laptop to monitor connection

I need help to connect my laptop (can't read the screen) to an external monitor. The laptop is a Dell (something) and the monitor is a ViewSonic.

Please help!!!

 

Hi djd69 and welcome to MGs.

Depending on the video connections available on your laptop, you will need to hook up the monitor with a cable with either a VGA connector or DVI connector to both the laptop and monitor. (See image for types of connectors.)
Once that is done, you can try booting with the external monitor hooked up. You may need to use a key combination of Fn (Function) and "monitor" which could be a picture or CRT/LED symbol on one of the keys on the top row of the laptop keyboard.

Connector image - http://www.google.ca/imgres?q="vide...192&start=0&ndsp=46&ved=1t:429,r:17,s:0,i:123

If you get the same type of output as the laptop screen is showing, you probably have a problem with the laptop's video card. If the monitor shows the correct image, then your screen itself is the problem.

Good Luck.