avoid panning with s-video out

[dazza555]

I have a laptop computer with an s-video out port at the back. I recently purchased an s-video to rca converta plug so i would be able to watch my saved video files on my tv screen instead of the computer. The problem is the tv is a crt 84cm one with a 4:3 aspect ratio and my computer has a 15.4" widescreen WXGA TFT display with 1280x800pixel resolution and when i use the video out i have to pan around on the tv to see my whole desktop. This also means when i go to full screen mode in windows media player i can't see the whole movie. How can i avoid this, is there an aplication that will resize the outputted video from my computer so it fits the tv? Even one that will just play my videos full screen on the tv would be fine. I've tried changing the resolution of the tv screen but i can't set it below 1024X768 pixels. I've also been into the advanced menu of the settings tab and had a toggle around with the display options for the tv screen but with no success. In short I just want to watch video from my computer on the tv by taking up the whole tv screen. Thanks in advance.

[edDV]

S-Video would be normal PAL, an analog signal with 576 horizontal lines, 288 at a time as a field. That is what your video card is outputting and the best PAL video can get. You have the video card set to display a 4:3 portion (768x576) of your 1024x768 desktop.

What is your display card?

Most modern display cards will have modes to scale the desktop to fit S-Video resolution. This usually requires "dual display" capability with S-Video designated as the second monitor.

A second mode scales media playback to the S-Video second monitor. ATI calls this "Theater" mode.

It all should be explained in your display card manual or in the display driver instructions.

[dazza555]

Where do I go to put it in this thearter mode? I have an ATI mobility radeon 9000 igp.

[edDV]

Where do I go to put it in this thearter mode? I have an ATI mobility radeon 9000 igp.

Laptops differ. It should be in your manual or the feature is lacking in your machine.

[dazza555]

Is there something I can do to add this feature to my machine if it is lacking? Something like install an update rather than replacing my graphics card? Thanks.

[TooLFooL]

rt cllick your desktop and click properties. from there click settings tab. you can select each display seperately and set the resolution.

[edDV]

You can't change display hardware on a laptop.

The hardware Mobility Radeon 9000 chip has multi monitor support.
http://ati.amd.com/products/MobilityRadeon9000/index.html

ATI control panels differ by lapptop manufacturer and the version of catalyst software you are using.

Typical modes for the S-Video port would be

1. Clone the desktop with a movable 768x576 window into the 1280x1024 typ. full desktop. This seems to be your current mode.

2. A clone mode that zooms the desktop down to 768x576 so you see the full desktop but at lower resolution out the S-Video port.

3. Extended desktop where the second monitor has it's own area of desktop

4. A multimedia mode where the second monitor displays playing media. ATI calls this theater mode.

Most manuals list all this under Dual Monitor modes.

[dazza555]

I seem to have figured it out. After installing a bunch of updates from toshiba I had another go at it. I needed to go to display properties>settings>advanced>displays from here I then had to select the computer as the primary monitor and the tv as the secondary. Then I had to use windows media player to watch my video and it would automatically display it in fullscreen on the tv. Weird and I'll never have my desktop in fullscreen but at least I can watch video files. Thanks for all your help too.

[edDV]

I seem to have figured it out. After installing a bunch of updates from toshiba I had another go at it. I needed to go to display properties>settings>advanced>displays from here I then had to select the computer as the primary monitor and the tv as the secondary. Then I had to use windows media player to watch my video and it would automatically display it in fullscreen on the tv. Weird and I'll never have my desktop in fullscreen but at least I can watch video files. Thanks for all your help too.

That is the ATI Theater mode done in the Toshiba way.