I have an older laptop with Linux mint install and I have my monitor plugged into it via vga cable I figure out how to use my monitor as the main display default but I want to have the laptops display turned off so I have a single desktop. I can use the fn+F7 key to do this but wondering if there is a easier way. also my monitor is 1920x1080 but when I use that setting I can barely see the task bar and everything is just at the edge of my monitor lol .

the reason why I want it this way is because every time I plug a usb stick or my phone it shows up on the laptops display. or of i get a popup it shows on the laptops display and I have to drag and drop it to my monitors desktop.

I don't know the exact steps in Mint, but what you need is to find monitor settings in your start menu.

Which desktop environment are you using?

gnome I think

On Mint? That's unlikely. Which version of Mint are you using?

Anyway, let's assume you are using the Cinnamon flavour of Mint.

It appears that you are using multiple monitors rather than having the external monitor set up to mimic the laptop display.

To change that: Mint Menu->System Settings->Hardware->Display: check Mirror Displays, then Apply.

The laptops I've had have a function key for controlling the monitor selection at a hardware level. Look for a key that has a picture (that's supposed to be) of a monitor or screen on it.

Generally, you have to hold down the (usually blue) Fn key, then press the corresponding function key. Look for such a key. Pressing it will cycle through the displays (for example, laptop monitor/external monitor/same screen both monitors/one screen spread across both monitors) in some order or other.

Have you tried just closing the laptop? Turns off the built-in screen...

well I have been doing the fn+f7 keys that works I just thought that there was a way that It would do it automatically without me having to bend down to were my laptop is and do that .
I am running Linux Mint 17.3 Rosa \n \l it was the only disk that I had and I dont have any free usb drives which I could install the newest version of linux onto

You don't need to install a more up-to-date version of Mint, but do be aware that 17.3 is only supported until April 2019.

Distros can have different desktop environments, however, which is why I asked you which one you use. Cinnamon is the desktop environment that is most widely used with Mint. I asked that in order that the instructions I gave you in post #6 could be as relevant to your system as possible.

I updated to the newest mint Odd topic here and of course because of the newer Kernel I cannot install the Radeon non proprietory drivers for this older HD 3470 vid .

it is strange though after I up graded to the newer mint and I used the fn+f7 key now when I reboot and Mint is loaded it automatically turns off the laptops display which is great .