View Full Version : Any computer wizards?
sv_rory
28-10-08, 01:39 AM
i would like to connect my pc to my television instead of using the monitor.
how do i do this?
Harry Mowtown
28-10-08, 01:46 AM
Depends on what TV you have.
Do you have a modern LCD TV? If you do, it should be pretty simple. Its usually one lead.
ThEGr33k
28-10-08, 02:05 AM
Some modern Graphics cards have HDMI outputs and all modern LCD/plasma TV's have HDMI input, if both of those are present on yours then its good with that.
If not then all Computers have analogue output (VGA blue socket, if not they come with an adaptor to change DVI to VGA) again most modern flat screens have this input... As simple as fitting a normal monitor.
Hope this helps and isnt too confusing :)
wyrdness
28-10-08, 08:15 AM
We had a good thread about this a few days ago. It's worth a look, rather than repeat all of the advice here.
http://forums.sv650.org/showthread.php?t=119591
In brief, use a DVI to HDMI converter if your PC and TV have those, otherwise VGA.
Dave20046
28-10-08, 08:53 AM
i would like to connect my pc to my television instead of using the monitor.
how do i do this?
most tv's won't be upto it if you actually want to read text.
Otherwise get an 's-video cable' and link 'em up ;)
Take pictures of the output connectors on your graphics card (back of PC) and also take pictures of the input connectors on your TV, even better if you can also post the make and model of the TV and graphics card. Then I can advise you.
wyrdness
28-10-08, 09:53 AM
most tv's won't be upto it if you actually want to read text.
Otherwise get an 's-video cable' and link 'em up ;)
All modern flat panel TVs will be up to it.
Dave20046
28-10-08, 01:24 PM
All modern flat panel TVs will be up to it.
sorry didn't read the flash tv bit!
sv_rory
05-11-08, 01:30 AM
the television i am using is a sony 28 inch jobbie, its not a tft or lcd or plasma. its just a general television with a scart and aerial output on the back. as for the computer i am not sure exactly what output i require for the cable to plug into. please could somebody point me in the right direction
sv_rory
05-11-08, 01:32 AM
sorry i would need to monitor to work aswell as the tv so i can either switch between the two or have them on at the same time preferably
sv_rory
05-11-08, 08:40 AM
i found a wire in my pc box that said s to av+s to s+av to av. i plugged this round connector into the pc and then into the round socket on the back of the tele and wohoo i have a picture.
The only issue is that it is really hard to read and is blurry. any ideas if there is a way to configure the settings so that it is clearer?
wyrdness
05-11-08, 09:45 AM
i found a wire in my pc box that said s to av+s to s+av to av. i plugged this round connector into the pc and then into the round socket on the back of the tele and wohoo i have a picture.
The only issue is that it is really hard to read and is blurry. any ideas if there is a way to configure the settings so that it is clearer?
Probably not, if it's an older TV. They aren't designed to have computers connected to them, unlike newer flat panel TVs, which work more like computer monitors.
It wont work work well on an old TV, only way to improve the picture is to improve the TV.
It wont work work well on an old TV, only way to improve the picture is to improve the TV.
Agreed - I hooked my PC up to my old telly a couple of years ago - fine for watching DVDs but for using the computer it was hopeless...
That was with an S-Video cable...
sv_rory
06-11-08, 12:44 AM
ive just got a new sony trinitron 28inch tv this afternoon. the picture is a bit better , its great for the dvds but you cant read any writing on it.
my sister is using her tv for a monitor and the picture quality is perfect
HDTV's work best as PC monitors. I used to use my old Samsung LE32R74BDX to connect my laptop too (only to watch movies though) and it was a good quality picture (Especially when set to 1080i).
dirtydog
18-03-09, 02:25 PM
Sorry to resurrect this old thread but i'm confused about how to connect my laptop to my LCD tv.
My laptop has a VGA port and an S video port.
TV has scart, HDMI and phono lead inputs
only want to use it to watch movies. What will be the best way to connect it up?
wyrdness
18-03-09, 02:29 PM
Sorry to resurrect this old thread but i'm confused about how to connect my laptop to my LCD tv.
My laptop has a VGA port and an S video port.
TV has scart, HDMI and phono lead inputs
only want to use it to watch movies. What will be the best way to connect it up?
s-video to scart. You can buy an adaptor or cable.
I found this a bit of a nightmare. Its the sound you see. You can get a picture using the S-Video, or a VGA to HDMI cable, but is getting the sound right. Sometimes the phono lead inputs do not correspond with any of the other sound inputs.
Check out www.cabling4less.co.uk (http://www.cabling4less.co.uk) much much much cheaper than the local electronics store.
EDIT!!! Get a Scart to 3 phono adapter, and Svideo lead, and a 3.5mm jack to phono lead and job done, again, all form the above. About £11 all in.
wyrdness
18-03-09, 02:36 PM
I found this a bit of a nightmare. Its the sound you see. You can get a picture using the S-Video, or a VGA to HDMI cable, but is getting the sound right. Sometimes the phono lead inputs do not correspond with any of the other sound inputs.
Get yourself a VGA-HDMI cable and a set of Phono leads and see what happens. Orrrrrr, a scart to Svideo and 3.5mm jack plug (If there is such a thing!)
Check out www.cabling4less.co.uk (http://www.cabling4less.co.uk) much much much cheaper than the local electronics store.
You're right. I'd forgotten that s-video doesn't carry sound, so you'll need separate cables for the audio, just as you would if you use VGA->HDMI.
I'd go for something like this:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Scart-S-Video-3-5mm-Stereo-Audio/dp/B000UM1JXU
dirtydog
18-03-09, 04:30 PM
Cheers for that I think i've got it sussed now and as a bonus I just found a scart adapter and 3.5mm jack - phono lead in my box of cables :-)
dirtydog
29-03-09, 04:23 PM
right, so i've got my cables connected up to the laptop but nothing on my tv?
Do i need to change any settings or anything?
metalangel
29-03-09, 04:26 PM
It depends on your PC and video card, but in your display settings (look in the control panel or right click anywhere on the desktop that's not an icon) there is usually an option to choose where your output goes... monitor, TV, or both. On some laptops there's even a button to do it instantly.
JohnMcL7
29-03-09, 04:30 PM
What model is the TV?
It depends on your PC and video card, but in your display settings (look in the control panel or right click anywhere on the desktop that's not an icon) there is usually an option to choose where your output goes... monitor, TV, or both. On some laptops there's even a button to do it instantly.
On Dell laptops it's usually [fn]F5 to change the output from screen to external source, I can't swear that it's the same on my Toshiba at home as I'm working right now, but I think it is
dirtydog
29-03-09, 04:41 PM
right i've got the display switched but the picture is in black and white????
Dave20046
29-03-09, 04:44 PM
**** I've had this before forgot how I overcome it or if I even did. It's soemthing to do with the frequency of your telly I think
metalangel
29-03-09, 04:46 PM
Try fiddling the settings on the TV - it could be your computer is putting it out (matron) in NTSC while the TV is still in PAL, or you could try changing to a different AV or channel (sometimes if you're on the wrong one it'll still display input, but distorted) or something like that. It'll be something you'll just need to play with for a bit before you get the settings right.
Dave20046
29-03-09, 05:05 PM
that's it yeah you need to mess with the settings although I did and it didn't fix it.
dirtydog
29-03-09, 05:20 PM
have messed about with the settings on the laptop switching it from ntsc to pal but still in black and white
redshift
29-03-09, 05:21 PM
have messed about with the settings on the laptop switching it from ntsc to pal but still in black and white
Have you checked whether it's a black and white telly??
#runs away quickly#
dirtydog
29-03-09, 05:22 PM
oh and if it helps i'm connected up to a standard bush tv at the mo not an LCD
dirtydog
29-03-09, 05:23 PM
Have you checked whether it's a black and white telly??
#runs away quickly#
well it was colour earlier :rolleyes:
dirtydog
29-03-09, 05:39 PM
anyone???
Dave20046
29-03-09, 05:50 PM
oh and if it helps i'm connected up to a standard bush tv at the mo not an LCD
bet it'll work with the lcd, I had that same problem trying to do it with a oldish samsung combi tv
What video card have you got in the laptop DD?
I've also had this before, once it was the pal/ntsc thing which you've already tried.
The other one was because of the S-Video cable, the cable was effectively a cheaper cable and could not cope with the bandwidth. If you have spare s-video cable try that.
dirtydog
29-03-09, 06:05 PM
What video card have you got in the laptop DD?
I've also had this before, once it was the pal/ntsc thing which you've already tried.
The other one was because of the S-Video cable, the cable was effectively a cheaper cable and could not cope with the bandwidth. If you have spare s-video cable try that.
Have no idea what graphics card is in it, you'd probably know better than me as you sorted it out last time and put xp on it.
Cant seem to change the settings on the tv but when i right click the desktop and go to graphics properties it gives the option of changing from ntsc to pal
S-video cable was one from maplins. Don't have a spare one
dirtydog
29-03-09, 06:06 PM
bet it'll work with the lcd, I had that same problem trying to do it with a oldish samsung combi tv
Just tried it on the LCD down stairs and got the same result
Dave20046
29-03-09, 06:10 PM
Just tried it on the LCD down stairs and got the same result
hmm does your card software have region / format settings to play with?
dirtydog
29-03-09, 06:12 PM
hmm does your card software have region / format settings to play with?
Haven't got a clue???????????
Dave20046
29-03-09, 07:18 PM
Sorry I haven't read the thread all the way through but do you know if you have a seperate graphics card installed?
Seggons
29-03-09, 07:20 PM
See if any of these results help. http://www.google.co.uk/search?client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-GB%3Aofficial&channel=s&hl=en&q=Laptop+TV+black+and+white&meta=&btnG=Google+Search
dirtydog
29-03-09, 08:16 PM
See if any of these results help. http://www.google.co.uk/search?client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-GB%3Aofficial&channel=s&hl=en&q=Laptop+TV+black+and+white&meta=&btnG=Google+Search
Had a look through some of those and am still confused!:confused:
dirtydog
30-03-09, 09:55 AM
:help:Have now tried connecting a different laptop to the tv and get no picture at all:compcrash::compcrash::compcrash:
Dave20046
30-03-09, 10:19 AM
:help:Have now tried connecting a different laptop to the tv and get no picture at all:compcrash::compcrash::compcrash:
On the laptop you'd probably need to select multiple displays. Most common is 'fn' + 'f5' (IIRC) or a function combined with any key with a picture of two monitors on it.
dirtydog
30-03-09, 12:15 PM
Tried that, on my laptop (a toshiba) it's fn + f5 but get no picture at all on th etv on the other laptop which is much newer (HP) i can get a picture but it's black and white no matter what i fiddle with
dirtydog
30-03-09, 06:29 PM
So anyone got any suggestions that I can try, don't be too technical though as I am a computer idiot
Seggons
30-03-09, 10:58 PM
One of the suggestions on the google search that I don't think has been tried here yet.
"Some TV's will work straight on your AV channel, others need the settings changed for that channel via your remote control to except S-VHS etc."
"I had a similar problem once and it was resolved by going into the settings of my AV channel via the remote control and configuring it for s video."
Maybe play about with the TV that give you a Black and White image to see if you can break it or fix it. :D
Seggons
30-03-09, 11:05 PM
More info:
Q: I'm only seeing grayscale image, but everything is connected properly
A: You're probably using NTSC, change it to PAL in the configuration menu of your videocard.
Q: I'm still only seeing grayscale image!
A: Your TV is probably not exactly on the right frequency. If you have AV channels, use them. They are intended for video input other then regular cable. Be sure to use the S-AV channel for S-Video in.
Q: Nop, still grayscale...
A: You're probably using S-video, and your TV can't properly joint the line/color information. Use the composite setup or let your tv 'scan' all frequencies again, sometimes there are more possible frequencies and each one has a different image (worse/better)
Q: When I enable the TV-out, my monitor turns blank.
A: You need a 'twinview' function, some older graphic cards don't support this in their early drivers. Download new drivers, turn on twinview/hydravision/whatever and try again.
dirtydog
31-03-09, 10:01 AM
Yay i fixed it...
well more of a work around, had to run it through my dvd recorders S-Vhs socket and it's working fine now
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