Connecting laptop to TV

[computer_geek]

I have a toshiba laptop. I purchased a s-video to 3 rca cable to watch movies form my laptop on to the tv screen. When I connect the cable to tv, i can hear the sound but there is no picture. I cant even see the desktop on the tv. I changed the resolution to the lowest on my laptop but somehow my laptop is not recognizing the tv. Could any experts please help me with some information. I will appreciate your help. Thank you.

[theewizard]

the TV won't talk to the PC like monitors drives and printers DO

you have to go to the correct menus ( maybe in the control panel ) and turn on the TV output function

try right clicking on your screen and checking all the the display properties

[guns1inger]

Toshiba laptops have a standard s-video out port. I have used mine in the past with resolutions of 800 x 600, and up to 1028 x 768. However I use a straight s-video cable.

I suggest you start by testing that the cable works by plugging in a DVD player using the s-video port.

I am assuming that by s-video to 3-RCA you mean s-video to component. If you thnk this is a standard RCA converter then that will probably be your problem.

[AlanHK]

My old Dell laptop has to have the video-out activated in a BIOS setting.

[computer_geek]

I connected the cable from my dvd player to tv but i still cant see any picture. Is the cable bad or something else? Please advice.

[guns1inger]

I suspect you have an s-video to component cable, not an s-video to RCA composite cable. s-video doesn't carry audio, so there is no reason to have three RCA plugs at the other end, unless it is for component video. Are you plugging all three into a component input on your TV ? Or just one of them ?

[Rich86]

There could be a couple of things going on here.

1. on my laptop, I have to activate the tv out mode in the laptop in order to send a picture through the s-video out connector. In my case, it is shown under "display" in control panel.
2. you say you tested the s-video to component cable you have using a regular dvd player and it did not work. have you set-up the TV correctly to be looking for a video signal from the component video connectors via the input you are using? What I'm saying is - if video-2 is the component cable connection on the TV - does video-2 also have the option to look for a video signal other than component and do you have to tell the tv to use the component connection?
If that is ok - what if you use a standard s-video cable from the dvd player to the tv - does that work? If the standard s-video cable works ok and you are convinced you have told the tv to look for video via the component inputs when you tried that cable - I'd start to suspect the s-video to component convertor cable as the possible culprit.

[computer_geek]

I have a s-video to 3 rca cable. I believe a 3 rca cable is called a composite cable. It is not a component cable. The 3 rca cable has red, yellow and white connectors at one end and s-video connector at te other end. I connected the s-video end to laptop and the 3 rca end to TV, but I cant see the desktop screen on my tv. So, I connected my dvd player to tv to check if the cable is good and i still cant see dvd movie on the tv. But when I use 3 rca to 3 rca cable betwwen my dvd player and tv, it works perfectly fine. I wonder whats wrong with my s-video to 3 rca cable?

[edDV]

Use a standard S-Video to S-video cable. S-Video has 4 wires (two for Y and 2 for C).

Some graphics cards use Din connectors with more pins than standard S-Video. These are NON-Standard and custom to that card. In some cases these cables add composite pins. In some cases they add component analog pins.

Get out the manual for your laptop and look for the description of your video connector. If it is custom buy the cable from them.

Otherwise use a standard S-Video cable and it should work with any of these connector versions.

[Alan69]

I have a toshiba laptop. I purchased a s-video to 3 rca cable to watch \

See the blue FN key in the lower left? See the little blue screen symbol that's usually on one of the number keys, usually around '4' or so, depends on exactly which laptop? Usually a rectangle with two bars. Try holding down FN key and pressing that to change the output around until you get it on the TV.. There may be other ways to turn it on, but this is the easiest, for sure it's the first thing under TV output in the manual. Even if your laptop can do dual screens, most have to be told to turn on this output, they don't waste memory and video power running a TV screen output when it's not wanted.

Even an Svideo to component cable would show something when you get Luma on the RCA input, it'll just be black and white..

Alan

[Rich86]

I have a s-video to 3 rca cable. I believe a 3 rca cable is called a composite cable. It is not a component cable. The 3 rca cable has red, yellow and white connectors at one end and s-video connector at te other end. I connected the s-video end to laptop and the 3 rca end to TV, but I cant see the desktop screen on my tv. So, I connected my dvd player to tv to check if the cable is good and i still cant see dvd movie on the tv. But when I use 3 rca to 3 rca cable betwwen my dvd player and tv, it works perfectly fine. I wonder whats wrong with my s-video to 3 rca cable?

It sure sounds like you have a cable that looks like s-video on the end you are inserting into the laptop, but really isn't, and standard left/right audio plus composite video on the other end. Can we assume you got this special cable specifically because it is made for your laptop? It would also explain why it won't work in your standalone dvd player.

Suggestion for a test.
1. plug the cable into your laptop - and the other end into your tv (left=white/right=red audio into analog audio inputs - yellow into composite video input) - be sure they are all for the same input selection, ie. video1 or video 2, etc.
2. turn your tv on - be sure it is set for the inputs you are connected to.
3. activate the tv out mode in your laptop in order to send a picture through the cable to your tv. In my case, it is shown under "display" in control panel. It may also require the use of one of the function keys to toggle between displaying to your laptop screen, vs. tv out vs,. both.

I expect the picture quality will be pretty bad, if this works.

[edDV]

Even an Svideo to component cable would show something when you get Luma on the RCA input, it'll just be black and white..

Alan

That is true. The Y component is on the normal 4 pin S-Video connector.

[computer_geek]

Using the s-video to 3 rca cable, I did make all the right connections from my laptop to tv. When I go to Display; it shows 2 monitors 1 and 2. Monitor 1 is my laptop screen of course. But the monitor 2 is greyed out and when I check mark on "Extend my windows desktop onto this monitor"; and then apply the settings; it doesnt do anything. It says it is not active. And i have tried everything with the tv and my laptop. I dont know if its the cable that is bad or I am not doing something right to be able to connect to my tv. I bought that cable on ebay but it was just in a plastic bag and it did not have any warranty information or anything. I wonder if I bought a defective cable on ebay!!!!

[edDV]

And i have tried everything with the tv and my laptop.

Did you try a standard 4 pin to 4 pin S-Video cable as suggested? Did Ebay identify your computer as one that uses that cable? Take it up with the seller.

Your analog video out connector should be documented in your manual.

[Rich86]

Using the s-video to 3 rca cable, I did make all the right connections from my laptop to tv. When I go to Display; it shows 2 monitors 1 and 2. Monitor 1 is my laptop screen of course. But the monitor 2 is greyed out and when I check mark on "Extend my windows desktop onto this monitor"; and then apply the settings; it doesnt do anything. It says it is not active. And i have tried everything with the tv and my laptop. I dont know if its the cable that is bad or I am not doing something right to be able to connect to my tv. I bought that cable on ebay but it was just in a plastic bag and it did not have any warranty information or anything. I wonder if I bought a defective cable on ebay!!!!

Your laptop probably won't give you the option to activate the TV out capability until it sees that the tv is connected and on - ie. right back to the cable problem.
Is this cable supposed to be specifically for your Toshiba laptop?
What is the model number of this Toshiba laptop?
Did your laptop come with instructions on how to use this connection? Does it suggest this one connection provides both video and audio connections to a TV?
It is possible the cable is bad - but I've bought cables on EBay from reputable sellers (ie. lots of positive feedback) with no problems in the past.
Update:
I just perused the Toshiba laptop website - and see no indications that there is a port that combines audio and video capabilities via one port. It talks about a standard s-video port, and separate headphones out port. It is possible that your model has something special.
As someone else said . . you need to try connecting your laptop to your tv with a standard s-video cable before chasing this any further. Laptop on - TV on and set to the s-video input - connect s-video out form laptop to s-video in on tv - then try to activate the tv out in your laptop.
more . . .
Does your cable look like this one?
http://www.svideo.com/prosvideo6.html
This would permit you to connect the s-video end to your s-video out and headphone out on your laptop - to the composite video in and audio left/right in on your TV.

[computer_geek]

Rich, yes my cable looks excatly like the one you have in the picture. I do not have a s-video port on my tv. Thats the reason why I bought this s-video to 3 rca cable. It is not specifically for toshiba but I dont think that matters. The cable did not come with any instructions and I sent several emails to the ebay seller, but he didnt send me a good new cable. I bought this cable for $5.99 plus $6.99 shipping. May the cable is poor or bad quality, thats why he sells it so cheap and now is not even replying to my emails. My toshiba model is S2112, it is a Satellite A75.

[pjcrown]

Like Rich86 said:
"Your laptop probably won't give you the option to activate the TV out capability until it sees that the TV is connected and on."
Also the TV input must be switched to the AUX input mode so that when you go to your computer graphics card option menu to display video on your TV, your computer graphics card will detect that it is properly connected to a TV AUX input (the graying out will disappear on the menu). I have an s-video to composite video cable (but with no audio which I add with another cable) and that is what I have to do to make it work.

[edDV]

Your manual should spec the pin out on that connector.

[kalm77]

hey computer geek: you posted:

Using the s-video to 3 rca cable, I did make all the right connections from my laptop to tv. When I go to Display; it shows 2 monitors 1 and 2. Monitor 1 is my laptop screen of course. But the monitor 2 is greyed out and when I check mark on "Extend my windows desktop onto this monitor"; and then apply the settings; it doesnt do anything. It says it is not active. And i have tried everything with the tv and my laptop. I dont know if its the cable that is bad or I am not doing something right to be able to connect to my tv. I bought that cable on ebay but it was just in a plastic bag and it did not have any warranty information or anything. I wonder if I bought a defective cable on ebay!!!!

I encountered the same problem. How did u ever get ur setup working? bios tweak?