How to connect an external monitor to laptop?

Connecting an external monitor to laptop

Step 1: Connect the monitor, flat panel, or projector to the laptop's 15-pin video connection on the back of the computer. Once connected, your laptop may automatically switch to the new external display.

Step 2: If your laptop does not switch automatically to the external display, sequence of keys either Fn + F3, Fn + F5, Fn + F8, or Fn + F9 is pressed to switch between alternate displays.(Fn key will be labeled as CRT/LCD and/or have a picture of a monitor on the key or close to the key.)
The keys pressed to switch displays is dependent on the model and manufacturer of the laptop. If none of the above key sequences work, consult your laptop documentation or consult your laptop manufacturer.

Step 3: Laptops with the ability to have the external display can switch between these modes by continuing to press the same function keys until in the mode the user wants.

Step 4: Some computers will allow you to enable and disable the external display auto-switch feature to specify which display you want as the default, through the CMOS setup.

Step 5: Unless the monitor is detected or setup in the operating system, it may not work properly or will only display at the default resolution. If you wish to change the external display's resolution, make sure the monitor is detected by the operating system.

Step 6: Microsoft Windows users - can make use of Windows Device Manager to verify whether the monitor is detected.

Step 7: Linux users running X Windows or a variant may need to modify their XF86Config file and add the display settings for the external monitor or projector.