I have two pretty old laptops, both XP, that I have been playing around with extended desktops on. One does not detect when a monitor is attached, although it will display, and therefore there is no option to extend. The other is fine.
The one that works only has a VGA output, but it does have three USB ports. I have therefore been looking at the USB/VGA adapters (you can also get USB/DVI etc). I assume these are in effect external video cards, hence the price.
What I am unsure of is this. If I use one of the adapters in one of the USB ports AND connect another monitor via the laptop's VGA output, when I go into Control Panel/Display/Settings will I have the means to extend to two screens?
A couple of the adapters I looked at had CDs inclduded which would suggest drivers but also a menu to set up an extended laptop. If I don't set that up will the control panel see the two screens still, and If I do will I end up with two places to extend from, and still not get what I want?
I suspect if I bought two adapters and plugged in one each to a USB Port I would get the right result, but if I can get it with one device and the existing output and cable, so much the better.
The one that works only has a VGA output, but it does have three USB ports. I have therefore been looking at the USB/VGA adapters (you can also get USB/DVI etc). I assume these are in effect external video cards, hence the price.
What I am unsure of is this. If I use one of the adapters in one of the USB ports AND connect another monitor via the laptop's VGA output, when I go into Control Panel/Display/Settings will I have the means to extend to two screens?
A couple of the adapters I looked at had CDs inclduded which would suggest drivers but also a menu to set up an extended laptop. If I don't set that up will the control panel see the two screens still, and If I do will I end up with two places to extend from, and still not get what I want?
I suspect if I bought two adapters and plugged in one each to a USB Port I would get the right result, but if I can get it with one device and the existing output and cable, so much the better.
