Lenovo ThinkPad T420 User Manual page 89

connector), provided that the external monitor also supports that resolution. For more details, refer to
the manuals provided with your monitor.
You can set any resolution for either the computer display or the external monitor. When you use both at
the same time, the resolution of both is the same. If you set a higher resolution for the computer display,
you can see only part of the screen at a time. You can see other parts by moving the image with the
TrackPoint or another pointing device.
You can move the display output to the computer display, the external monitor, or both in the Display
Settings window (in Windows XP, Display Properties window).
Connecting an external monitor
To attach an external monitor, do as follows:
For Windows 7:
1. Connect the external monitor to the monitor connector; then connect the monitor to an electrical outlet
2. Turn on the external monitor.
3. Change the display output location by pressing "Fn+F7" on page 28. This allows you to switch between
viewing output on the external display, the computer display, and both displays.
Note: If your computer cannot detect the external monitor, right-click on the desktop, then select Screen
resolution. Click the Detect button.
For Windows Vista:
1. Connect the external monitor to the monitor connector; then connect the monitor to an electrical outlet.
2. Turn on the external monitor.
3. If this is the first time the external monitor has been connected, the New Display Detected dialog box
opens. Select one of the following, and then click OK.
• Duplicate my desktop on all displays (mirrored)
• Show different parts of my desktop on each display (extended)
• Show my desktop on the external monitor only
Note: If your computer cannot detect the external monitor, the New Display Detected dialog box does
not open. For details, refer to the Windows online help.
For Windows XP:
1. Turn off the computer.
2. Connect the external monitor to the monitor connector; then connect the monitor to an electrical outlet.
3. Turn on the external monitor and the computer.
4. Change the display output location by pressing "Fn+F7" on page 28. This allows you to switch between
viewing output on the external display, the computer display, and both displays.
Notes:
• Do not change the display output location while a moving picture is being drawn--for example, while
playing a movie or a game, or viewing a business presentation. Close the application before changing the
display output location, or change the display mode before you open an MPEG file to play.
• If you are attaching an external monitor that supports only VGA mode (640x480 resolution), do not view
output on both the computer display and the external monitor. Doing so would cause the external monitor
screen to be scrambled and the output not to be displayed; in addition, it could cause damage to the
screen. Use the external monitor only.
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Chapter 2 Using your computer
71