I have an IBM Thinkpad 42. I would like to use the "extended monitor"
option with a Dell E173FP Flat Panel Monitor as my second monitor. I
do not want to just be able to have two monitors display the same
information (which I have figured out how to do), I want to be able to
have "extended display" and spread windows and applications across two
screens., which is an option in the "Manage Presentation Director"
Settings. (Fn + F7).

1. What is the correct resolution for each monitor setting?
2. What is the correct color quality for each monitor setting?
3. What is the correct refresh rate for each monitor setting?
4. Which monitor should I use for my primary monitor?

Every scenario which I try this tells me the "refresh" rate is wrong
and rejects the settings.

#1 Resolution settings for each device include the following:

Thinkpad:
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?lndocid=MIGR-57839
Resolution LCD Color depth 
640x480 256, 64k, 16M 
800x600 256, 64k, 16M 
1024x768 256, 64k, 16M 
1280x1024 256*, 64k*, 16M* 
1600x1200 256*, 64k*, 16M* 
2048x1536 256*, 64k*, 16M* 
 
Dell E173FP
http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/monitors/E173FP/En/specs.htm 
Display Mode
 Horizontal 
Frequency (kHz)
 Vertical 
Frequency (Hz)
 Pixel Clock
(MHz)
 Sync Polarity 
(Horizontal /
Vertical)
 
DOS 720 x 400
 31.5
 70.1
 28.3
 -/+
 
VGA 640 x 480
 31.5
 60.0
 25.18
 -/-
 
VESA  640 x 480 
 37.5
 75.0
 31.5
 -/-
 
VESA 800 x 600
 37.9
 60.3
 40.0
 +/+
 
VESA 800 x 600
 46.9
 75.0
 49.5
 +/+
 
VESA 1024 x 768
 48.4
 60.0
 65.0
 -/-
 
VESA 1024 x 768
 60.0
 75.0
 78.8
 +/+
 
VESA 1152 x 864
 67.5
 75.0
 108.0
 +/+
 
VESA 1280 x 1024
 64.0
 60.0
 108.0
 +/+
 
VESA 1280 x 1024
 80.0
 75.0
 135.0
 +/+
 


#2 I am not certain what you mean by color quality. My guess is that
this will be a personal preference setting based on ambient lighting
conditions in your workspace. Please clarify your desire in this area
a bit please...

#3 Refresh rates for the devices incluse the following:

Thinkpad:
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?lndocid=MIGR-57839
Resolution Supported refresh rates in Hz for external monitors 
640x480 60, 72, 75, 85, 90, 100, 120, 160 Hz 
800x600 60, 70, 72, 75, 85, 90, 100, 120, 160 Hz 
1024x768 60, 70, 72, 75, 85, 90, 100, 120, 150, 160 Hz 
1280x1024 60, 70, 75, 85, 90, 100, 120, 160 Hz 
1600x1200 60, 75, 85, 100, 120Hz 
2048x1536 60, 66, 70, 75Hz 

Dell E173FP
http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/monitors/E173FP/En/specs.htm 
Resolution 
 
Horizontal scan range
 31 kHz to 80 kHz (automatic)
 
Vertical scan range
 56 Hz to 76 Hz (automatic)
 
Optimal preset resolution
 1280 x 1024 at 60 Hz
 
Highest preset resolution
 1280 x 1024 at 75 Hz
 
 

#4 I would suggest using the thinkpad scrren as the primary monitor in
dual monitor setups to eliminate confusion within the system during
times when the external monitor is not attached.

Hope this helps...
-greg

Sorry, I meant to add that you can choose different display
resolutions and frequencies between the two monitors but if you are
looking for best possible compatability settings. Begin at a low
resolution and work your way up. 800x600 at 15 or 16 bit color and use
60 Hz for the refresh. The goal is to get the two working together and
then crank up the resolution to suit your needs.

Sorry again...

Turn off the external display with the Fn+F7 key so that the only
active display is the Tinkpad internal display.

In Control Panel, double click on Display. Choose the Settings Tab.
You should have two displays in the large grey area if your external
VGA port supports dual monitors. If you only see one display option
here, your system chipset may not support dual monitors or there may
be a setting change required to enable this functionality.

The Thinkpad display will more than likely default as the primary
display (ID #1). To enable the second monitor, check the checkbox next
to Extend my Windows desktop onto this monitor. The screen will blank
for a few seconds and then it will reappear with a background color or
image.

Click on the button labeled Identify to display the device Id on each
display. It will appear as a big white number filling the screen.

Click on the numbered device selection (1 or 2) or choose from the
Display pull down and commence to adjust the external monitor
settings. The internal display setting are probably fine as is and
suggest not changing the internal settings untill you have the
external display set the way you desire.

Once all is set, you can drag the display representations that appear
in the grey box above to position your monitors either side by side,
on the left or right. My favorite way to adjust this setting is to
open an application like notepad and stretch it wide so that it
crosses both screens and only about a half of the screen, top to
bottom. You can then adjust the placement of the monitors so that if
an application is spanning the gap, it appears to be straight across
instead of on one screen being in the middle of the display and the
other it appears at the top or bottom. The difference in display
resolution settings will also be a faactor in this adjustment and may
be difficult to get a perfect span appearance.

Good luck...