You Cannot Switch to an External Display Device While the Media Center Window is in Full-Screen Mode

You cannot switch to an external display device from a notebook computer that has an external display device connected. Specifically, when you run Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2004 in full-screen mode, and if you press a Fn+<Function Key> keyboard shortcut on your laptop computer, the display does not switch to the external display device.

This issue occurs because Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2004 prevents Windows from switching to the external display device while in full-screen mode.

To work around this issue so that the keyboard shortcut works, run Media Center either in a window or minimized on your desktop. Or, you can close Media Center. After you switch to the external display device, you can run Media Center in full-screen mode.

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section of this article.

The specific function key that switches the display to a connected external display device may vary by OEM.

Media Center Technical Support

Because Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition was included with your hardware device or system, the hardware manufacturer provides technical support and assistance for this software. Your manufacturer may have customized the installation with unique components such as specific device drivers and optional settings to maximize the performance of that manufacturer's hardware. If you require technical help with Windows XP Media Center Edition, contact your manufacturer directly because the manufacturer is best qualified to support the software that the manufacturer has installed on the hardware.

You can also visit the Windows XP Media Center Edition product information Web site at the following Microsoft Web site: