Can you Connect a PC box to a laptop
No matter the size of your laptop's display, adding a second monitor can make for a more convenient and productive experience. It's a simple matter to connect an external monitor to most laptops, and then you can configure the display with a few clicks. You can choose to extend the display to the second monitor giving you more screen space or duplicate the display on both screens. Show How to connect a PC laptop to a monitorDepending on what kind of monitor and laptop you have, you might need to use a USB, HDMI, or VGA cable. HDMI is the most common monitor connection today, but some laptops dispense with an HDMI (or mini-HDMI) connector and rely entirely on USB. Also, many modern portable monitors are USB-only. As for VGA, you'll generally only find that now-obsolete connection on older monitors and laptops. 1. With the laptop and monitor turned off, connect the monitor to the laptop with the appropriate cable. 2. Turn on the laptop and monitor, and wait for Windows to start. 3. In the Start search box, type display settings and click Ease of Access display settings when you see it appear in the search results. 4. In the Display Settings window, click Additional display settings. 5. You should now see numbered boxes which represent the laptop and additional display usually, number 1 is the laptop's built-in display, but to verify which is which, click Identify, and the numbers will briefly appear on the two displays. 6. If you need to, you can drag the two monitors around on the screen to make sure they're oriented the same way as on your desk, then click Apply. 7. Scroll down to find the Multiple displays section. Click the dropdown menu and choose Duplicate these displays or Extend these displays, depending upon whether you prefer to have them show the same information or if you want to use them as a larger desktop. Best HDMI CablesWe test and recommend the best HDMI cables. Check out our picks:
How to connect a MacBook to a monitorDepending on your MacBook, you'll either have the option of connecting with a USB-C or Thunderbolt connection. If you can connect your monitor directly to the laptop if your monitor has a USB-C port, great use that. If not, you need to use an adapter or hub that can convert the monitor's connector to the format used by your MacBook. 1. With the MacBook turned off, connect the monitor to the laptop with the appropriate cable. 2. Turn on the MacBook and monitor, and wait for the Mac to start. 3. Click the Apple logo and then choose System Preferences 4. In the Preferences window, click Displays. 5. In the display settings window, click the Arrangement tab. 6. You should now see two boxes which represent the laptop and additional display. The one with the white menu bar at the top is the MacBook's built-in display. If you need to, you can drag the two monitors around on the screen to make sure they're oriented the same way as on your desk. 7. If you want both monitors to display the same thing, click Mirror Displays. Otherwise, leave the checkbox blank to extend the screen to the second monitor. Video: How to connect a laptop to a monitorDave Johnson
Freelance Writer
Dave Johnson is a technology journalist who writes about consumer tech and how the industry is transforming the speculative world of science fiction into modern-day real life. Dave grew up in New Jersey before entering the Air Force to operate satellites, teach space operations, and do space launch planning. He then spent eight years as a content lead on the Windows team at Microsoft. As a photographer, Dave has photographed wolves in their natural environment; he's also a scuba instructor and co-host of several podcasts. Dave is the author of more than two dozen books and has contributed to many sites and publications including CNET, Forbes, PC World, How To Geek, and Insider.
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