Connection problems aplenty

[A_gimp_called_Spike]

Hi all,

Are any answers regarding my hardware lead connections only relevant in the UK, I wonder?
I'm trying to connect the DVD on my laptop up to a TV. I was absolutely convinced this was easily solved, but it doesn't seem to be the case (ain't it always the same?).
I have a scart socket to connect up to the TV and three of what I believe to be phono plugs (with a single pin and a sort of 'crown' connector around it). Connecting up the phono sockets seems fine. I need a converter to change it to the single pin in the headphone socket on my laptop, but I have one of those so this is no problem (the sound comes through fine).
The problem lies with the video connection. Most of these are either S/Video or RCA. S/Video has the same connection as the mouse/keyboard and I'm sure it's not that one. I DO have the VGA port for connecting monitors, but the only other one is a yellow port that fits what I believe to be the standard RGA or phono connector (the single pin with crown - I don't know if these are the same thing or just look the same). This fits my newly-bought set of leads fine and seems to be the logical choice as it has a square (TV-shaped?) symbol next to it, but nothing shows up. I tried checking for drivers, and there appeared to be some flickering on the TV after fiddling a little, but still no banana!
The real bummer is that the company that sells my laptop has gone under and I can't contact them to ask questions. Anyone got any ideas? I just spent a small fortune on a ton of leads, only to find none of them useful.

[brad]

Quoted from .
Hope it helps:
brad
".....Composite video output

Locate or purchase a single RCA-to-RCA cable and connect one end to the composite video output on your laptop. Next, insert the other end of the RCA cable in the yellow video input jack on your TV. If your TV doesn't have an RCA video input jack, try connecting it to the input jack on a VCR, if you have one.

Output video to TV


After you've connected everything together you'll need to extend your desktop to the TV. You'll need to dig up your laptop and video card manuals or consult a website to learn how to do this. Most likely this will require checking a few boxes inside your Display control panel.


While you're in the Display control panel, go ahead and change your laptop's screen resolution to either 800x600 or 640x480. This will ensure that your TV displays the full laptop desktop without losing any of the picture.


Laptop Without Video Output

The other alternative if you don't have video out support on your laptop is to buy a scan converter. A scan converter takes a VGA signal and converts it to an NTSC or PAL-compatible format. We like the Pocket Scan Converter 2000 from AITech. It features a built-in 15-pin VGA chord and is capable of outputting a video signal in either composite or S-Video.


Depending on which scan converter you purchase, you may need to buy an additional VGA cable. As usual, before buying consult the box to see what's included. Also, keep in mind the resolution of the scan converter and the resolution of your laptop. You may need to make some resolution adjustments on your laptop so the scan converter works correctly.


To configure it just hook the VGA output from your laptop to the VGA input connection on the scan converter. Then patch either the composite or S-Video outputs to your TV. Remember to switch your TV to the correct input channel, and you should be ready to watch DVDs from your laptop.


Connect the Sound

So, now that we have the video portion of our DVD displaying through a TV monitor, it's time to connect the audio. To do this you're going to need to get one 1/8-inch stereo mini-jack to two phono plugs adapter.


Connect the mini-jack end of this chord to the audio output or earphone jack of your sound card. Then connect the two RCA cables directly to your TV (or stereo if you have one). Make sure that the volume control isn't muted on your laptop, fire up the DVD, grab a bowl of popcorn, and you should be ready to go."


Originally posted August 27, 2001

[teststrips]

[A_gimp_called_Spike]

Thanks a lot, guys. At the moment it's still not showing anything at all on- screen at all, so I think it would be best to try Brad's advice about the VGA socket. I'll look into it. Thanks again!