Can I connect a larger external monitor to my Thinkpad?

You need to tell the laptop to send the signal to the monitor. Usually this is done by pressing a key marks Fn or something like that at the same time as the key that switches the monitor. The Fn key is usually near the bottom left of the keyboard, and the monitor switch key is one of the F keys across the top of the keyboard. Look for one with a picture of a monitor. My old thinkpad used F8.

There are 3 positions: Laptop only, monitor only, or both. Pressing the two keys together should cycle through those.

Lenovo Thinkpad External Monitor

It seems like the monitor is registering that it is connected to the computer, but it stays black because the computer is not sending any information to it. We need to set up the monitor in Display Properties.

(First plug your monitor into your computer)

You can do this by right-clicking on your desktop and clicking Properties, all the way at the bottom. Then go over to the settings tab. There should be a picture of two rectangles with numbers in them. One of them (probably number 2) should be grayed out. Right-click on that one and select the Connected option. Hit apply and your monitor should show your computer screen!

When you plug up the new monitor, right click and select Properties. The click on the Settings Tab. Next click on the "2" screen in the window and use the dropdown box to enable it. Then click Apply and that should be it! Enjoy your bigger monitor.

Usually hitting FN+F8 toggles between Laptop and external monitor

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Cycle through the three modes by pressing and holding the Fn key and pressing the F5 key slowly through the modes. Modes are internal only, internal and external together, and external only. (it will move through the internal settings even though the screen is broken) The screen goes to safe mode and shows up on external because it is in VGA mode. When it gets to that blank screen it is in SVGA. I believe it will move through the three cycles, Just be patient. Good Luck

I use a 22" monitor with my 13" MacBook, so yes it's doable.

Yes, you'll have to use the Fn&F7 keys simultaneously to get it to switch to the ext. monitor.

you'll have less definition, but still quite good, as good as normal tv [not hd]