Adding External Monitor to Inspiron 9300

Due to low vision, I would eventually like to add a large LCD monitor to my I-9300, as it is used at my desk most of the time. Could someone who has done this provide information about how well this works and how to do it?

Thinking ahead, I'm concerned about how to set up display properties, as these would already be maximized for the screen on the laptop. If I change those, won't it mess up the laptop screen when I disconnect from the external monitor for portability? Or does the computer automatically detect the external monitor and provide a means for setting up display properties separate from those for the actual laptop.

Is it possible to keep the laptop working but close the laptop when using the external monitor (I'll also be using an external keyboard and mouse)?

Thanks for any information you can share---the more detailed the instructions, the better!

 

Yes, you can add a second monitor. I usually have a 17" crt hooked up too. To do this: First hold down the "Fn" key and press F8 until you get to the laptop/crt icon (that is for dual screen) or until you get to the crt icon (turns 9300 lcd off but has the external device on). After I get that done, it usually has the same windows screen on both monitors. So I right click on the desktop and click properties. Go to the Settings tab, highlight the "2" monitor and then check "Extend my Windows desktop onto this Monitor" That will create dual screen. Ok, for your laptop closed, I use the crt button on the "fn"+F8 and configure a Dell quickset profile saying when i close the notebook do nothing but continue working. To do this double click on the dell quickset in the system tray and click next until you get to the option of "When I close my lid, my computer will" Choose No action. Click next. And click add new scheme. choose which options you want but on the "Turn off display" box choose one minute. and click next until you get to the end. I always have to go back to quickset and change my profiles and to check the radio button saying to send my system to standby when i close the lid. Hope this helps,

Edit: With the "fn"+F8 switching to external monitor, you can ignore creating the profile with the one minute lcd because the lcd will be already off. But be sure that the "When I close my lid, my computer will" is changed to no action.

 

Thanks! I can't afford the exernal monitor just yet, but when I can I will refer to these directions. (I've printed them out for future reference.)