External CRT monitor connected to laptop does not show display (black screen) when laptop lid is closed

I have connected an external CRT monitor to my laptop. The issue is: if I close the laptop lid, the external CRT monitor stops displaying (as if it does not get any signal or it can't display the signal [too high resolution or refresh rate]).

Details:
• OS is Windows 7
• Video card is ATI Xpress 200M
• Using v. 9.11 ATI Catalyst Legacy drivers (latest available version moddable by Mobility Modder)
• Laptop is an old 2004-2005 era ASUS A6R laptop
• Laptop is set to 'Do nothing' if lid is closed on Control Panel->Power Settings (both plugged in and on battery)
• External monitor is connected to laptop thru VGA
• Resolution is set at 1024x768, 32 bit for both laptop monitor and external monitor
• Refresh rate is set at 60 HZ for both laptop monitor and external monitor (external monitor does not support higher than 60 HZ at 1024x768)
• Multiple display settings is set to 'Duplicate'
• I have tried using another CRT monitor with the same settings before the current monitor and it worked fine even with the laptop lid closed.
• Tried setting Multiple Display setting to 'Show Desktop only on 2' (where 2 is the external monitor), and both the laptop monitor and the external monitor do not display anything if set to this option


Anyone know any possible solutions?

 

Edit - Would like to add that:
External CRT monitor displays the BIOS loading screen, the Windows loading, Welcome and shutting down screens properly even with the lid closed. Once Windows loads into the desktop, the external monitor stops diplaying.

Also, the problem seems to now be fixed. I tried checking 'Use Extended Display Identification Data (EDID) or driver defaults' in ATI Catalyst Control Center->Graphics Settings->Monitor Properties 1->Attributes.