2100mp projector searching for signal

I have just moved into a house and the previous owners kindly left a dell projector mounted and all in their former rumpus room. I've been trying to connect it to my laptop via VGA cable and my ASUS laptop that runs on windows 7 detects the projector, and all of my settings for the projector are the suggested settings i've heard to use, but he projector constantly says SEARCHING FOR SIGNAL... i've tried to plug it into both VGA outlets in the back of the projector and nothing. i'm a do it yourself type of guy but i'm really at a loss especially for something that shouldbe a simple plug and play projector.