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46982
May 19th, 2006 15:00
Laptop/Projector Problems
I have a Dell Inspiron 6000 laptop and recently bought an Epson 737c Powerlite projector. Since this was the first digital projector I have ever owned, I experienced many of the problems reported in this forum that deal with (1) toggling among the three monitor modes and (2) running PowerPoint in Presentation mode.
I finally worked through all of these problems with no help from the Manual that came with the laptop. The manual writer was asleep at the switch on this one in that the video driver and its manipulation were never discussed.
We’ll start by assuming that the projector is connected to the laptop and is turned on. The next step is to boot the laptop. Although the Intel GMA driver that came with this laptop can be accessed from the control panel, it is more convenient to right-click on an unused portion of the desktop and select “Graphics Options,” then “Output To,” then “Intel(R) Duel Display Clone,” then “Monitor + Notebook.”
Then by going back and selecting “Graphic Properties” instead of “Graphics Options,” a box comes up in which the display resolutions can be easily changed. I leave the Notebook resolution unchanged at 1280 x 800 but change the Monitor resolution to 1024 x 768 to match the resolution of the Epson projector. (Notebook and Monitor refer to the laptop and projector, respectively.) The by holding down the Fn key and pressing down the F8 key in succession, you can toggle through the three (laptop, projector, laptop + projector) screen settings (wait a second between toggling to allow the equipment to sync properly).
To run PowerPoint in Presentation mode, click on an unused portion of the desktop and select “Graphics Options,” then “Output To,” then “Extended Desktop.” Bring up your PowerPoint program and select “Slide Show,” then “Set Up Show.” The check “Presented by a Speaker,” “Advance Slides Manually,” and “Show Presenter View.” The “Display Slide Show On” will most likely have defaulted to “Monitor 2 Plug and Play Monitor.” If not, select it. Hit F5 and your show starts with the images showing on the projector screen, and your notes and the image on the laptop screen.
Incidentally, running PowerPoint in Presentation mode (I am using PowerPoint 2003) in my view is almost useless since the presenter sees a very large image but miniscule type in front of him. This is in spite of the fact that one has minimized the image size and selected a very large font size for the notes in the show. The moment the show is run, the image size increases and the font size decreases to a point where it is unreadable realistically.
Although other Dell laptops may use language somewhat different from that mentioned above, and access to the driver may also differ, perhaps my experience may be of some help.
Al Klee
I finally worked through all of these problems with no help from the Manual that came with the laptop. The manual writer was asleep at the switch on this one in that the video driver and its manipulation were never discussed.
We’ll start by assuming that the projector is connected to the laptop and is turned on. The next step is to boot the laptop. Although the Intel GMA driver that came with this laptop can be accessed from the control panel, it is more convenient to right-click on an unused portion of the desktop and select “Graphics Options,” then “Output To,” then “Intel(R) Duel Display Clone,” then “Monitor + Notebook.”
Then by going back and selecting “Graphic Properties” instead of “Graphics Options,” a box comes up in which the display resolutions can be easily changed. I leave the Notebook resolution unchanged at 1280 x 800 but change the Monitor resolution to 1024 x 768 to match the resolution of the Epson projector. (Notebook and Monitor refer to the laptop and projector, respectively.) The by holding down the Fn key and pressing down the F8 key in succession, you can toggle through the three (laptop, projector, laptop + projector) screen settings (wait a second between toggling to allow the equipment to sync properly).
To run PowerPoint in Presentation mode, click on an unused portion of the desktop and select “Graphics Options,” then “Output To,” then “Extended Desktop.” Bring up your PowerPoint program and select “Slide Show,” then “Set Up Show.” The check “Presented by a Speaker,” “Advance Slides Manually,” and “Show Presenter View.” The “Display Slide Show On” will most likely have defaulted to “Monitor 2 Plug and Play Monitor.” If not, select it. Hit F5 and your show starts with the images showing on the projector screen, and your notes and the image on the laptop screen.
Incidentally, running PowerPoint in Presentation mode (I am using PowerPoint 2003) in my view is almost useless since the presenter sees a very large image but miniscule type in front of him. This is in spite of the fact that one has minimized the image size and selected a very large font size for the notes in the show. The moment the show is run, the image size increases and the font size decreases to a point where it is unreadable realistically.
Although other Dell laptops may use language somewhat different from that mentioned above, and access to the driver may also differ, perhaps my experience may be of some help.
Al Klee
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Ron Lowe
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May 24th, 2006 23:00
Albert Klee
4 Posts
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May 25th, 2006 12:00
(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
Albert Klee
4 Posts
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June 5th, 2006 13:00
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.
Terrie230
3 Posts
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July 16th, 2006 20:00
Terrie230
3 Posts
0
July 16th, 2006 20:00
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
Albert Klee
4 Posts
0
July 17th, 2006 12:00
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?