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How do I get my laptop to run an extra monitor with a two different displays?

The graphics card in the laptop (Dell Inspiron) allows a TV output but switches off it's own monitor when it does so. I need one program displayed on the laptops monitor, and another program displayed on a remote monitor. Is this possible and what equipment is needed?

Public Comments

1. look on the graphics card setings
2. You should be able to get the built-on monitor and the external monitor to work both at the same time (Fnct + F8) (press this combination 2 or 3 times) but both will show the same screen. You can't show a different program on each screen. I believe MS Windows calls this "Focus".
3. Usually a laptop will cycle through LCD screen, EXT screen and both screens by pressing a combination of buttons - a function key marked fn and F4 on some models. As for two different displays... I don't think you can do that. The same single video circuit is displaying at all times. If there was a USB breakout box with a video circuit in it, you may be able to achieve this. Windows will allow two separate images but only when there are two separate video cards. I do know that some software on the MacBook allows this when you are running the Mac version of Powerpoint (Keynote) - you can use this to view the current and next slides while your audience only sees the main slide.