S-video output

[Mike in Tucson]

Hello My nema is Mike,
My mother is trying to contect her laptop (dell 8600) to her sony flat
screen tv 35" using a S-Video cable. hook it up, change tv to any of the 6
video settings...nothing displayed. The ? is, is there a switch/setting I'm
missing to get the signal to the TV? i.e when u swicth to a remove monitor on
the laptop u use (Func F8(CRT).

 

[Paul]

What video drivers are installed??

I think the drivers (if theyre ATI or Nvidia), you have to select TV out in
its options. So it'll switch the signal on (to the TV), so you can let you
watch whatever is on the laptop, on the TV

And if your drivers dont have something similar, I dont think it'll work.

Has the laptop got RCA video out outputs?? That would probably be better
than s-video.

 

[pjp]

Usually TV-Out has to be enabled via the Display Properties under the
Advanced section in one of the tabs the video card driver adds to the
standard set. Problem I've noticed over the years using various TV-Out cards
is that they often don't detect a tv/vcr is connected so refuse to turn on
the output. Diff tv/vcr and viola it works kinda thing. Most seem to
restrict forcing it on regardless; e.g. can't.

I have a laptop running a Radeon Moblity seems to not see anything I've
tried it with so far, argh!!! My desktop ATI card is fussy but works with
current vcr hookup. My desktop nVidia card seems to see everything. I've a
couple other lesser known unused at moment tv-out cards got various milage
from.

However, you mention tv flat screen. Does it have a standard VGA connector
as an input. Notice new lcd tvs etc. all seem to have that regardless of
size. If so, that's the way to go; e.g. connect tv as external monitor. Is
actually better connection as the normal TV-Out is usually limited in
resolution e.g. 1024x768 max is common where-as the lcd tvs seem to accept
1280x1024 and the like readily. I do this all the time with a buddies 42"
lcd tv and the above mentioned laptop.