How do you Use a Laptop as an External Monitor?

How to use a external monitor with laptop that has a busted screen/?

• I have a Dell inspiron 17R (not sure on all the specs). My fat cat knocked it off the table and shattered the screen. The computer itself works but you can not see anything on the laptop screen. It has to be plugged up to an external monitor. Does anyone know what keys to hit when booting up for me to get the external monitor to pick up? Sometimes it does it without me doing anything other then powering it on. Other times I have hit FN and F1. That has not worked this time. Someone said something about the F10 button. PLEASE SOMEONE HELP!!

• Answer:

  Kurt, there are many ways to skin a cat... What I'm trying to say is that this problem might have many solutions, and as far which is the best I don't know as I'm not an expert but I helped a friend with a similar problem, except that my friend's screen was only partially busted and you could see something on a corner, which was enough for me to solve the problem. By the way, the solution I'm going to give you is permanent until you change the settings again and you don't have to keep clicking this or that every time. Here is what I would do, since you say your external monitor comes up sometimes, so this first solution is the easy way: First, when you can see your desktop, right click on the desktop and on the dialog that appears click on Properties. Now, on the Display Property dialog that appeared, click on the Settings tab and you'll see 2 monitors. First click on the primary monitor and uncheck (if it is checked) the box that says "Extend my Windows desktop onto this monitor." Then, click on the secondary monitor and check the same box to make it an extended desktop and also check the box that says "Use this device as my primary monitor." Click Apply and Save the settings and that's it! If you can't figure it add a note to your post and I'll check later for it and I might be able to give you more advice. Also, consider buying a similar computer, maybe busted and really cheap but with the monitor still intact and swap it if you are good at handiwork. Good luck!