Dell Latitude cpi laptop problems

[BustedAvi]

Hey guys, i dont knwo if you remember me but i used to be very active on this site... anyways, your gonna love this one...

I have a dell latitude cpi 400 with a monitor slot. The other day my cat spilt water all over the keyboard... i knew it was a lsot cause so i jsut took the battery out and let it dry knowing it wouldnt work properly ever again. But i was wrong!!! it works fine as long as you have a keyboard plugged in... the keys on the actual laptop must be corroated or something. Anyways, i HATE laptop screens, they give me a headache, so normally when im using ym laptop at home i plug it inot a 21 inch plug and play monitor on my desk. Now whenever i boot up my pc it will automaticly use the plug and play monitor, but when i put it into standby and turn it back on, it switches over to the laptop screen.

Heres the problem, since the keys on the laptop are corroated , i cant use the keys (FN+ f5) to switch the monitor over to my plug and play one . Ive search and search for a way to do it manually but ive given up.

Anyone have any ideas on how to switch it over without using the laptops keyboard??

[Steve R Jones]

Try going into display settings and see if it shows dual monitor. Should be able to switch which one is primary.

[BustedAvi]

what do i look for in display settings?

[Steve R Jones]

Settings tab. (see the attachment) Hopefully you'll have two boxes. If so you can change the primary...

[Buzioid]

Steve, I'm afraid that MIGHT NOT work with his computer, I had a cpi 400 adn don't think it had that option. What he needs to do is get drivers for the video card he has, Neomagic MagicGate 2.5MB something similar?? search driverguide.com for some drivers.

You could always get a new keyboard. They sell on ebay for cheap. I bought one for $16 shipped, not bad, and easy to install.

[BustedAvi]

your right my dell doesnt have that feature... but are you trying to say that if i get the drivers it will?

But it does does say under display (Multiple Monitors) on NeoMagic MagicGraph256AV driver, the only problem si that it doesnt give me any choice on which monitor to use.

[Buzioid]

Yes, I think, but not sure, if you download drivers for it, they will have the option. You just have to try different drivers.

[BustedAvi]

ok i will try it... any ideas on good driver sites that might hold this peice of junk cards drivers? (prefferably places where i dont have to sign up to get them a.k.a driverguide.com)

[Buzioid]

you dont have to sign up, just use username: drivers password: all

[BustedAvi]

omg im such a bohter... but its still not working ive tried about 8 different drivers, i always uninstall bewteen instalations, after installations i always restart, then i go to check in settings tab but i still dont get the option any last ideas???