Connecting external monitor

Before I reformatted I had an Acer monitor hooked up to my dell inspiron laptop. VGA plugin. Never has to do anything, it just worked. After reformatting I had to download network drivers(also never had to do this) and windows doesn't detect my external monitor. I used the Acer disc by for the drivers but still no luck. Can anyone think of what the problem could be? This has to be an easy fix. Thanks for any help.

 

You may have to press the FN key plus another at the same time (F3) usually but that may only toggle the monitors. First go to your desktop and right click. Select "Screen Resolution" and you should get a screen showing to numbered monitors. There also should be an option to "detect" try that and then you should be able to configure the second monitor from there. For example you can then use it as an extended desktop or simply a duplicate of the laptop screen. Let us know how you get on.

 

I have tried both of those options. It doesn't detect the other monitor and the fun key plus f1 doesn't do anything either. I know the f1 key works. All keys are functioning properly.

 

I believe the proper keys for a Dell is FN+F8 at the same time. Try it once and it should switch to the second monitor but if you do it a second time then it show both as active and you will be able to set the monitor. If that does not work then you may have still have a driver issue. It is definitely not the F1 key but some laptops use F3 although I believe that with Dell it is in fact F8. In any case the FN and the F key must be pressed at the same time. If you are using an external keyboard you may want to try the laptop keyboard itself.

 

The f1 key is the one with the picture of the laptop and the external monitor but I have tried all the f keys just to be sure. I've tried holding the function key and each separate f key and none of them work.I downloaded the monitor driver but can't figure out how to actually install it.it is a zip file which I unzip but then there is no setup file or any other way to install. I then used the actual disc that came with it but I don't think it actually contains the driver. I'm confused about whether or not I have actually installed the drivers. The downloaded one I got from the Acer website. I've reinstalled windows dozens of times before and never had this issue and I'm very confused. Thanks for the help so far. Cheers.

 

Does the driver happen to be a couple of .sys files and one or two other files (when unzipped)?

The way to install these is to go to Device Manager (so Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Device Manager) find the monitor, right click on it and select "Update driver software", then select "Browse my computer for driver software", then find and select the unzipped folder, just continue through the prompts and it should install your driver.

Could you tell us the exact model number for your Dell laptop as well, as you may need the graphics and chipset drivers.

 

OK I wasn't able to update the the driver like you said, when I tried there was just two options, scan for hardware changes and properties. Properties only gave me an unclickable monitor tab. I scanned for hardware changes and nothing happened. I know what you are talking about though, I've done it several times trying to fix this. I went to display, connect to external monitor and advanced properties. I clicked the monitor tab(generic PNP monitor) and properties. Under the driver tab I selected update driver and and browse for driver software. I choose the location and it tells me windows has determined the driver software for your device is up to date. Still no way to switch ext monitor. I'm using a dell inspiron n5040. Monitor is Acer p215h.

 

Just to add a bit to the other driver advice...

Just to go back to simple basics are you absolutely positive that you have installed all of the system drivers from Dell. Remember that you need to get system drivers from the Dell site. Going to NVidia for video drivers on a Dell system is not a good idea, same for other internal devices. You always want to go to Dell for Dell system drivers. Make double sure that you have installed (from Dell) both graphics and chipset drivers.

 

OK I will make sure. Had to download network drivers just to make the laptop recognize my internet connection but I didn't think I would need graphics drivers. Are the graphics drivers and chip set drivers different things? And just as a side note I have reformatted a couple times on this laptop and never needed to download any drivers. Any reason why now? Thanks for all the help.

 

After restarting it had a bunch of updates and apparently one of them worked because the external monitor kicked right on. Not sure why, I had restarted dozens of times during this process and hadn't even downloaded any of the graphics or chip set drivers yet but whatever. It works when it feels like it I guess. Thanks to everyone for all the help. Much appreciated.

 

I'd bet dollars to donuts that some of the updates were drivers.