Question : Problem: Connecting external monitor to my laptop

I'm having a heck of a time getting this to work and i can't understand why.
I have a Dell Inspiron Laptop that i use at home with the laptop screen.  But at my office i have a Dell external flat panel monitor that i want to use (the laptop stays shut and the flatpanel is my only monitor.
I thought i had this set up right but it produces unexpected results.  Sometimes i plug in the monitor and it works great.  other times, the display is blank.  and lately, the monitor works, but it seems to turn off for a second and then come back on, and when that happens, the windows toolbar "refreshes" sort of like the computer was just restarted.
Help!?

Answer : Problem: Connecting external monitor to my laptop

I've had similar issues with Dells. I resolved the issue by doing one of the following (especially if a docking station is being used).
Visit Dell's website and update the BIOS, Motherboard and video driver.
I started with the BIOS first, and then tested. If that failed to resolve it, I moved on to the next item (motherboard and then video driver).