Laptop with dual monitor setup

[Freddy Linn]

Please help me out, I know just enough to be dangerous. In the past I have had an old desktop from the office connected to two monitors with combinations of DVI cables and adapters. The machine has crapped out and I want to hook the two monitors to a Toshiba (Protoge something or other) laptop, and keep the laptop in the drawer.

I have one monitor hooked up with a DVI-D to HDMI cord straight into the laptop. Now I have a second identical monitor with a DVI-D and two VGAs available. The laptop has a VGA and a couple USB slots available (I tried a simple VGA setup for the second but the laptop won't recognize both monitors).

I have a bunch of adapters and cords from the office but they all seem to be for DVI-I or whatever.

What do I need to do to get this setup running? I want to get the right cord the first time if I can pull this off.

Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[jayhoz]

What happens if disconnect the HDMI to DVI connection and go straight VGA to the second monitor? Does it recognize that monitor?

I assume you've gone into the control panel and tried to set up multiple displays?

 

[Freddy Linn]

What happens if disconnect the HDMI to DVI connection and go straight VGA to the second monitor? Does it recognize that monitor?

I assume you've gone into the control panel and tried to set up multiple displays?

Yep, it recognizes the second if I unplug the HDMI connection. I just can't get both going, and I have gone into control panel with no luck. Windows 7 on a Toshiba Portege Z835-P330.

 

[JerBear]

Yep, it recognizes the second if I unplug the HDMI connection. I just can't get both going, and I have gone into control panel with no luck. Windows 7 on a Toshiba Portege Z835-P330.

Is the laptop integrated display still on?

 

[Freddy Linn]

Is the laptop integrated display still on?

I think that was the ticket. I had to "disconnect" the built-in display to get a signal to the second external. Thanks, and thanks to all.

 

[Freddy Linn]

Ok, so the old laptop crapped out and I got a new one. I have one HDMI port, three USB ports, and an HDMI 1x4 splitter. Trying to replicate my old setup with the laptop closed and the desktop extended to both screens. I can replicate the desktop on both screens but not extend it for some reason.

Any help like before would be much appreciated, if I need adapters and such I'd like to get it right the first time. Thanks!

 

[AlNipper49]

The HDMI splitter probably will just duplicate the displays.

 

[Freddy Linn]

Would a USB to HDMI adapter solve my problem (or USB to VGA)?

 

[jayhoz]

That or a docking station for your laptop that has multiple video out ports.

 

[loshjott]

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