|
|
| Next: Automated Fix It from Microsoft |
| Author |
Message |
darklord17ed
Joined: Dec 09, 2003
Posts: 98
|
 Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2009 6:08 pm Post subject: Acer 5100 Laptop and DLP Optima EP749 projector |
|
|
|
| I am having trouble getting these to work together. Acer Aspire 5100-3357 Laptop AMD MK-36 1.99 Ghz. Proc. 1024 DDR memory with Windows Xp Pro SP3 updated.
I started out with the desktop showing and not being able to view media files to not able to get the desktop at all. I have downloaded the current drivers for the ATI Radeon Express 1100 graphics card. That did not help. I have found where I can clone the desktop in the graphics control panel but that only gets me the wallpaper.
I am connecting these with a VGA Cable.
Thanks in advance for your help guys!
|
|
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
goretsky
Joined: Dec 07, 2002
Posts: 9041
Location: Southern California
|
| Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 3:39 am Post subject: |
|
|
Hello,
Many notebook computers require that the device drivers from the notebook manufacturer--not the video chip manufacturer--be used in order to take advantage of special features, such as dual-display, split-display, presentation mode and so forth.
I took a quick look at Acer's support web site and found this package, which contains the v8.322.0.0 drivers from 2005 (I am guessing this is the last release Acer provided). You may need to install these drivers in order to obtain all the features of the video card. Interestingly enough, the driver package is listed as being for Microsoft Windows Vista, not Windows XP.
If those do not work, you might want to try using a third-party program like EnTech Taiwan's PowerStrip to obtain the missing functionality or modified device drivers from a third-party site like OmegaDrivers and see if those work.
Regards,
Aryeh Goretsky |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
drwho07
Joined: Nov 29, 2007
Posts: 1546
Location: Central FL, USA
|
| Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 8:40 am Post subject: |
|
|
I defer to Mr. G. when it comes to video drivers and the like, but I can tell you one thing for sure, from lots of personal experience......
Only one gig of ram for a busy XP machine (any PC) is not enough. 
When I only had one gig of ram in my own PC, built on a shoestring, I thought my PC was running pretty good with XP-PRO-SP3.
But when I got a real deal on another 1 gig stick of (identical) RAM, I bought it, installed it and then was pleasingly surprised when performance took a big leap upwards.
With ram prices continuing to drop, I now have six gigs of DDR2 (Dual Channel) ram installed on the same computer and XP is using 3 gigs and Vista and Win7 are able to use the entire six gigs.
There is absolutely NO way to make any PC run good when it doesn't have enough RAM memory. This is especially critical on laptops, where the HD's are very slow compared to HD's in a Desktop PC.
Increase the RAM in that little Acer to at least 2 gigs for a great improvement in performance. That's my best advise for a Tuesday morning. 
The Doctor  |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
goretsky
Joined: Dec 07, 2002
Posts: 9041
Location: Southern California
|
| Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2009 1:55 am Post subject: |
|
|
Hello,
A quick check here of Crucial's web site found that 4GB of RAM for the Acer Aspire 5100 would cost $50 (not counting tax, shipping and handling).
That is a fairly inexpensive upgrade for a good performance boost.
Regards,
Aryeh Goretsky |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
bern
Joined: Mar 12, 2007
Posts: 1432
Location: ann arbor
|
| Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2009 9:13 am Post subject: Re: Acer 5100 Laptop and DLP Optima EP749 projector [Login to view extended thread Info.] |
|
|
| darklord17ed wrote: |
I am having trouble getting these to work together. Acer Aspire 5100-3357 Laptop AMD MK-36 1.99 Ghz. Proc. 1024 DDR memory with Windows Xp Pro SP3 updated.
I started out with the desktop showing and not being able to view media files to not able to get the desktop at all. I have downloaded the current drivers for the ATI Radeon Express 1100 graphics card. That did not help. I have found where I can clone the desktop in the graphics control panel but that only gets me the wallpaper.
I am connecting these with a VGA Cable.
Thanks in advance for your help guys! |
It is not quite clear to me what your problem is. I am not familiar with Acer computers, but know the Optoma well.
Anyway, on my Dell laptops, there are 3 modes available:
1. computer only. Projector dark
2. Both Projector and computer running. this mode has sub modes:
A. both displays identical
B both displays on, but different. In this mode, the icons are displayed on the device you specify as primary. The other device shows the desktop but not the icons. You can move windows, folder displays, etc to the secondary display by dragging. It sounds like this is the mode you are stuck in. In this mode, movies, etc, like to open in the primary display area, and revert back to that when placed in "full screen" mode, but will display on the secondary screen when dragged there. The solution to make this easier is to specify the projector as the "primary" display.
3. Only the projector is on, and the computer screen is dark.
On a Dell computer, these modes can be cycled by a keyboard command (function+F8 ). but this is also available from the graphics control panel. I have both NVidia and ATI graphics cards, and both offer this functionality. Sometimes you have to hunt around in the control panel to find the right switches to turn all this stuff on. A projector acts just like a 2nd monitor, as I am sure you know.
This has usually worked even in dangerously underpowered machines, so before you spend a lot of money, be sure there isn't just a control somewhere you haven't found. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
darklord17ed
Joined: Dec 09, 2003
Posts: 98
|
| Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2009 9:45 am Post subject: [Login to view extended thread Info.] |
|
|
Thanks for the replies.
goretsky, I downloaded the driver file you suggested. When I try a unzip it I get a corrupt file error. I am looking for this file somewhere other than the Acer site. I have also tried the third party files. The Omega file wont install correctly and the other does not support this card.
Hey Doc! The owner of this machine does not have the cash for a memory upgrade, so we are stuck with what we got.
Bern, I am aware of the fact that it functions as a second monitor. I have looked through every tab trying to find something to correct this issue.(This is why I only buy products with Nvidia Graphics) |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
onesickpuppy
Joined: Dec 07, 2002
Posts: 23
|
| Posted: Fri May 01, 2009 2:29 am Post subject: [Login to view extended thread Info.] |
|
|
I know on my Toshiba unit, its a "Fn" key combination that allows the laptop and projector (second screen) mode to work
By holding down the Fn key, and the one marked like a monitor, it goes through a list of options.....desktop only, both, etc.
Are you doing that?? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
darklord17ed
Joined: Dec 09, 2003
Posts: 98
|
| Posted: Fri May 01, 2009 1:00 pm Post subject: [Login to view extended thread Info.] |
|
|
| onesickpuppy wrote: |
I know on my Toshiba unit, its a "Fn" key combination that allows the laptop and projector (second screen) mode to work
By holding down the Fn key, and the one marked like a monitor, it goes through a list of options.....desktop only, both, etc.
Are you doing that?? |
Yes I have tried that. See the above post. I get only the back round image.I just about have them talked into upgrading to vista with a memory upgrade as well. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
| |
|
|
General