laptop to external monitor display problems

[lockedandloaded]

toshiba laptop with broken screen hooked up to a hp external monitor via vga cable. when I turn on the laptop im prompted for my password then goes to starting Windows screen then screen goes black. I can still see the pointer but the desktop doesn't load. if I start in safe mode the desktop will load. I get a box that pops up suggesting my resolution be changed to 1440 x 900 but when I go Into display settings it will not give me the option for that resolution nor will it allow me to enter it manually. I also tried the detect tab and only 1 monitor is detected. im not sure if it should be detecting the laptop screen and external monitor or not. any suggestions on how to get my desktop to load normally without being in safe mode would be greatly appreciated. thanks.

 

[jpishgar]

Attaching a tutorial that might be helpful.
-JP

 

[Prostar Computer]

Attaching a tutorial that might be helpful.
-JP
Laptop external display not working or blank
In the multi-tasking world that we live in today, many have had to deal with multiple displays or an attached projector to their desktop computer. Many people have had something happen to their laptop screen, and are forced to use an external... See full content

I don't think that quite addresses the problem at hand, but that's a handy guide nonetheless.

@lockedandloaded: It sounds like you have drivers and/or programs or services that are causing your usual Windows start up to hang. Safe Mode loads the bare minimum, and the fact that you can log in as usual in Safe Mode further reinforces the probability that you have something that is causing a normal boot to hang.

Log into Safe Mode and look for anything that you think that may have caused this. While logged in, you can try:

1. A system restore point.
2. Ccleaner (or any utility that cleans junk files and the registry)
3. Manually uninstalling programs that you think may be suspect

If none of that works, you can attempt a Windows startup repair (if you have the means to access it), though I don't think that will resolve the problem.

 

[lockedandloaded]

thanks JP. I logged in in safe mode and did a system restore and that worked. I first tried a pc clean up tool and defrag to no avail. the system restore worked perfectly though. thanks again.

 

[Prostar Computer]

Good to hear.