How do you fix external display of connected notebook?

Today I connected my Macbook 13 inch, late 2007 Mac OS X Lion 10.7.5to an ACER monitor that

worked a couple of years ago, but not today. Cables seem OK, but when I powered on external

monitor, all that shows is a good quality graphic of what I recall as a desktop screen I do not use.

The cursor is there too and a note saying, "configuring, Please wait." Then nothing happens.

I can move the cursor with the laptop trackpad, but there is nothing on the external to click on

and the cursor/trackpad is not working on the laptop when it is connected to the external display

What I want/should see on the external display is the same as what is on the laptop.

I'm only doing this because my eyesight is getting too bad and

I would like to use this Macbook a little longer before upgrading to a new one.

Your help is appreciated.