pc to tv?

natnif

hi there, this is my first post on the tech forum, I had a quick look but couldn't find any threads on this.

I am trying to hook the pc up to my tv. the tv has an s-video in socket.
I bought a vga to s -video adaptor

and I got this(attached) on the tv screen

it's obviously not as straightforward as I thought, so any suggestions?!!


as an aside, the reason I am doing this is I broke my flatscreen monitor yesterday. feel free to laugh it's in the 2nd pic!

8T8

Does your graphics card or laptop have a dedicated s-video out ?

The best thing you can do is lower the desktop resolution to 640x480 or 800x600 and try setting the refresh rate at 50Hz as well if that doesn't work.

natnif

8T8 wrote:

Does your graphics card or laptop have a dedicated s-video out ?

The best thing you can do is lower the desktop resolution to 640x480 or 800x600 and try setting the refresh rate at 50Hz as well if that doesn't work.

no I have no s vid out on either of them, which is why I'm trying to use the converter.

I just tried changing the refresh rate, but there are no other options in the drop down menu. Is there a manual way to change the refresh rate?

Sorry for all the questions!!:rolleyes:

8T8

Not without using powerstrip and advanced utility for resolutions not recommend for those unfamiliar with the subject.

What kind of graphics card is in the laptop ?

You might get it to work if you can tell it that the external display is a TV though with VGA it is probably assuming it is a monitor. The control panel of the graphics card can sometimes force detect or change the display type.

If all else fails there is this box o tricks that properly converts VGA into scart/s-video nothing else needs to be done just plug it in.

natnif

8T8 wrote:

Not without using powerstrip and advanced utility for resolutions not recommend for those unfamiliar with the subject.

What kind of graphics card is in the laptop ?

You might get it to work if you can tell it that the external display is a TV though with VGA it is probably assuming it is a monitor. The control panel of the graphics card can sometimes force detect or change the display type.

If all else fails there is this box o tricks that properly converts VGA into scart/s-video nothing else needs to be done just plug it in.

the pc has an SiS 661 pci graphics card which gives the image linked above

the laptop has an ati radeon xpress 200m which doesn't seem to be detecting the 2nd monitor at all, it won't allow me to enable it and the screen is just blank (it does flicker indicating the connection is working)

that link looks pretty cool, but I could buy a better graphics card with an s vid out for cheaper and I am trying to avoid that if possible...

natnif

ok so I changed my setup a little but am still having a problem. I got an ati radeon 9250 and hooked that up. the tv now displays the desktop, but when I try to play vids it won't work?any ideas?!!!

8T8

It's an overlay problem, best thing to do is update your display drivers (if you already haven't).

Now download MPC HC a media player.

Open it and go to View->Options now to the output section and tick the box for "Overlay Mixer" and click okay to close the window.

Now try playing a video, if you want to make MPC the default media player in the View->Options go to the formats section and click on the video button.

agentgreen

Hi,

I just saw this post, and was wondering how would I hook my laptop up to my tv???

My tv connections are:
1 x HDMI ( 19 pin HDMI Type A ) - side
2 x HDMI ( 19 pin HDMI Type A ) - rear
2 x SCART ( 21 PIN SCART ) - rear
1 x component video input ( RCA phono x 3 ) - rear
2 x audio line-in ( RCA phono x 2 ) - rear
1 x audio line-out ( RCA phono x 2 ) - rear
1 x VGA input ( 15 PIN HD D-Sub (HD-15) ) - rear
1 x audio line-in ( mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm ) - rear
1 x digital audio output (optical) ( TOS Link ) - rear
1 x S-Video input ( 4 PIN mini-DIN ) - side
1 x headphones ( mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm ) - side
1 x composite video/audio input ( RCA phono x 3 ) - side

And my laptop is a Dell latitude D500 & a D620, I was told they don't have a s-video port, is there any other way of connecting them???

Thanks in advance.

8T8

Yes

1 x VGA input ( 15 PIN HD D-Sub (HD-15) ) - rear

Your laptops have a VGA output (the blue connector) so just get a regular cable (male to male) and hook them up.

agentgreen

Could I watch TV s-video to scart???

8T8

agentgreen wrote:

Could I watch TV s-video to scart???

Huh ?

Do you mean you could watch TV on the laptop by connecting the scart to s-video then the answer is no as the s-video is almost certainly an output on the laptop.

You would need something with an s-video input for that which means buying an USB TV tuner with video inputs.

agentgreen

but would s-video (output on laptop) to scart (on tv) def no work?

8T8

agentgreen wrote:

but would s-video (output on laptop) to scart (on tv) def no work?

That will work as long as the scart input supports s-video (you can mod those little adapters if it doesn't) but why you would you want to when you have VGA as it will be way easier to setup with VGA because it's treated as just another computer monitor and picture quality will be far superior compared to s-video.

By the way your TV has an s-video input so why put it through the scart input in the first place.

agentgreen

Because I don't have a clue lol

Thanks man, I thought VGA wouldn't support sound thought would it??

This is the right VGA, right?

8T8

Yeah that cable will suffice (not very long though I'd get some distance on it).

For sound your TV will have either a 3.5mm input or RCA inputs that will route sound when your are on the VGA/PC channel on your TV.

If it has the 3.5mm (looks like a headphones jack) then this is the cable you need.

If it has RCA inputs (red/white phono connectors) then this is the cable you need.

Your laptop should have a line out which is a 3.5mm jack for headphones or external speakers so this is where you stick the other end of the cable into the laptop.

agentgreen

Thanks man,

These are the ports my D500 has;
Serial, Parallel, Video (VGA and S-video out), Infrared (1 Fast IR and 1 Slow IR), Audio (microphone-in-jack, stereo headphones/speakers jack), 2 USB 2.0, Modem (RJ-11 port), Ethernet LAN (RJ-45 port) and 1 (Type I or Type II) PC card slot.

Don't think it has the ones you mentioned.

8T8

Audio (microphone-in-jack, stereo headphones/speakers jack),

Check again I'll think you'll find it does

headphones use 3.5mm jacks so find where the headphones plug into the laptop and then check the back of the TV for a 3.5mm input or RCA inputs that may be associated with the VGA channel.