mirror display on external monitor

[Guest]

I am trying to attach an external monitor to my laptop, and to mirror my
display rather than to extend my desktop across the two monitors. However,
no matter what I try, I can only seem to get my second monitor working as an
extended desktop.

I'm running a Dell Inspiron 8200 with a GeForce4 440 Go video card.

I read another thread where the recommendation was to open the advanced
display settings and configure the video card for "CloneView". But there is
no such option for my particular card.

Specifically what I am seeing is th following: My desktop is mirrored
during startup, but as soon as Windows finishes loading and I am prompted for
my password, my external monitor becomes a black screen witha white
horizontal line. It behaves as if it is getting a frequency out of range
error, except as soon as I type 'function' + 'F8' to toggle the VGA signal,
the external display works fine -- in multiple monitor view with extended
desktop.

What is preventing me from mirroring my desktop? Does anyone know of a
solution to this problem?

Thanks in advance

 

[Bob I]

Install the correct video card driver from Dell and then the Option will
appear.

 

[Guest]

Thank you. This solved the problem. I had been using a driver I downloaded
from nVidia, but it was their driver that was messing me up. I checked the
nVidia site for a more recent driver, found one, installed it, and still
didn't have the mirroring option. But after uninstalling all nVidia drivers
mirroring now works.

 

[Bob I]

Glad to hear it.

Thank you. This solved the problem. I had been using a driver I downloaded
from nVidia, but it was their driver that was messing me up. I checked the
nVidia site for a more recent driver, found one, installed it, and still
didn't have the mirroring option. But after uninstalling all nVidia drivers
mirroring now works.

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