How do I use Presenter view without a projector or second monitor? (by Chirag Dalal)
Problem
Your computer supports multiple monitors and you like to use PowerPoint's Presenter view for delivering presentations.
How's that a problem? Well, it's not. But if you want to rehearse your presentation when you don't have a projector or second monitor handy, PowerPoint won't cooperate. Unless you have a second monitor plugged in, PowerPoint won't let you use Presenter view.
Solutions
Smack it with a "secret" keystroke
Start the presentation by pressing Alt+F5 to practice your presentation in presenter view, even if you only have one screen.
This only works in more recent versions of PowerPoint; it doesn't work in PPT 2016 or previous but does work in 365/2019.
Beat it over the head with software
Chirag Dalal discovered this slick solution: If you have Windows 7 and a dual-monitor capable machine (a laptop would do and you don't need second monitor), do the following:
- Use Win+P keyboard shortcut to bring up the (Connect to projector) window.
- Click "Extend" option. This will bring the second display output "alive" although no monitor/projector is connected there.
- In PowerPoint, open your presentation and click "Slide Show" | "Set Up Show" item, select the slide show to display on monitor 2 and check the "Show Presenter View" box, click OK.
- Now start slide show. The presenter view will be on your laptop while PowerPoint is gladly thinking that the slide show is being shown on the second monitor.
Or if you're a hardware person ...
If you don't have Win7, you might want to make a "dummy load" for your second VGA connector (thanks to Chris Watts for this suggestion). This is just a VGA connector that's been rigged up with resistors to make the computer think that there's a monitor or projector connected.
Google "vga dummy load' for instructions.
Paul at http://www.howtofixcomputers.com/forums/asus/k7v-freenas-system-wont-start-without-monitor-249753.html wrote this set of instructions:
I made my own dummy VGA connector, which functions as a "fake monitor".
It consists of three 75 ohm resistors, for R, G, and B.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VGA_connector
Connect 75 ohm resistor from pin 1 to pin 6 (terminates red)
Connect 75 ohm resistor from pin 2 to pin 7 (terminates green)
Connect 75 ohm resistor from pin 3 to pin 8 (terminates blue)
In terms of rough power dissipation numbers, say video amplitude is 1 volt, V*V/R = 1*1/75 = 0.013W. I think the resistors in mine
are either 1/4 watt or 1/8th watt, whatever I had on hand.
Picture of thru-hole resistors, if you've never seen any
When you buy a VGA connector and snap-together shell, the pin numbers are printed in small print, next to the pins, on the plastic the pins are mounted in. The pin numbers will be the left-to-right mirror, of the picture in the Wikipedia article. (That is because the Wikipedia picture, is the video card end, and not the "fake" connector you hope to make.)
It is a good thing my electronics store doesn't stock DVI connectors. As a result, I don't have to research how to do those :-)
http://datasheets.maxim-ic.com/en/ds/MAX3814.pdf