

Hello, I'm trying to connect my Toshiba laptop to my external monitor. I have not connected them before. So this will be the first time. I have read that I will need a specific driver to download to enable this feature? But when I look, I don't know which driver to get. I'm not very computer savy, so they way that I'm trying to connect them is with the black cord with a blue top that screws in. My laptop's model is C855D-S5351. And I'm trying to connect it to an HP monitor.

Thanks!

mike1591 · Jul 10, 2014

Oh, and when I go to Display>>Advanced settings>>Monitor I can't check that box. It's greyed out. And when I go back to the Display option, the only option is for my laptop screen. I have tried fn+f8 but nothing happened. I do also have windows 7 on this laptop. It came with Windows 8, would that be a problem?

Saberus · Jul 10, 2014

Just connect the monitor, and then you will be able to alter the display settings. Display Port, DVI, HDMI, and VGA are all just plug and play.

Unless it's a USB monitor. Then install the drivers that came with it on disc, then connecting to it should be as usual.

mike1591 · Jul 10, 2014

Saberus :

It's currently plugged in. But It's not showing up. And when I bought the laptop, it didn't come with any disks at all

Saberus · Jul 10, 2014

Is the monitor a USB based or is it a standard format? The disc mentioned would have come with the monitor if it was USB.

mike1591 · Jul 10, 2014

Saberus :

Oh, the disks with the monitor? I don't have those anymore, since I bought this monitor years ago. And I'm not sure if it's USB based or standard format

Saberus · Jul 10, 2014

What kind of connector is at the end of the cable?

mike1591 · Jul 10, 2014

Saberus :

I believe it's a VGA.. It's blue with screws on the side

Saberus · Jul 10, 2014

You shouldn't need drivers. Make sure it's fully connected and there are no bent pins on the cable ends. Also make sure the monitor's getting power.

mike1591 · Jul 10, 2014

Saberus :

There are no bent pins on either side, and the monitor is getting power. The weird thing is, it works just fine on my other computers. It's just this laptop that it doesn't want to work. Maybe it's because I have windows 7 installed instead of Windows 8?

mike1591 · Jul 10, 2014

Also, when I turn the monitor on, it says no signal for VGA

Saberus · Jul 10, 2014

THe OS shouldn't be an issue. Check the F keys above the keyboard for an emblem that looks like a box with a vertical line on either side, or a small laptop with a slash and a monitor. Hold the FN key and that one at the same time.

mike1591 · Jul 10, 2014

Saberus :

I just tried fn+f4 and fn+f5 but that didn't do anything at all

Saberus · Jul 10, 2014

Not sure what else to try then. :/

mike1591 · Jul 10, 2014

Saberus :

No worries. Thank you for trying. While I have you here, I have another question. I have a Dell Dimension 9100 desktop, and when I go to turn it on, it goes to the windows loading screen, and it just stays there loading. I left it on over night and woke up to it still loading. Any ideas? I'm thinking that it's harddrive issues, but not 100% sure

Saberus · Jul 10, 2014

mike1591 :

Saberus :

No worries. Thank you for trying. While I have you here, I have another question. I have a Dell Dimension 9100 desktop, and when I go to turn it on, it goes to the windows loading screen, and it just stays there loading. I left it on over night and woke up to it still loading. Any ideas? I'm thinking that it's harddrive issues, but not 100% sure

It does sound like a hard drive issue.

mike1591 · Jul 10, 2014

Saberus :

mike1591 :

It does sound like a hard drive issue.

Okay! Thank you for all your help

hang-the-9 · Jul 11, 2014

Saberus :

There is no such thing as a USB monitor, there are monitors with USB hubs, but none that use USB as a video connection.

hang-the-9 · Jul 11, 2014

mike1591 :

When you installed Win 7, did you install the drivers for it? Especially the chipset and video?
If not, do that. Are you using the same cable with the other computers that the monitor does work with?

Saberus · Jul 11, 2014

hang-the-9 :

http://www.amazon.com/AOC-E1649FWU-USB-Powered-Portable-Monitor/dp/B005SEZR0G

Actually there is. My supervisor uses one at her desk.

hang-the-9 · Jul 11, 2014

Saberus :

I would not call that a real monitor, it's a display, but the USB connection needs it's own video card running. It's like calling a tablet a monitor.

What you have there is an external USB video card built into the monitor. They are trying to connect the monitor with a blue cord to an HP monitor, not this thing with a USB cable. I've never seen one of these displays in use, but I see why you mentioned it, since you happen to know someone that has it. If you look at it, it has no video inputs, only the USB cord.

Saberus · Jul 11, 2014

While that's what might be happening in the back end, to a standard user it's a monitor like any thing that is 'just a screen'. Just like a TV. And when I first started posting, there was no mention of the appearance of the cable.

hang-the-9 · Jul 11, 2014

Saberus :

it's in the first post "so they way that I'm trying to connect them is with the black cord with a blue top that screws in. My laptop's model is C855D-S5351. And I'm trying to connect it to an HP monitor. "

Chris679 · Aug 13, 2014

Try plugging the cable for external monitor onto your laptop before turning the power of your laptop on. The external display's power has to be switched on also before you turn on your laptop..It's not a fix, but an alternate. Happened to my Asus Aspire 4820G

Can't connect laptop to external monitor

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