external monitor on compaq laptop

[DarinB]

I attempted to install an external monitor...I could not get it to work but now I get a low res at each boot.
I attempted to add a modeline but it still goes to low res at boot or log in.
on every boot I get a 1024x768 res. I always had a 1280x800.
I have to change it each time. I have tried saving setting button with and with out merge button but no fix. how can I make the 1280x800 permanent as it was before.
here is my current xorg.conf after manually changing the res... but it won't hold to the next boot!!!!
darin@darin-laptop /etc/X11 $ cat xorg.conf
# nvidia-settings: X configuration file generated by nvidia-settings
# nvidia-settings: version 1.0 (buildd@palmer) Fri Apr 9 10:35:18 UTC 2010

Section "ServerLayout"
Identifier "Layout0"
Screen 0 "Screen0" 0 0
InputDevice "Keyboard0" "CoreKeyboard"
InputDevice "Mouse0" "CorePointer"
Option "Xinerama" "0"
EndSection

Section "Files"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
# generated from default
Identifier "Mouse0"
Driver "mouse"
Option "Protocol" "auto"
Option "Device" "/dev/psaux"
Option "Emulate3Buttons" "no"
Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
# generated from default
Identifier "Keyboard0"
Driver "kbd"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
# HorizSync source: edid, VertRefresh source: edid
Identifier "Monitor0"
VendorName "Unknown"
ModelName "AUO"
HorizSync 30.0 - 75.0
VertRefresh 60.0
Option "DPMS"
EndSection

Section "Device"
Identifier "Device0"
Driver "nvidia"
VendorName "NVIDIA Corporation"
BoardName "GeForce Go 6150"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Screen0"
Device "Device0"
Monitor "Monitor0"
DefaultDepth 24
Option "TwinView" "0"
Option "metamodes" "1280x800_60 +0+0"
SubSection "Display"
Depth 24
EndSubSection
EndSection

[gn2]

Press Alt + F2 then type: sudo nvidia-settings
Hopefully this should make the changes stick

[DarinB]

nothing happened it just disappeared after hitting run??