Got a Problem connecting to my External Monitor

I connected my m11x to an external monitor with a displayport to VGA cable. It functions perfectly except when I leave the laptop alone for a few minutes. The screen turns off, and when I come back, I cannot get either screens to turn back on again (both the laptop screen and my monitor). I tried, clicking, typing, and pressing the ON button, didn't work. The only way is to unplug the cable then my laptop screen will turn on again. But when I plug it back in, both screens turn off.

In order to get the cable to work again, I have to put the laptop in sleep mode and then wake it up again. Is there a way to fix this? I don't want to set the laptop to not turn off the screen when I am away because I don't want to waste electricity.

And if it helps, I set the Fn+F1 so that only the external monitor is turned on ,the laptop screen is off.

Thanks for any help

 

Try Windows Key+P as it is a default hot key for external monitor in Windows 7

 

Thanks for the idea, but it didn't work.

 

Which display driver are you using? Right click on the desktop, select NVIDIA Control Panel, lower left of the control panel click on system information. Post back the display driver version.

 

It's 258.96

 

I just tried switching from External Monitor only to External+laptop using the Fn+F1 keys. It didn't work, my external screen just turns black (but the screen is still on). I unplugged the cable, couldn't get the laptop screen to turn on. So I had to improperly turn off the laptop by holding down the ON button.

 

Which M11X do you have?
R1 or R2?
I assume an R2 or you wold just be connecting VGA-VGA?
Also what Monitor exactly?

 

Ya, it's the R2 with i7. The monitor is a Samsung SyncMaster 2043NW. It's a computer monitor which I have been using for my desktop for the past 2 years. I bought the cable from Monoprice.

 

Any help?

 

If you have an R2, then the video device that controls output to external devices is the Intel HD Graphics. All video signal is routed through that GPU, even when you have the nVidia 335M turned on.

So, you first want to make sure that your Intel HD Graphics drivers are updated. You can get the latest version directly from Intel's website. The version there will work just fine with your M11x R2.

As a next step, could you provide a link to the DisplayPort-to-VGA adapter that you bought?

 

This is the cable that I bought For only $17.20 each when QTY 50+ purchased - 3FT 28AWG DisplayPort to VGA Cable - White | DisplayPort to VGA Cables

And I have the latest Intel HD drivers

 

I am having the same issue as well but with a different adapter and a monitor (Viewsonice VT2300LED). I ordered from monoprice as well:
For only $15.40 each when QTY 50+ purchased - DP (DisplayPort) Male to VGA Female Converting Adapter with built-in chip | DisplayPort to HDMI | DVI | VGA Adapters

I am also using the latest Intel HD driver (i7)
Driver Revision: 15.17.9.64.2182 dated July 19, 2010

Additionally, the colors/sharpness appear "washed-out" when using the HDMI out.

 

I guess it's not the cable/adapter's fault but the computer?

 

Okay, I took my m11x r2 in to work and used the same adaptor on a dell 2007fp. I also purchased a displayport->dvi connectors and it worked just fine.

I tried it on a second monitor, dell g2410t, and it works great (both VGA/DVI)

Sadly, this means it is either our cables or our monitors. I'm taking my VGA cable home tonight to test. I hope I don't have to return my monitor.

 

Thanks for testing. I just tested it on another monitor (a Dell one) and I still have that problem. I think I will call Monoprice to replace my cable.

 

Okay, so I went home and tested. the VGA worked briefly, then then after the screensaver kicked in, it stopped working. No amount of unpluggling and pluggin in the displayport->vga adaptor worked. I tried 2 diff VGA cables.

the DVI adaptor works great, before and after the screensaver/powersaving features kicked in.

I have a feeling it is an issue with how VGA works in general. Or how the displayport->VGA conversion happens.

I did not test with the VGA adaptor at work what happens after the screensaver kicks in. I'm guessing the problem will show itself again.

So, it's either the adaptor or how the videocard handles displayport->VGA.

 

Well, this is a disappointment Anyways, thanks again for testing

 

I posted the exact same issue some time ago and never got to the bottom of this. My resolution is that whilst plugged in I change the display to never go off, don't use any screensaver and just turn the external monitor off when required. I change the settings back to normal if I am just using the laptop display.

 

Ya, that's what I'm going to have to do.

 

The problem is that VGA is an analog signal and Displayport/HDMI/DVI are all digital signals. Usually converting a digital signal to a different type of digital signal (i.e. hdmi to dvi) is never an issue... It's converting digital to analog that causes problems.

Analog signals always broadcast no matter what. Whether they are connected or not. Digital signals tend to want to "talk" to whatever device they are connected to. Certain devices (i.e. a cable box for your tv) need to "talk" to the monitor or TV when the device is first booted up. When it first boots up and it doesn't get a reply from your TV in that digital output, it tends to shut it off, and stay shut off until it is rebooted. Not many digital devices allow for hot swapping.

Anyways, what it seems like is happening, is that once your m11x stops talking to your monitor when the screen saver kicks in, it stops talking to the device permanently.

What I would try doing is first, while leaving your monitor on reboot the m11x. If that doesn't kick it in, try going to Control Panel > Appearance and Personalization > Display > Connect to a projector, make sure that you have it set to output to an external device. Then go to Control Panel > Appearance and Personalization > Display > Change Display Settings - From here you can select "Detect", then go to the monitor drop down menu and see if it shows up. It should be able to Detect or "talk" to your monitor.

If all of that fails, I would invest in a monitor that allows for a digital input (HDMI or DVI). M11xR2s only have digital outputs, and as I said earlier... digital to digital is always the way to go.

 

Velgauder, thanks for the reply, I've done all the combos possible.

So.. this was fixed for me in the latest Intel HD Graphics i7 driver:
Intel® Graphics Media Accelerato

check out reference: 1022798.

If anyone else is having problems, I suggest they upgrade the drivers.

 

i take that back. those drivers are still having issues. this is still a no-go for me. (albeit intermittent, but i can't repro reliably yet)

 

I'm having the same exact problem. I would expect more people using DisplayPort -》 VGA to have this problem too.

 

Indeed, one more!

I also noticed the same issue once using my DisplayPort 》VGA adapter...

So what i understood is that I should disable any screen saver or shut down screen to avoid the issue. Anyone tried that with success?

 

I set it so that it shuts the monitor off after 1 hr of being idle. If I know that I will be away for more than 1 hr, then I will unplug the cable before I leave.