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Using S-Video Out on Laptop
- Thread starter mojo1701
- Start date
Rodrigo Istalindir
Explorer
You'll most likely want an S-Video to Composite adapter. This will let you connect most older TV's, VCRs, etc to the laptop's S-Video output. Some laptops also require you to hit a Function key toggle or some other action to activate the external display.
Also, be aware that the resolution of your laptop is a lot probably going to be higher than the TV you are connecting to, so you'll need to fiddle with screen settings to find what works best for your particular combination.
Also, be aware that the resolution of your laptop is a lot probably going to be higher than the TV you are connecting to, so you'll need to fiddle with screen settings to find what works best for your particular combination.
mojo1701
First Post
So does it sorta look like this:
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I added spoiler tags with x's in them so that the formatting wouldn't eliminate all those spaces.
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I added spoiler tags with x's in them so that the formatting wouldn't eliminate all those spaces.
Crimson_Manticore
First Post
I recently got a new laptop with an S-video out port and at first I couldn't figure out how to use it either. Then I had a friend show me how. I run Windows XP so this may not work if you are running something else.
1) boot up the laptop
2) connect an S-video cable from your TV to the laptop
3) turn on the TV
4) on the laptop, right-click on the desktop and select Properties
5) in the Display Properties dialog, select the Settings tab.
- the settings tab should show you a picture with two blue rectangles, numbered 1 and 2. If not, then I can't help you much more. Your video driver may not work the same way mine does.
6) select the number 2 rectangle. This represents your secondary display (the TV).
7) select "Extend my Windows desktop onto this monitor"
- at this point, your desktop background should display on your TV. If you move your pointer off of the right end of your laptop monitor, it should appear on the TV. You can now drag windows to the right and onto the TV. This is as far as I have gone with the process. There is a "Use this device as the primary monitor" option, but it was disabled on my machine. You may have to select the number 1 rectangle and disable that option first.
- A TV's resolution is poor. My high-def TV seems to run at about 1024-768, so you probably want to set the resolution for the second screen to a low value. Even after you do that, however, I find that it is nearly impossible to read any text on the TV screen, unless it is bold and quite large.
- I've used this method for playing videos from my laptop on my TV. After some fiddling, it actually works well for this.
I hope this helps!
1) boot up the laptop
2) connect an S-video cable from your TV to the laptop
3) turn on the TV
4) on the laptop, right-click on the desktop and select Properties
5) in the Display Properties dialog, select the Settings tab.
- the settings tab should show you a picture with two blue rectangles, numbered 1 and 2. If not, then I can't help you much more. Your video driver may not work the same way mine does.
6) select the number 2 rectangle. This represents your secondary display (the TV).
7) select "Extend my Windows desktop onto this monitor"
- at this point, your desktop background should display on your TV. If you move your pointer off of the right end of your laptop monitor, it should appear on the TV. You can now drag windows to the right and onto the TV. This is as far as I have gone with the process. There is a "Use this device as the primary monitor" option, but it was disabled on my machine. You may have to select the number 1 rectangle and disable that option first.
- A TV's resolution is poor. My high-def TV seems to run at about 1024-768, so you probably want to set the resolution for the second screen to a low value. Even after you do that, however, I find that it is nearly impossible to read any text on the TV screen, unless it is bold and quite large.
- I've used this method for playing videos from my laptop on my TV. After some fiddling, it actually works well for this.
I hope this helps!
Crimson_Manticore
First Post
Yes, the monitor and TV act together as one continuous desktop. I watch videos by opening the video player on the laptop and dragging it across to the TV. You can then generally enter the full-screen mode of your video player and it will fill the TV screen.
I saw the picture of the "button" that you drew, but I have no idea what it is.
I saw the picture of the "button" that you drew, but I have no idea what it is.
mojo1701
First Post
Crimson_Manticore said:
It's a picture of the little icon on one of my buttons. It's on my 'F4' key, and you get it when you press the [Fn] key near the windows key. I think it switches the output of the monitor to whatever you hooked it up to. A friend of mine in grade 12 english brought in his girlfriend's laptop, hooked it up to a projector, and it switched the output from the laptop's monitor to the projector. I wonder if that'll work in my case...
XCorvis
First Post
mojo1701 said:
That's a picture of a vga port, or possibly some kind of stylized monitor. I don't think that will work for the s-video out. Your friend had a projector that hooked into the monitor's vga port (another video port, but it's computer specific - it goes to monitors and lcd projectors, typically). Pressing Function-F4 (on your laptop) should cause the laptop to do one of three things:
1. Output to the laptop screen (normal) and do nothing with the external vga port.
2. Output to the device attached to the external vga port and blank the laptop screen.
3. Output to both simultaneously.
I've never used s-video, so I have no idea how it will work. I suggest hooking it up to your TV and goofing around with it until you figure it out.
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