How to turn off laptop display when using ext monitor?

[pae77]

I've finally got an external monitor for my T61p and I'm using it with the laptop open enough so I can use the laptop's built in keyboard. But I notice that the built in laptop LCD is still on, (it only shows the background wallpaper and not any icons). I was wondering if there is a way to turn that laptop display completely off while I'm using the external monitor (using via DVI on the advanced mini dock), and if so, how?

Thanks in advance for any help with this.

[jdhurst]

I would use Presentation director. With it you can turn the laptop display off and keep the projector (read monitor in this case) on. .... JDH

[pae77]

Unfortunately PD is not compatible with W7 at this time.

[agarza]

Usually hitting once the Fn+F7 outputs to the monitor, but IIRC in Windows 7 you use Windows key + P and you select in which monitor you want the image.

[EAkamai]

Usually hitting once the Fn+F7 outputs to the monitor, but IIRC in Windows 7 you use Windows key + P and you select in which monitor you want the image.

Thanks agarza for this info... nice to know if an when i ever use win7

[yak]

At least on my T60 with Windows 7, pressing Fn+F7 brings the same menu up as Win+P (Presentation Director is not installed).

But back to the original question, you see an empty screen because your laptop is configured to extend your desktop to the second screen. This means that you can grab some window and drag it off the screen of your external monitor. The window will appear on your laptop's display.

This mode is optional. Other include turning the second monitor off and mirroring the contents of your main display. All this can be configured in display properties in the control panel. Lenovo's Presentation Director may be used to configure this more comfortably and easily switch between the different modes. Easy switching in now built into the new Windows 7.

[pae77]

Thanks to all who responded. That was very helpful. I've got the laptop monitor turned off now using W7 (which is a really great OS, imo, and makes my ~2 year old T61p feel like a new machine again)!

24" HD external monitor is awesome too.