Using HDTV for a monitor with XP

[casey.o]

My HDTV has a VGA plug, which is supposed to make the TV work as a
monitor. But to do this, I had to order a 15 pin cable with male plug
on both ends. I just got the cable in the mail. I wanted to test it.
Plugged it in to the XP computer and the tv, but I'm getting a "no
signal" message on the screen. I would have expected this would just be
plug and go, but nothing is ever sinmple with computers. I'm thinking I
probably need a driver????? Has anyone ever done this, and what is the
trick to making it work?

Yes, I did switch the tv to SOURCE and selected the VGA mode.

The other options are

TV (thats obvious)
HDMI (that's where my DVD player is connected)
USB (I guess a flash card can be plugged in there to view photos) [never
tried it]
VGA (the one I tried)
COMPONENT / AV (I'm not sure what the is for, but I believe it's for all
those multicolored RCA jacks on the back)

I did not yet try it on my Win98 computer because the cable is not long
enough.

Thanks

 

[J. P. Gilliver (John)]

In message <[email protected]>,

My HDTV has a VGA plug, which is supposed to make the TV work as a
monitor. But to do this, I had to order a 15 pin cable with male plug
on both ends. I just got the cable in the mail. I wanted to test it.
Plugged it in to the XP computer and the tv, but I'm getting a "no
signal" message on the screen. I would have expected this would just be
plug and go, but nothing is ever sinmple with computers. I'm thinking I
probably need a driver????? Has anyone ever done this, and what is the
trick to making it work?

Yes, I did switch the tv to SOURCE and selected the VGA mode.

That was my first thought (-:.

You shouldn't I wouldn't think need a driver for a VGA display; at worst
you _might_ need a driver from the TV manufacturer to get all the
resolutions (including the top one) available.

I'd say it is more likely that the _computer_ is not putting anything
out on its VGA socket. Especially if it's a laptop: _some_ autodetect an
external monitor, but many you have to tell: look at the pictures on
your function keys for anything that looks like monitors. The usual
situation is that Fn-key-plus-the-relevant-F-key (F4 on this netbook)
toggles round - not necessarily in this order - laptop's own display,
external monitor, both. (If you have access to another monitor with a
VGA plug - ideally a CRT one! - try that.) If the computer is a desktop
machine, and the current monitor is not connected to the VGA socket but
to something else (such as DVI or HDMI), it is possible that the VGA
output is turned off (possibly even is part of graphics circuitry that
is disabled, especially if the motherboard has on-board graphics but you
have an additional graphics card fitted, which is not uncommon).

The other options are

TV (thats obvious)
HDMI (that's where my DVD player is connected)
USB (I guess a flash card can be plugged in there to view photos) [never
tried it]

I think people tend to use "stick" - unless you mean the TV actually has
a card slot, in which case I'd be _slightly_ surprised if it referred to
it as USB. I suspect some these days can even use an external USB HD,
e. g. to play movies.

VGA (the one I tried)

Worth trying another source if you have one, e. g. an old laptop.
Another _possibility_ - though I wouldn't have _thought_ it was the
problem - is that the refresh rate is too high; with CRT monitors people
liked as high a refresh rate as possible to reduce flicker, but with
backlit displays (it's not a plasma TV is it? I assume some sort of LCD,
which includes the ones sold as "LED" though it shouldn't), refresh rate
is not related to flicker, and should be reduced to 75 or less. (With
the possibly exception of - some - gaming applications for which the TV
_might_ not be suitable.)

COMPONENT / AV (I'm not sure what the is for, but I believe it's for all
those multicolored RCA jacks on the back)

Indeed: component refers to the red, green, and blue (or in some cases
luminance and two chrominance) signals being supplied separately (AV is
audio/video which means audio comes separately). [By the way, you won't
get any audio through a VGA connection.]

I did not yet try it on my Win98 computer because the cable is not long
enough.

Thanks

Do tell us how you get on.

 

[casey.o]

That was my first thought (-:.

You shouldn't I wouldn't think need a driver for a VGA display; at worst
you _might_ need a driver from the TV manufacturer to get all the
resolutions (including the top one) available.

I'd say it is more likely that the _computer_ is not putting anything
out on its VGA socket. Especially if it's a laptop: _some_ autodetect an
external monitor, but many you have to tell: look at the pictures on
your function keys for anything that looks like monitors. The usual
situation is that Fn-key-plus-the-relevant-F-key (F4 on this netbook)
toggles round - not necessarily in this order - laptop's own display,
external monitor, both. (If you have access to another monitor with a
VGA plug - ideally a CRT one! - try that.) If the computer is a desktop
machine, and the current monitor is not connected to the VGA socket but
to something else (such as DVI or HDMI), it is possible that the VGA
output is turned off (possibly even is part of graphics circuitry that
is disabled, especially if the motherboard has on-board graphics but you
have an additional graphics card fitted, which is not uncommon).

I was using my desktop XP machine when I posted this. I just unplugged
the monitor and plugged in the cable to the tv. After I posted this, I
tried my laptop, used the FN - F7 (IBM) and made sure I was getting a
signal by plugging in my regular monitor. That did not work on the tv
either. I went back to the desktop PC, and set the video to the lowest
resolution "640x480" 256 colors. ....... Still did not work.

The other options are

TV (thats obvious)
HDMI (that's where my DVD player is connected)
USB (I guess a flash card can be plugged in there to view photos) [never
tried it]

I think people tend to use "stick" - unless you mean the TV actually has
a card slot, in which case I'd be _slightly_ surprised if it referred to
it as USB. I suspect some these days can even use an external USB HD,
e. g. to play movies.

VGA (the one I tried)

Worth trying another source if you have one, e. g. an old laptop.
Another _possibility_ - though I wouldn't have _thought_ it was the
problem - is that the refresh rate is too high; with CRT monitors people
liked as high a refresh rate as possible to reduce flicker, but with
backlit displays (it's not a plasma TV is it? I assume some sort of LCD,
which includes the ones sold as "LED" though it shouldn't), refresh rate
is not related to flicker, and should be reduced to 75 or less. (With
the possibly exception of - some - gaming applications for which the TV
_might_ not be suitable.)

The hdtv is a 25 inch, brand is Element. LED - LCD type. It's less
than a year old. I was reading on some webs that the hdtv's are not the
best for text, because it gets fuzzy. I mainly wanted to do this to
watch some of the full length movies I have saved in MP4 format. Many
of which are some of the old tv series from the 50's and 60's such as
Lassie, Bonanza, Fury, etc..... I have downloaded a lot of them from
youtube and other sources.

COMPONENT / AV (I'm not sure what the is for, but I believe it's for all
those multicolored RCA jacks on the back)

Indeed: component refers to the red, green, and blue (or in some cases
luminance and two chrominance) signals being supplied separately (AV is
audio/video which means audio comes separately). [By the way, you won't
get any audio through a VGA connection.]

Yep, I have speakers for the sound. But I could use soem RCA cables to
jack it into the tv too.

Do tell us how you get on.

Since the laptop did not work, after the desktop, I doubt the Win98
machine will work either. Yet the tv has that VGA plug and advertises
it's for computer use. I'll have to search for a driver for the tv.
Otherwise, they require a special video card, but dont mention it. I
guess the HDMI plug can be used too, but That would require a DVI plug.
The XP desktop PC does have one of those, and I have an adaptop to
convert to 15pin VGA/SVGA. There dont appear to be any signal comming
out of that plug. (even using the computer monitor)..... ??????

 

[Bob F]

My HDTV has a VGA plug, which is supposed to make the TV work as a
monitor. But to do this, I had to order a 15 pin cable with male plug
on both ends. I just got the cable in the mail. I wanted to test it.
Plugged it in to the XP computer and the tv, but I'm getting a "no
signal" message on the screen. I would have expected this would just
be plug and go, but nothing is ever sinmple with computers. I'm
thinking I probably need a driver????? Has anyone ever done this,
and what is the trick to making it work?

Yes, I did switch the tv to SOURCE and selected the VGA mode.

The other options are

TV (thats obvious)
HDMI (that's where my DVD player is connected)
USB (I guess a flash card can be plugged in there to view photos)
[never tried it]
VGA (the one I tried)
COMPONENT / AV (I'm not sure what the is for, but I believe it's for
all those multicolored RCA jacks on the back)

I did not yet try it on my Win98 computer because the cable is not
long enough.

rightclick on the computer desktop, go into display properties, settings,
advanced, and turn on the new display, and set it's resolution.

 

[Jon Danniken]

I was using my desktop XP machine when I posted this. I just unplugged
the monitor and plugged in the cable to the tv. After I posted this, I
tried my laptop, used the FN - F7 (IBM) and made sure I was getting a
signal by plugging in my regular monitor. That did not work on the tv
either. I went back to the desktop PC, and set the video to the lowest
resolution "640x480" 256 colors. ....... Still did not work.

If your computer has a video card with two outputs (or you can install a
second video card), you can connect one to your regular monitor, and one
to the television. This allows you to troubleshoot while you still have
one monitor working, instead of flying blind.

The hdtv is a 25 inch, brand is Element. LED - LCD type. It's less
than a year old. I was reading on some webs that the hdtv's are not the
best for text, because it gets fuzzy. I mainly wanted to do this to
watch some of the full length movies I have saved in MP4 format.

TVs make lousy computer monitors, but they do work great for watching
movies. You can compensate for the former by adjusting the font DPI and
colors to at least make it legible, but don't expect a nice crisp
display for text and small fonts.

Additionally, you didn't mention what type of graphics adapter you are
using; in ATI's Catalyst Control Center (which I normally dislike), I am
able to set the output type (480i/p/720i/p/1080i) depending on what
works with my TV; I found that 720p works best for me. It also lets me
adjust for overscan, so the TV doesn't cut the sides off of the desktop.

Jon

 

[Mayayana]

I wonder if there might be some setting option
in the TV settings that you've missed.

| I
| guess the HDMI plug can be used too, but That would require a DVI plug.
| The XP desktop PC does have one of those, and I have an adaptop to
| convert to 15pin VGA/SVGA. There dont appear to be any signal comming
| out of that plug. (even using the computer monitor)..... ??????
|

DVI is the white plug. VGA is the blue. HDMI
looks more like a large USB plug. Whichever one
you use, most BIOSes now will have an option to
choose or set priority. So that's another issue.

I'm currently using HDMI for my monitor. I don't
know much about the technical details, but I have
found that available resolutions, from the same
video card/chip, vary by connection. HDMI seems
to give me the most options.

If you do get it going it might help if you can find
a "driver" for the TV, which allows to graphic chip
to know what it's dealing with and show you the
safe, available resolutions. (A monitor driver is
really just an INF file that provides resolutions and
the model of the monitor.) I don't know whether or
not there are such INF files for TVs.

 

[J. P. Gilliver (John)]

On 04/26/2014 05:14 AM, (e-mail address removed) wrote: []
If your computer has a video card with two outputs (or you can install a
second video card), you can connect one to your regular monitor, and one
to the television. This allows you to troubleshoot while you still have
one monitor working, instead of flying blind.

I was going to ask him what Device Manager shows as the monitor - but of
course, if no display, he wouldn't be able to tell me! (That implies
some plug-and-play functionality anyway, and I don't know if TVs do
that.) If using a two-monitor system such as you describe, can you view
on one monitor what Device Manager thinks the other one is?
[]

TVs make lousy computer monitors, but they do work great for watching
movies. You can compensate for the former by adjusting the font DPI and
colors to at least make it legible, but don't expect a nice crisp
display for text and small fonts.

Why not, if the resolution is set to the TV's native resolution - or is
it just that they tend to have resolutions not available from graphics
cards?

(I forgot to say in my other post that it wouldn't surprise me at all if
there are aspect ratio problems: I assume he intends to select full
screen mode. Since some of the material he describes is from TV of the
50s and similar, it'll be 4:3 AR; whether the TV will have the ability
to pillarbox such material, I don't know. Though I would hope that VLC -
or whatever he uses to play the material - _does_ have such a control
anyway; I always use that in a [filling the screen, but still with the
controls at the bottom] non-full-screen mode, so I don't know.)

Additionally, you didn't mention what type of graphics adapter you are
using; in ATI's Catalyst Control Center (which I normally dislike), I am
able to set the output type (480i/p/720i/p/1080i) depending on what
works with my TV; I found that 720p works best for me. It also lets me

Is that because your TV has a 720 display?

adjust for overscan, so the TV doesn't cut the sides off of the desktop.

I hadn't thought of that: do TVs really still overscan? I thought that
went out with CRTs; I certainly can't see any reason for it now, in fact
optimum resolution-matching would suggest not overscanning was the best
fit.

 

[Hot-Text]

| My HDTV has a VGA plug, which is supposed to make the TV work as a
| monitor. But to do this, I had to order a 15 pin cable with male plug
| on both ends. I just got the cable in the mail. I wanted to test it.
| Plugged it in to the XP computer and the tv, but I'm getting a "no
| signal" message on the screen. I would have expected this would just be
| plug and go, but nothing is ever sinmple with computers. I'm thinking I
| probably need a driver????? Has anyone ever done this, and what is the
| trick to making it work?
|
| Yes, I did switch the tv to SOURCE and selected the VGA mode.
|

Need the make of the HVTV

I use a Vizio HVTV
On the Remote
Click INPUT
Click on RGB

I use a Philips HVTV Too
On the Remote
Click on Source
Click on PC

Using XP
You need the Adapter Software
and drives for Monitior to TV

Did your Adapter have
TV-Viewer-Drive install

Here PC with out TV-Viewer-Drive and no 3D
< www.store.mynews.ath.cx/users/casey/Screen_Shot_82810-a1.jpg >
I have more info in this one it's a Intil-82810

For Me Win98 is on 3dfx Voodoo3 3500TV
< http://www.store.mynews.ath.cx/users/casey/>
and My XP Media Center Edition is on


| The other options are
| TV (thats obvious)
| HDMI (that's where my DVD player is connected)
| USB (I guess a flash card can be plugged in there to view photos) [never
| tried it]

Or USB WiFi

| VGA (the one I tried)
| COMPONENT / AV (I'm not sure what the is for, but I believe it's for all

Good for your Windows 98 WinTV

| those multicolored RCA jacks on the back)
| I did not yet try it on my Win98 computer because the cable is not long
| enough.
| Thanks

 

[aeroloose]

My HDTV has a VGA plug, which is supposed to make the TV work as a
monitor. But to do this, I had to order a 15 pin cable with male plug
on both ends. I just got the cable in the mail. I wanted to test it.
Plugged it in to the XP computer and the tv, but I'm getting a "no
signal" message on the screen. I would have expected this would just be
plug and go, but nothing is ever sinmple with computers. I'm thinking I
probably need a driver????? Has anyone ever done this, and what is the
trick to making it work?

Yes, I did switch the tv to SOURCE and selected the VGA mode.

The other options are

TV (thats obvious)
HDMI (that's where my DVD player is connected)
USB (I guess a flash card can be plugged in there to view photos) [never
tried it]
VGA (the one I tried)
COMPONENT / AV (I'm not sure what the is for, but I believe it's for all
those multicolored RCA jacks on the back)

I did not yet try it on my Win98 computer because the cable is not long
enough.

Thanks

Perhaps your new cable is bad out-of-the-box? Did you try
with the cable that's known to work, from your external monitor?