Odd Question...

[edwelly]

Hello all - long time no see/talk... I hope everybody had a GREAT Christmas, New Year and Happy Holidays!!!

I have a old IBM laptop (390E) and I would like to use the built in LCD Screen as a second monitor. I know that I can hook up a second monitor to the laptop but what I want to do is use the laptop's screen as a secondary monitor for my existing desktop. I could not figure out a way to do this nor do I know if it can even be done... I am open to several suggestions other than disassembling the laptop.
At first I thought of using some form of PCAnywhere but I am not sure how to configure it to do this.
Again just to make sure this makes sense, I want to use dual monitors on my main desktop but the second monitor, I would like to use my current laptop screen. The laptop does not need to do anything other than display my desktop.

thanks to all that reply!!!!
---edwelly

[Jeordiewhite]

Well, what sort of video card does the laptop have?
Doing this would be fairly easy, as it would be done in the drivers and not manually.
However that is depending on if the video drivers support that considering it is old. However still should be doable.
If you can go into display properties, go to the tab "settings". Now if you see two monitors there, you may need to boot up with the secondary monitor attached and on so it is sending the signal to the laptop that the device is attached and working.
If you do see the two monitors there, then select device two > extend my windows desktop to this monitor > then select use this as my primary monitor. Then hit apply and it should be complete.
You should be all set, if not then you should be able to still do it. Even if you have to install newer drivers/etc.

[HeadBand]

how would you connect it though

[edwelly]

anybody else???

[Bill in SD, CA]

I don't see how it can be done.

Bill

[Jeordiewhite]

Well that's how it would be done to setup a different connected monitor as your primary display, edwelly if you want this to do this then it would make sense for you to go through my post above and post what video card that laptop has.
Yes it can be done, not manually tho, it would be done via drivers.
Posting system specs usually helps, especially when posting the video card when it is a video card issue.

[SeanC]

You want to use the LCD screen on the laptop as a secondary display for a DIFFERENT computer correct? Just so I understand what you're asking.

Sean

[RicheemxX]

Originally posted by SeanC
You want to use the LCD screen on the laptop as a secondary display for a DIFFERENT computer correct? Just so I understand what you're asking.

Sean

yes thats what he trying to do. AFAIK you can't do it as you'd have to have the laptop powered up to run power to the screen. But if it could be done it would have to be some sort of video out from the primary card, connected to video in on the laptop. Even with that I don't see how it could be done. You could use some sorta of VNC and netowrk the two but that would allow an extended view it would be the same on both screens. I really don't see a viable way to make it work

[Jeordiewhite]

I have a buddy who has done this before with his radeon mobility and had once brought over a geforce 2 go laptop.
He just hooked them up to the other screen and was able to use both in clone mode and even change the other monitor to primary.

[edwelly]

Jeordiewhite
Here's the info you asked: - Driver NeoMagic Magic Media 256AV on my laptop and a Radeon 7500 PCI card on my desktop.
Sean - you are 100% correct
RicheemxX -

connected to video in on the laptop

- I agree and I am not sure if this could be done either. I just thought I would ask just in case...
---edwelly