Acer TravelMate 7520 - how to extend display via VGA?

[Nesule]

I have an old laptop, Acer TravelMate 7520, now running Win 7 32 bit. Ever since I plugged an external Samsung SyncMaster 245T via VGA, in display settings it's like the laptops own monitor wouldn't exist, only the external one. I do have a working picture on both displays, but it's a duplicate, whereas I'd like to extend the desktop to the external monitor. Where there normally would be the option to choose duplicate or extend, I have nothing, because there is only the "1" display. Like the laptops native display is not acknowledged..

I have not found anyone describing this particular problem... help?

 

[Laptop_Nerd]

Hi,

Please press the Windows key + P at the same time and select Extended Display then press Enter and it should make it as extended screen.

 

[Nesule]

Hi,

Please press the Windows key + P at the same time and select Extended Display then press Enter and it should make it as extended screen.

Nothing happens when I press the Windows key + P (Win + R launched Run, Win + E launches windows explorer, Win + L locks Windows just fine, etc..).

 

[hang-the-9]

Download the latest drivers from ACER support site for your model, you want the BIOS and the VGA drivers. Install, reboot, go to the display options again and see if you can set them to extend instead of duplicate.

VGA ATI VGA Driver (M74 M76 M92 M96) 8.635.0.0 108.6 MB 2009/10/23
BIOS Acer BIOS v1.17 1.1 MB 2008/12/08

 

[Nesule]

Download the latest drivers from ACER support site for your model, you want the BIOS and the VGA drivers. Install, reboot, go to the display options again and see if you can set them to extend instead of duplicate.

VGA ATI VGA Driver (M74 M76 M92 M96) 8.635.0.0 108.6 MB 2009/10/23
BIOS Acer BIOS v1.17 1.1 MB 2008/12/08

That did it I updated both, BIOS and the display driver, it was the driver that helped. Now I see

Extending my display works and even Win + P works

ps. The drivers from Acer's download page would not install, it just said "Failed" in the log. I have downloaded seemingly the same package (but found through filedir.com instead choosing my model from Acer's list), and this one installed fine. No idea what that was about. The working drivers were at http/global-download.acer.com/GDFiles/Driver/VGA/VGA_ATI_8.635.0.0_W7x64W7x86_A.zip?acerid=633918568708705660&Step1=&Step2=&Step3=TravelMate%207520&OS=742&LC=en&BC=Acer&SC=

Many thanks for your help!