I've got a W520 that will not duplicate the monitor to a projector or external monitor

[pkellner]

Sadly, I discovered this at a Microsoft Office minutes before my 90 minute presentation.  When I do Fn F7, I can not switch to "duplicate" mode. It works with project only and extend screen, but when I say duplicate screen, nothing happens on the projecjtor.  I just got home from the trip and can make the same behavior by plugging in dell vga monitor (native resolution 1600x1200).

I tried all 3 options in the bios for display settings none worked.

Is my computer broken?

[Q-Ball]

Not broken- it's a software problem, and pretty common in Windows (Vista is especially bad for this but judging by your problem they haven't fixed it in Windows 7 either).

Actually, I'd set the BIOS back to the default setting and go to Control Panel>Display and select "Change resolution". Then, press the "detect" button and then try the Windows key + P combination.

[npar007]

Were you able to fix this? I definately think it is an issue with Lenovo W520 and possible the Intel HD Graphics Driver software that seems to be taking over the "clone monitor" options from Windows.

I can't believe this massive issue hasn't been resolved or acknowledged, it is certainly the sort of issue that may result in people returning their computers to Lenovo.

I also don't know how to fix this problem with my brand new machine.

[pkellner]

No, I never did.  I've been using another computer for presentations which kind of sucks.  I was planning on calling their tech support but have not had a chance.

[npar007]

The issue appears to be that when you duplicate the monitor a new non existant "Analog Display" is selected under the Intel(R) HD Graphics Family instead of the correct monitor selected under the Quadro 1000M (see image below).

Where does this "fake" Intel HD analog display come from and how can we get rid of it?

Selecting to use the Quadro 1000M instead doesn't work either.

When you select extend display the correct monitors used and the strange Intel analog display is not present (see below)

Projector only also selects the correct monitor (see below)

[npar007]

Actually I can get this working by taking the following steps.

1) Press Windows-P and select duplicate

2) Right click on the screen and select "NVIDIA Control Panel"

3) Unclick analog display and click the one under the Quadro 1000M title

4) Right Click on the greyed out number 2 monitor and select (Duplicate with 1 use 1 as source)

It works but it is a pain in the ass doing this everytime you need to present. I would like someone from Lenovo to explain what the "rougue" Analog Monitor is that appears under Inter HD Graphics and how it can be removed or disabled.

Thanks,

Nigel

[lead_org Microsoft MVP Contributor]

so switching to discrete only still doesn't remove the intel hd graphics in the windows environment?

[npar007]

what does "switching to discrete only" mean?

[pkellner]

In the bios, you can turn off the hardware graphics (that is the discrete graphics). I tried that in my demo and failed miserably at it.  I agree that turning off discrete graphics does not good.

[shan_mcarthur]

I am very upset that I cannot project with my Lenovo W520.  I have never had problems with any of my previous Lenovo laptops (X41, T61P, W510), but I cannot duplicate my screen and project on a projector with the W520.

My expectations are that I can hit Windows-P, select duplicate screen, and see my screen on the projector.

I have tried all of the different settings in the BIOS, even updated to the nvidia drivers, but I cannot, with any combination, get my laptop to project on a standard LCD projector (1024*768)

Has Lenovo recognized this issue?  Is there a fix coming?  Or should I return all these units?