Connect Thinkpad T40p to Dual Monitors?

Message

gkumar · #1 Post by **gkumar** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 8:27 pm

Hi,

I have an IBM Thinkpad T40p. I also have two LCD monitors (Dell) that take in either DVI-I, S-Video or VGA. My IBM Thinkpad T40p has a VGA port (female) and S-Video port (female). How do I connect my laptop to the monitors to get an extended desktop by having one of the following occur:

Laptop Screen is blank, and Both Monitors compose an extended desktop as one large desktop (2 desktops)

Laptop Screen is active, and Both Monitors compose an extended desktop as one large desktop (3 desktops)

So far I can only connect a VGA cable from laptop to LCD and have the laptop screen and one (not two) LCD monitor active to get an extended desktop. But my other LCD monitor is left unused.

I've a Molex DS-59 to Dual VGA convertor (I think I got the wrong cable by accident). I also have a DVI-I female to VGA male convertor. How do I get a VGA female port to the dual monitors? Will I have to buy a splitter cable (VGA male to dual VGA/DVI-I)? Can S-Video and VGA ports work in conjunction together for the two monitors? Is it necessary to buy the dock?

Now about the docks, I've done some reading and it seems the way to go for dual external LCD monitors is the Port Replicator or the Mini Dock (Dock II is way too expensive).

I was just wondering if an IBM Thinkpad T40p would fit in the Port Replicator or Mini Dock properly with a 9 cell battery. The standard for Thinkpad is a 6 cell battery so I am not sure if my laptop will fit in the docking port properly. Can anyone confirm that the Thinkpad T40p with an extended battery will fit?

Can we use the laptop keyboard and mouse when it is docked or will we have to supply our own external keyboard?

Also, if I were to get a Mini Dock II, will I be able to DVI-pass thru with two DVI cables from the docking station to the monitors? What about pass-thru VGA with two VGA cables?

Lastly, is there a way to have two dual external monitors and the laptop LCD working all at the same time to have 3 desktops (in one extended desktop)?

Hope you guys can help. I'm clueless about these things as you can probably tell.

Thanks in advance.

gkumar · #2 Post by **gkumar** » Sat Sep 09, 2006 6:16 pm

bump? no one replied?

laz · #3 Post by **laz** » Sat Sep 09, 2006 11:21 pm

Try closing the laptop. You may also be able to disable the internal LCD by going to Display Properties -> Settings -> Advanced -> Displays.

The video card in your TP can drive two displays, but not three. To drive three (or four) you'd need to get the Dock II and put a half height video card in the PCI slot.