How to default to external monitor?

**silvi4000** · 01-14-2009, 05:03 PM

Originally Posted by stephenzheng

it only happen when the computer went to standby after X amount of time I set when I turn the car off (running the laptop battery) when I start the car I can hear the laptop running (the HD and the fans) but the 7" LCD not turnning on doesn't matter how long I waited. when that happen I have to hold the power botton for like 5sc to turn it off then back on (re-boost)thanks.
the lid is off the laptop and I have a magnet on the sensor to make it think the lid is closed.

Whats the model of your DELL?
Do you know what graphics card it has?
Can you see a Function-Key on the laptop keyboard to switch monitors?

**stephenzheng** · 01-14-2009, 05:44 PM

Inspiron 6000
and I will try to find out other info later.

**silvi4000** · 01-14-2009, 05:56 PM

From the specs it seems it has an ATI card. Go to control panel and open the catalyst control center. If given the option, switch to advanced view. You should see a "hotkeys" menu on top. Go there and then select Hotkeys manager.
Select "Display manager" on the hotkeys filter list. Now you should see a list of actions below. Find "switch among displays" and edit that. Select something like ALT + F1 and save the changes.
If you plug a USB keyboard you should be able to switch the display by pressing ALT+F1. If you cant, go back and make sure you saved the change. Once you can switch via keyboard you can use the script I posted before to have windows automatically switch the display on start up.
Make a scheduled task that runs the script every 2 or 3 minutes and you should be ok.

**stephenzheng** · 01-14-2009, 06:02 PM

I'll go to the car and try it now. be right back.

**stephenzheng** · 01-14-2009, 06:19 PM

can't find catalyst control center under control panel .

**stephenzheng** · 01-16-2009, 12:54 PM

Originally Posted by silvi4000

Once you can switch via keyboard you can use the script I posted before to have windows automatically switch the display on start up.
Make a scheduled task that runs the script every 2 or 3 minutes and you should be ok.

I can switch the monitor by using FN + F8 it will go from "laptop only" to "laptop+monitor" to "monitor only" but the thing is: if I start the PC from standby or hibernate the the usb screen goes blank than the hot key don't work to switch it on.
do you think your script will work for me? if so, do I need to make any change?
thanks,Stephen

**silvi4000** · 01-16-2009, 02:27 PM

Originally Posted by stephenzheng

I can switch the monitor by using FN + F8 it will go from "laptop only" to "laptop+monitor" to "monitor only" but the thing is: if I start the PC from standby or hibernate the the usb screen goes blank than the hot key don't work to switch it on.
do you think your script will work for me? if so, do I need to make any change?
thanks,Stephen

Try pressing the power button on the touch screen. If that turns it on, you will need to figure out hot to make the touchscreen auto power on when receiving voltage from the car.
If its a modern lilliput you can set auto power on by pressing a button sequence on the remote. The older models required doing some soldering and adding some simple components to simulate pressing the power button when receiving voltage.

**stephenzheng** · 01-16-2009, 09:29 PM

no, my screen turn on fine. in fact I did the Auto turn on mode too by enter the code with remote.
what I trying to say is that I have no input from the laptop when resumed from standby.
so right now I have to turn it off with the power button before turn off the car and boost every time when I get in the car.

**hari-bhari** · 03-09-2009, 06:30 PM

i have an ati video card in my laptop (Radeon 7500) and the ati utility also has the option to assign a hotkey to a profile. so i downloaded autohotkey and wrote a short script to send my hotkey command, Alt+F6 (the exclamation point is the alt):

Send !{F6}

Converted it to an .exe and have it run on resume, and voila no problemo.