How to get image from laptop to external monitor?

I have ubuntu set up with an external monitor but the image is only mirrored how can i change that?

• i have an hp pavillion dv5 with ubuntu 11.04 and i have set up a hp pavillion old style monitor (the ones that are big in the back) and i can get picture on it but it is only a mirror image of my laptop. i have went into "monitors" and turned off the mirror image but it does not work. i can not change the refresh rate or the picture size of the external monitor because of a message that says, "the selected configuration could not be applied, required virtual size does not fit available size: requested=(2560, 800), minimum=(320, 200), maximum =(1280, 1280)" when i hit apply after selecting a different picture size or a different refresh rate, this message also pops up when i unselect the "same image in all monitors" check box and then hit apply. if u know how i can fix this i would greatly appreciate a fully detailed explanation on how to fix it and thank you to everyone who tries to help me with this problem.

• Answer:

  What drivers are you using? toggling mirror image should solve that problem.