Keystrokes to swith to external monitor

[jmpaq]

Hi from the newbie again.
This time I inherited a sony vaio (MODEL PCG-7V1M, Service tag C3LNBPUZ).
This laptop, circa 2007 has a cracked screen and pretty difficult to read.
I would like to use it as a desktop pc running linux mint 14 cinnamon.

I would need to be able to use the external monitor even during the installation process.
my question is the following:
Is there an easy way (few keystrokes) to switch to an external monitor in Mint?

thanks in advance,

[viking777]

It shouldn't need any keystrokes at all, it should just work when you plug it in. Have you actually tried it yet?

Mind you I used to have a Sony Vaio myself a long time ago, in general they hate linux.