Process of converting an old laptop into a second display

[quickgroth]

So I have an old HP laptop (Pentium M) and I am trying to go about converting it to a second display. The laptop runs fine, and since the only display port on the laptop is a VGA, I had to connect it to my onboard 6150SE gpu. I am running my main monitor on an 8800GTX with a DVI cord (the second port on the 8800GTX is DVI as well). I already tested this with a different monitor plugged into the VGA port on my motherboard, and it works, so I don't know what I'm doing wrong with this laptop to make it not work...

(Sorry for my lack of sentence organization; my brain isn't working well today.)

 

[neon neophyte]

the vga jack on your laptop is probably for output only

 

[Chainzsaw]

Hello,

You cannot do what your trying to do.

Your laptop has a VGA output <-- this is important.

You are trying to connect your VGA output to your VGA output on you onboard GPU - however most onboard GPU's get disabled once you have a secondary GPU installed. So that will not even work.

What you would have to do is - take apart the monitor and somehow find an adapter that would fit the LCD screen....which I highly doubt you would find.

Maybe look into some Ben Heck mods.

 

[runswindows95]

For the cost of the parts and the amount of time, it will be cheaper just to buy a monitor. There are 20" monitors on Newegg for $100 with free shipping.

 

[Chainzsaw]

For the cost of the parts and the amount of time, it will be cheaper just to buy a monitor. There are 20" monitors on Newegg for $100 with free shipping.

+1 I agree with that.

Some people just try and do really strange things...no offense to you quickgroth!

 

[sous13]

Yes, you can do that with software such as MaxiVista (http://www.maxivista.com/). I have used this before and it works fairly well. An open source alternative is ZoneScreen (I can't comment on this softare personally, but I have heard that it is not very effective).

-A

 

[Chainzsaw]

Yes, you can do that with software such as MaxiVista (http://www.maxivista.com/). I have used this before and it works fairly well. An open source alternative is ZoneScreen (I can't comment on this softare personally, but I have heard that it is not very effective).

-A

Ahh interesting. Didn't know that was possible. Good to know! Good link Sous13.

 

[neon neophyte]

theres a program that lets you use a 2nd computer similarly to a 2nd monitor.
you run 2 computer, 2 os's and everything, but its all controlled by one mouse. the mouse jumps from one computer to the other if u scroll to the side. it feels like a 2nd monitor. ish.

edit: nvm, just read the other comments, someone else listed the programs

 

[quickgroth]

Best answer selected by quickgroth.