How do I get 3 displays working (or 2 external monitors) from a laptop?

Wim · 08-08-2011, 11:15 AM

This should be possible to configure.

First you will probably need to change the lid close behaviour. This can be done under Control Panel-> Power Options -> Change what closing the lid does. You should set this to "Do Nothing"

Then open the Windows Screen resolution settings, either right clicking on the desktop and choosing "screen resolutions" or under the DisplayLink GUI and "Advanced config..."

Make sure all of the displays are set to "Extend desktop to this display", then choose the laptop display (probably display 1) and disable that display. Note: You will probably need to make one of the DisplayLink displays the main monitor first.

You should now have a blank laptop screen and be able to close the lid and just use the USB displays.

Wim

PaulKitching · 08-09-2011, 08:26 AM

Thanks for the reply.

I got to "...and disable that display". I can't see any way to do that. Should there be an option, or are you talking about the <Fn><F4> laptop screen changing function?

[edit]
I've managed to get it to only show the display on the two external monitors by choosing something like "only show desktop on 2". I now only see one monitor in the display settings and both are the same.

I was stuck with the monitors saying "out of range" after closing the laptop lid, for about an hour (I tried installing monitor drivers and the GFX drivers without success). I pulled out the VGA cable and plugged it back in and now I can shut the lid and still see the monitors.

PaulKitching · 08-09-2011, 09:38 AM

Sorted!

We all thought that the whole point of the DynaDock with the two video outputs was to allow you to plug in two monitors. We were wrong.

I've realised that you can only use one of the outputs at once (or get two displays the same).

I've now switched off the laptop monitor by setting the <Fn><F4> to projector only, then I have one monitor plugged into the laptop VGA port, and the other from the DynaDock.

08-09-2011, 08:26 AM	#2
PaulKitching Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 3	Thanks for the reply. I got to "...and disable that display". I can't see any way to do that. Should there be an option, or are you talking about the <Fn><F4> laptop screen changing function? [edit] I've managed to get it to only show the display on the two external monitors by choosing something like "only show desktop on 2". I now only see one monitor in the display settings and both are the same. I was stuck with the monitors saying "out of range" after closing the laptop lid, for about an hour (I tried installing monitor drivers and the GFX drivers without success). I pulled out the VGA cable and plugged it back in and now I can shut the lid and still see the monitors. Last edited by PaulKitching; 08-09-2011 at 09:07 AM. Reason: Added extra info.

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08-08-2011, 11:15 AM	#1
Wim Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 1,561	This should be possible to configure. First you will probably need to change the lid close behaviour. This can be done under Control Panel-> Power Options -> Change what closing the lid does. You should set this to "Do Nothing" Then open the Windows Screen resolution settings, either right clicking on the desktop and choosing "screen resolutions" or under the DisplayLink GUI and "Advanced config..." Make sure all of the displays are set to "Extend desktop to this display", then choose the laptop display (probably display 1) and disable that display. Note: You will probably need to make one of the DisplayLink displays the main monitor first. You should now have a blank laptop screen and be able to close the lid and just use the USB displays. Wim

08-09-2011, 09:38 AM	#3
PaulKitching Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 3	Sorted! We all thought that the whole point of the DynaDock with the two video outputs was to allow you to plug in two monitors. We were wrong. I've realised that you can only use one of the outputs at once (or get two displays the same). I've now switched off the laptop monitor by setting the <Fn><F4> to projector only, then I have one monitor plugged into the laptop VGA port, and the other from the DynaDock.