I have a Toshiba laptop running Windows 7 Home & Office that I recently decided to restore to factory settings to see if that would resolve some speed issues I have been having (FYI, it didn't). Prior to doing this, I never had any issues with the external monitor that I keep connected to it 100% of the time--when the laptop would go to sleep after a period of disuse, I could resume it and the external monitor (a HP w2207h) would light up with the desktop filling the screen as it is set up to do. Now, however, when I wake the laptop from sleep I get a warning that the settings are out of bounds and advising that I should adjust my screen resolution. When I then go to display settings in the control panel I see that the external monitor and laptop screen are set to "duplicate". The only way I seem to be able to get the external monitor to work correctly is to choose "Show Desktop Only on 2", but then when the computer goes to sleep that gets forgotten. Given that the laptop stays closed the entire time I use it, what is the correct way to set this up so that I don't have to reset the screen setting each and every time I start the laptop from sleep??
Well, the first thing I'd do for the screen issue, is update the drivers from the manufacturers website.
As for the speed issues, I'd suggest trying to clean out the heatsink. If the system can't cool itself, it usually slows down for protection. Laptop cooling is pretty bad for collecting dust.
Have you tried setting the screen settings and then rebooting the machine?
Cleaning the heatsink... Depends on how brave you are.
The simplest way is probably to vacuum it out. While the machine is off, put the vacuum cleaner over the air intake holes and blow (with canned air, or your gob) where the hot air exhausts.
The most effective way is probably to partially disassemble the machine so you can see the dust and know when it's clean.
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