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Notebook-Projector Setup Problems

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Business Travel 911 August 2005 • Vol.3 Issue 8	Add To My Personal Library
Notebook-Projector Setup Problems

One of the on-the-road presenter’s most vital tools is a properly working notebook and projector setup, which is second only to a thorough knowledge of the presentation subject. Before you find yourself facing an agitated audience, we’ll help you bypass several common pitfalls before they blow your presentation.

Make Connections

First, with both powered down, connect the projector's supplied VGA (Video Graphics Array), DVI (Digital Visual Interface), or S-Video (Super Video) cable to the notebook’s external monitor VGA, DVI, or S-Video port. If your projector has a different interface than that of your notebook, you may need a conversion device such as a DVI-to-VGA cable or adapter. Next, connect the power cord for the projector to a nearby outlet. Also, connect the notebook’s auxiliary power cord to an outlet, in case your presentation lasts longer than the life of your notebook’s battery.

Some projectors also have a USB cable for a remote that lets you advance slides and move the cursor without keeping you hunched over your notebook. If your projector has a USB cable, plug it into an available USB port on your notebook, preferably the one designated for an external mouse.

Audio is another connection you’ll need to consider. Some projectors have built-in speakers that can outperform the built-in speakers of your notebook. Make sure your notebook’s headphone or line-out jack is connected to the projector’s audio-in or line-in jack. The room in which you’re presenting may also have a sound system that features a similar audio-in jack. If your notebook features both line-out and headphone jacks, use the line-out jack. Turn down the volume on your notebook, as sound-enabled projectors and auditorium sound systems typically have dedicated volume controls.

Next, turn the projector on and boot up your notebook.

Show Stoppers

Some projector and notebook setup problems have universal solutions. For instance, to keep your screen saver from turning on during your presentation, disable it from the Control Panel’s Display Properties dialog box. Other problems require a working knowledge of your particular notebook’s function keys and the projector’s settings and menus. Check the device manual or the manufacturer’s Web site for more information on the particulars of your hardware.

No Image

If the image on your notebook doesn’t display on the projected surface, you should check to make sure that your notebook has enabled the external video port. Although some notebooks can detect the projector and automatically enable the video output, this is not always the case. To enable your notebook’s external video output, consult your notebook’s manual.

For some notebooks you can enable the external video output with a key combination, such as CTRL-ALT-F10, but for others you’ll need to use specialized function keys, or internal settings. Often, pressing the video-switching key combination toggles the different display devices off and on. Pressing the key combination once may switch the notebook monitor off but turn the projector display on. Pressing it again will turn off the projected display but resume the monitor display. Pressing the key combination a third time enables both, which is called simulscan.

If your projector isn’t displaying an image, look for a source or input button or menu option that will let you select the source designated for video from a notebook or computer.

Out Of Range

If your projector displays “signal out of range” or a similar error, or appears distorted, you may need to adjust your Display Properties. Some projectors can synchronize with the video source, but if your projector doesn’t have this capability, you’ll need to adjust the settings manually.

Windows XP users should click Start, Control Panel and then double-click Display. (If you’re viewing the Control Panel in Category View, click Appearance And Themes and then click Change The Screen Resolution.) On the Settings tab, click Advanced. If you’re using a notebook with Windows 2000, click Start, Settings, Control Panel and then double-click Display; click the Settings tab and then click Advanced.

This projector features inputs for DVI (Digital Visual Interface), S-Video (Super-Video), and audio.

Although the Advanced settings dialog box varies in appearance depending on your notebook's video hardware, you should see a Monitor tab; click it to continue. In the Monitor Settings box, set the Screen Refresh Rate to 70 Hertz and click Apply. If this doesn’t fix the displayed image, continue trying successively lower refresh rates until the projected image looks right.

Poor Resolution

If the projected image is cropped on the edges, then you need to synchronize the notebook’s resolution with the projector’s native resolution. Projectors, like monitors and notebook displays, have a peak resolution at which images are best displayed. Any image above the native resolution will appear cropped, fuzzy, or not at all. If you know your projector’s native resolution, it’s best to adjust your notebook to the same resolution.

Win2000/XP users can change the resolution from the Display Properties dialog box. Click the Settings tab and then adjust the Screen Resolution slider to the desired resolution. Click Apply and then click Yes if everything looks good.

If you don’t know the native resolution of your projector, adjust your notebook’s resolution to 800 x 600 and then click Apply. If the projected image is framed with black borders, then adjust the notebook’s resolution to 1,024 x 768 and click Apply. If the image looks compressed or unreadable in any way after clicking Apply, click No and try a different resolution. Continue trying different resolutions until you find the one that makes the projected image look the best.

Image Too Dim

Sometimes the projected image may appear too dim. This problem is particularly common with projectors with low lumens (or brightness) ratings. You may also encounter a dim projection if there is too much light in the room, either from overhead lights or from windows. Try moving the unit closer to the projection surface. This will shrink the overall size of the projection but improve brightness. Reducing the amount of excess light will also improve the projection’s apparent brightness.

Image Too Small

If the projected image is too small, and ambient light is not an issue, try moving the projector farther away from the projection surface. Many projectors also have a zoom lens that can enlarge the projection without physically having to move the device.

Image Tapers At Top Or Bottom

This trapezoidal effect usually occurs if the projector is aimed toward the projection surface at an angle. Most projectors have a setting for adjusting this effect, called keystone distortion. If your projector is pointing up at an angle toward the projection surface, adjust the image’s keystone setting to taper the top of the image. Alternately, adjust the keystone to taper the bottom of the image if your projector is pointing down at an angle toward the projection surface.

This projector has several buttons and an LCD for making adjustments and changing settings.

Out-Of-Focus Image

Most projectors have a manual focus ring around the lens that lets you make subtle adjustments. Also, check the projector’s control pad, menu, or remote for focus-adjusting controls. If you’re using JPEG pictures, or other compressed image files in your presentation, these photos may appear blurry when projected. This is because the photos are low resolution. Try using higher-resolution photos.

Skewed Image

If the projected image is skewed, make sure the projector is perpendicular to the projection screen. Also make sure the projector is on a level surface.

Backward Image

If the projected image appears backward, then the projector is in rear-projection mode, which means that it is configured to project images from behind a transparent screen. Check the projector’s menu or control panel for a front projection mode setting. Alternately, if you’re projecting from behind a transparent screen, you need to set the projector to rear-projection mode.

Image Is Upside Down

If the projected image is upside down when using the projector upright, then your projector is configured to display from a ceiling-mounted position. If the upside-down image is coming from a projector that is mounted to the ceiling, then it is configured to project an image in front-projection mode. Navigate the projector's menu or control panel to set the projector to the proper mode, depending on its orientation.

by Andrew Leibman

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