How to get image from laptop to external monitor?

I have hooked up a monitor to my laptop. how do i get each screen to show a different image?

• I was hoping to use my laptop screen to look at a excel spreadsheet and use the larger monitor screen to look another programme. I know this can be done but have no idea how.

• Answer:

  Well, regardless of the type of connection (HDMI, VGA, etc.), you should find a port on both the laptop and external monitor that matches the cable being used for data transfer. Plug the cable into both of those ports. Note: on laptops, the ports are often labeled with their names. Once that's done, all that you really need to do is configure your screen resolution, position, etc. This is different for each OS. You will have to configure the position of it in relation to your laptop monitor by opening the display properties. Drag monitor 2 to the area of relation that it actually is to monitor 1 in reality. Click apply, but not OK. Then, move your mouse between the two monitors to test your alignment. If you are not satisfied, adjust the alignment, and hit apply again. (Tip: if when you move the mouse STRAIGHT left, right, up, or down, the screen is not aligned to your satisfaction, move the screen on the display properties with the mouse cursor. For example, if you move a mouse cursor to another screen, and the mouse on screen 2 is lower than screen 1, move screen 2 down a bit in the display settings.) After that's done, you can, also from the display settings, adjust the screen resolution. Click "monitor 2" (or whichever monitor your screen happens to be numbered), and change the resolution. Click apply. If you are not satisfied with the results, repeat this process. When you are done with both of those, click OK. This should be all that you need to set up an extra monitor. Good luck, and have fun with it. TechGeek01