How to turn off my laptop monitor with my external monitor plugged in?
I jut brought a new hdtv which can be used as a computer monitor. I connected it via hdmi/hdmi output. It works and I set it to the primary monitor. Now how do I turn off the built in lcd on my laptop since im not using it anymore.
Depends on the brand. If it is a Dell, you can press the F8 key (usually it will say LCD/CRT on the key). Each press will move it between displaying on the LCD only, displaying on the CRT only, displaying the same on both, and displaying different things on both. It may take you a few presses to find the right setting. This setting is not saved and you have to press the F8 to get the right screens back everytime you boot the PC.
You can also right click on the Desktop, go into the Properties, and the Settings tab. You can change the secondary and primary montors there. Make the TV the primary and then turn off the secondary (now your LCD). Wzrning: if you boot the laptop without the TV attached, you will lose their settings and the LCD will become primary again.
If you look under the “advanced” setting of the Settings tab, depending on your graphic card, it may include a configuration routine that will allow you to set up a permanent profile to use the TV only if it is attached. But that varies by video card.
If you have an external mouse and keyboard fro your laptop, you can also just close the lid of the laptop. That will shut down the LCD but continue to run on the TV. The use the external mouse and keyboard with the TV.
Several different ideas you can try….