Question I appreciate your response. I was able to go into safe mode and use the laptop and external monitor. However, still unable to get the external monitor to work out of safe mode. While in safe mode, I checked various settings and changed power settings on computer. Tried defaulting to "last configuration known when everything worked", still not working out of safe mode. Unable to get a menu when pressing (in various directions) the menu button under the monitor. When "playing" w/ button can get 3/4 white screen and small box w/ colors & some info. Again, I can "use" external monitor only while in safe mode ??? Perplexing. Seems that computer isn't communicating w/ monitor unless in safe mode. Any other suggestions?? Thanks
Answer try this:
Go into safe mode:
right click the desktop, and choose properties.
go to the settings tab. You should see monitor 1 and monitor 2 (which is the external. Click on monitor 2 and check the box that says "use this device as the primary monitor". Apply all settings and reboot.
Depending on the video card in the laptop you may need to do this from the video card manufacturer's applet located in the control panel.
Usually just doing it in display properties will do the trick though.
Try it using just the display properties and if that doesn't work go back into safe mode and use the video card applet.
