Unable to switch to external display/projector

I have an M1530 running Windows Home Premium.  I was uaing it with a projector today (using Fn F8 to switch) when the laptop went through an automatic critical update reboot forced by Windows.  After rebooting the Fn functionality associated with the F keys will not work (e.g. Battery level check, LCD/CRT switch).  Has anyone come axross a similar situation and found a solution?

This was very distressing as I was using the laptop at a funeral wake for my father in law to project images from his life.  No matter what I did it would not allow me to switch from the laptop moniotr via the VGA cable to the external projector.