Vostro - External Monitor

Here's the deal. Got a Vostro 1400 with a 8400GS and I just recently did a clean reformat using the included restoration disc. Installed all the drivers from the Dell support site and the laptop seems well.

Only thing not working is plugging an external monitor. Vista detects the monitor and the monitor seems to sense the signal (meaning the no signal message goes away). However, there is no picture. Tested with different monitor and different VGA cables so there no issue with those. Did I forget to install anything extra?

 

Oh and I just realized I didn't post this in the correct forum, please move it.

 

I doubt you forgot to install anything. I dunno about Vista, but in XP you need to specifically tell your OS to extend your desktop onto the new monitor. You're probably encountering something similar here.

 

Have you used the nvidia control panel? What about using FN+F8?

 

I have extended through the Windows display options, screen is still black. FN+F8 doesn't work either, external monitor is still recognized in NVidia control panel.

Is it possible my VGA port went bad? Weird it worked when I connected it to a projector a week before I reformatted, hence me believing the fresh install of Windows has something to do with it.