Windows 7 will not recognize external monitor

[dothanvol]

Hello,
Using Windows 7, Dell laptop, Dell monitor, connected by VGA cable. Proved monitor and cable work fine on an another PC. Before "upgrading" to Win 7 from XP the external monitor worked fine. Under menu option "change the appearance of your display", the Detect option does not find the external monitor. There is no other menu option to add an external monitor. Can't get the monitor to recognize the laptop or the laptop to recognize the monitor. What can I do?

 

[COLGeek]

On most laptops, there is a function key (F8 for most Dells) to change from internal to external or both displays. Give that a try.

 

[dothanvol]

Hello,
Using Windows 7, Dell laptop, Dell monitor, connected by VGA cable. Proved monitor and cable work fine on an another PC. Before "upgrading" to Win 7 from XP the external monitor worked fine. Under menu option "change the appearance of your display", the Detect option does not find the external monitor. There is no other menu option to add an external monitor. Can't get the monitor to recognize the laptop or the laptop to recognize the monitor. What can I do?

F8 key is irrelevant until the monitor is recognized by the laptop.

 

[COLGeek]

F8 key is irrelevant until the monitor is recognized by the laptop.

Not true. This is an OS independent function.