Hooking my laptop up to my TV - any special tricks?

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  1. #1

    Hooking my laptop up to my TV - any special tricks?

    Hi all,
    So i've been trying to hook up my laptop to my TV so that i can watch downloaded programs.

    I have a cable and i seems to work properly. I'm able to get my laptop on the tv screen. I can see the mouse move, everything seems perfect, until i try to watch a clip. My player opens on my laptop and plays fine, but on the television, i only see the player and a black screen.

    I've fiddled aorund with my monitor settings on my laptop, and nothing seemed to change.

    Any ideas why this might occur?

    Thank you in advance. i'm desperate to watch some TV (on a TV)!

    Rach


  2. #2

    Join Date
    Apr 2003
    Posts
    12,383

    Can you see normal applications on your TV? Say open up Excel and see it on your screen?

    What sort of cable are you using? S-VHS (round socket on both ends) or DVI?


  3. #3

    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Posts
    4,012

    I think you may need to enable 'Full screen' mode to see the video on your TV.

    Last edited by Stoob; 27-01-2008 at 10:19 AM.

  4. #4

    thanks guys. still no luck.

    so this is what i know...

    i do not have two round plugs, but instead it's two narrow rectangular plugs. i think maybe this is is VGA?

    Excel opens fine and i can see it.

    i looked at the manual to see the compatibility chart, and i messed around with the resolution. the lowest res my laptop will go is 800 x 600 but that isn't an option for the VGA... i think i may need a new cable. any second opinions?

    Rach


  5. #5

    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Posts
    4,012

    What kind of TV do you have?

    The 'narrow rectangular' plugs, do they have:

    1. 3 rows of 5 pins, 'D' shape?
    2. 3 rows of 8 pins (+ 4), longer 'D' shape
    3. Look like a camera/phone, USB connector but bigger?

    1. is VGA, 2. is DVI, 3. is HDMI

    Are you trying 'dual screen' or 'extended desktop'?