Laptop, External moniter mode.. thingy.

[macgeek2005]

Hi, How do I make an external moniter plugged into a laptop be the Primary display, with the laptop being closed? I want it to be as if the laptop were a tower, and the moniter plugged into it is the only moniter. Then when I unplug the moniter, I want it to automatically make the laptop's display the primary display. How is this done?

Thanks.

 

[AvSRoCkCO1067]

Hi, How do I make an external moniter plugged into a laptop be the Primary display, with the laptop being closed? I want it to be as if the laptop were a tower, and the moniter plugged into it is the only moniter. Then when I unplug the moniter, I want it to automatically make the laptop's display the primary display. How is this done?

Thanks.

It's pretty easy, if you have a Pro laptop (iBook's can't do this...without a hack, anyway).

Anyway, shut the lid of your powerbook/macbook pro, connect an external keyboard, mouse, and power adapter, and press a button on your keyboard. It'll take a few seconds, but your desktop should turn on as the primary display.

 

[macgeek2005]

It's pretty easy, if you have a Pro laptop (iBook's can't do this...without a hack, anyway).

Anyway, shut the lid of your powerbook/macbook pro, connect an external keyboard, mouse, and power adapter, and press a button on your keyboard. It'll take a few seconds, but your desktop should turn on as the primary display.

External Keyboard, mouse, and moniter you mean? What do you mean, power adapter?

 

[thegreatluke]

External Keyboard, mouse, and moniter you mean? What do you mean, power adapter?

For the external keyboard, mouse and monitor he means a keyboard, a mouse and a monitor. All of these must not be parts of the laptop, for example, you'd need to plug in a keyboard and a mouse via USB or Bluetooth and then plug a second monitor (display) into your laptop.

He means the computer has to be plugged in (to the wall).

 

[adk]

You haven't yet mentioned what kind of laptop you have. If you have an ibook, don't run it with the screen closed. the ibook vents heat. If you have a powerbook/MBP, what you want to happen should be automatic provided you have an external monitor, keyboard, and mouse, and the laptop is plugged in. If for some reason it's not working automatically, go to system prefs/displays. There should be a diagram of both your powerbook screen and the external monitor. one of them has a menu bar at the top. That one is designated as the primary monitor.

 

[disconap]

Yeah, you might as well just move the book out of the way and plug in the keyboard, mouse, and monitor. If you have a G3 ibook, it will automatically mirror; if you have a G4 ibook, go into the "monitors" system preference and set it to "mirror". If you really just want the screen off, once it's set, press F1 until the ibook screen is dark.