separate screen resolutions for separate monitors

[sojda]

how does one set up separate desktops in win2000 so that when the lcd on the laptop is the only monitor available, one screen resolution is used, but when an external monitor is connected, a higher resoultion screen is automatically applied? i am dealing with a thinkpad t30, an ibm l200 external "thinkvision" monitor, and stock rage video card.

 

[nanaki333]

go to your display settings and click that lil box that says 'extend monitor' then hit apply. then you can select either monitor from the drop down and set their res seperately and just mouse over to each.

 

[Matthias99]

Originally posted by: nanaki333
go to your display settings and click that lil box that says 'extend monitor' then hit apply. then you can select either monitor from the drop down and set their res seperately and just mouse over to each.

I don't think that's his problem. With most laptops, the 'external' VGA out is really just a mirror of the laptop's display, not a second monitor.

I don't know of any way to automatically change it based on whether it's on the internal or external output -- the computer has no way to tell what it's attached to. You could, however, use something like PowerStrip to set up multiple resolution settings that you can flip back and forth between.

 

[Peter]

Well either the graphics chip inside the Laptop can do the "extended desktop" stunt across the integrated panel and the external CRT, or it can't. There is no inbetween.

But yes the computer CAN detect whether there is a CRT attached or not. This is done through the RAMDAC, by measuring the load on the red/green/blue signal lines. Traditionally, you could even tell a grayscale monitor from a color one - the former loads only the Green signal.

The rest is driver capabilities. Lest we know what graphics engine is in there, we can't give any hints.

 

[sojda]

the adapter is ATI Mobility Radeon 7500, driver version 6.14.10.6422, 5/13/2004

thanks for the replies so far!