Al, your insights and solutions were H U G E for me . Two really good folks were stumped. THANK YOU ! !

Two additions to my original post:
(1) I set the resolutions of BOTH my laptop and the projector to 1024 x 768 when using Powerpoint.
(2) I solved the problem of PowerPoint altering the font and its size to make it unreadable in the Slide Shoe Presenter View. OfficeOne offers a program called PowerShow (a PowerPoint add-in) that preserves your original font and font size during the Presenter View (it also preserves the PowerPoint transitions that Ovation – another program that will preserve the font and font size - strips out). It works as advertised and is easy to use, the only disadvantage being its cost, i.e. $100. However, the program controls projectors up the wazoo (and a lot of other things to boot) and those of you interested in controlling multiple projectors may also be interested in this program. Check out a 15-day trial run at http://officeone.mvps.org/powershow/powershow.html

Al Klee

In a previous post I pointed out that a neat feature of PowerPoint 2003 is the ability to show speaker notes (and a small image of what is appearing on the projected screen) on your laptop while the images only show on the projected or big screen. Presenter View in PowerPoint is commonly used for this, but the main problem with this option is that the notes screen is unbearably small and not resizable, and the onscreen notes themselves are displayed in an unchangeable and primitive font so small and light that they are essentially unreadable.

Although there are programs available that rectify this situation, they are expensive. However, a solution is available that doesn’t cost a thing and allows you to run PowerPoint’s Normal view on your laptop monitor, while you are running a slide show view on the big screen.

The first step is to set up your laptop in extended mode as I have previously described. (To test, move your mouse pointer off the right edge of your notebook screen and it should reappear on your projector image.)

The next step is to set up PowerPoint on your computer so that your slide show will display on both monitors. Open PowerPoint and then your PowerPoint file. Go to the menu at the top of PowerPoint and select “View.” Click on “Slide Sorter View” and then “Normal” view. Note: THIS IS IMPORTANT since you cannot assume that you are in Normal View when PowerPoint starts. Now go to the Slide Show menu, and click on “Set Up Show.” In the Multiple Monitors box, make sure that “Secondary Monitor” or “Monitor 2 Plug and Play Monitor” is selected. Click OK. Make sure the ‘Show Presenter View” box is NOT checked.

Start the slideshow by pressing the F5 button. In your taskbar, you’ll see two PowerPoint tabs (or two icons under one tab). The first, “Microsoft PowerPoint,” drives your laptop display of PowerPoint. The second, “PowerPoint Slide Show,” drives the projector display of the slide show. Your mouse cursor is now able to float between two screens, your laptop (Monitor 1) and your audience display (Monitor 2) but ensure that it is on the “PowerPoint Slide Show” tab. Use the arrow keys on your laptop and your laptop view will stay synchronized with what you see on the screen.

PowerPoint will keep both your laptop and screen slides synchronized ONLY if you remain in PowerPoint Slide Show mode during your presentation. If you accidentally move your cursor back to your laptop display at any point during your presentation and click anywhere (or alternatively, if you click on the “Microsoft PowerPoint” tab in the taskbar) your slides and notes will continue to advance in Normal view on your laptop, but your audience slides will stay frozen. Once you catch your mistake, if you click on the “PowerPoint Slide Show” tab in your taskbar, your laptop slides will resynch with the big screen, rolling themselves back to the next slide after the one PREVIOUSLY displayed on the big screen. If you want an easy way to always stay out of trouble, once you have your presentation set up, just don’t touch your mouse or touchpad at all during your talk. Advance or reverse your slides using only the arrow keys on your laptop.

I too have the same laptop.  Trhe problem that I am having (I have tried this using different

I, too have the same Inspiron laptop. the problem that I am having is this..  when I connect to the LCD projector using the vidio connector the image on the lcd screen not my computer, just flickers and goes in and out.  I have tried 3 differnt projectors with this.  I am wondering if it might be my connector and would this cause any other problems with my laptop.  I just purchased it 1 year ago.  Can anyone help?

terrie

Terri: I started this thread because I had difficulty in getting into extended monitor mode, so your problem, which is somewhat different, probably merits a new thread.

In any event, it is always a good thing to check cables when something like this occurs. I have two VGA cables – the 6 foot one that came with my Epson 737c projector and a 25 foot one that I bought to use when my laptop is on a lectern some distance away from the projector – so when the contact is suspect I can always try the other cable.

They are inexpensive so I suggest you buy another one and see if it is the problem. If you have been into computers for any length of time you may even have an old VGA 15M pin to 15M pin cable lying around somewhere. Some projectors (only found in a small number of home theater projectors) use a 15M pin to a round proprietary connector specific to the projector, however, and in such case you will have to buy another one to test the connection.

In any event, may I ask what model projector you are using and if you are running dual display or extended monitor mode?