when i connect an external monitor to my laptop i cant change the resolution of the external monitor

[cook425]

I have a Samsung 13" laptop computer. I want to connect an external monitor. The monitor is a Viewsonic VA2026w. The laptop has a maximum resolution of 1366 x 768. The Viewsonic has a maximum resolution of 1680 x 1050 but when I connect the two, the Viewsonic display resolution is greyed out and only runs at 800 x 600.
Is there any way to keep the max resolution on the monitor?

 

[cook425]

MERGED QUESTION
Question from cook425 : "when i connect an external monitor to my laptop i cant change the resolution of the external monitor"

I have a Samsung 13" laptop computer. I want to connect an external monitor. The monitor is a Viewsonic VA2026w. The laptop has a maximum resolution of 1366 x 768. The Viewsonic has a maximum resolution of 1680 x 1050 but when I connect the two, the Viewsonic display resolution is greyed out and only runs at 800 x 600.
Is there any way to keep the max resolution on the monitor?