M17x R1 Switchable Graphics Not Working? Fn+F7

So I'm running my M17x R1 w/GTX285m Nvidia drivers 296.10 and it's working well. I add a new display (U2410 via DisplayPort) and I can't get it to recognize the monitor. I read up that on integrated gfx, I can't use DP unless I switch to the dedicated card. Good enough-- I press Fn+F7 and I get nothing. No message/popup/etc. and especially no display on the monitor. I have the latest OSD from Dell and some keys (like Fn+F3 to mute) work fine. I manage to go into the BIOS and switch off hybrid and integrated (set to disabled) and boot up-- this time the monitor comes right on.

Is it the 296.10 driver set or something else that's not allowing me to switch gfx cards dynamically? I suppose running fulltime on the 285m isn't bad but then again the fans do spin louder even when I'm just doing email etc.

 

Been so long since I had an R1 to test with... those were definitely the days! Have you tried updating the NV driver? As long as you have the 296..10 installer handy, no reason not to give it a go and rule out the NV driver.

 

Hello, Flanders, the DP is not connected to the 9400M so you won't be able to output on the external monitor while on the integrated graphics card.
Disabling Hybrid SLi and the integrated graphics card in BIOS will force your system to run on the 280M thus giving you the posibility to drive your external monitor thru DP.

 

Thanks for that. I really suppose there's no problem running with the 9400 disabled all the time, other than the fan noise. Seemed to work great without any issues while hybrid and integrated were both disabled via BIOS.