Trouble connecting to an external monitor with mini DVi

[appleshaped]

I've had my Macbook for about 3 years and have always been able to connect it up to my external monitor using a mini dvi cable.
A couple of weeks ago my hard drive died and since using the new one I cannot connect.
The external monitor shows my wallpaper but nothing else, no desktop, no dock etc...
Any suggestions?

 

[simsaladimbamba]

Could it be, that you use the monitor as extended display instead of mirroring the displays?

Look into System Preferences >>> Displays >>> Arrangement and see, if "Mirror Displays" is checked or not, and if not, where the external display is located. You might be able to just drag a window to that other display.