« previous next »
Pages: [1]   Go Down

Author Topic: Need help outputting to HDtv from laptop  (Read 3860 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline Godot showed up

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1170
  • Reputation: +115/-90
Need help outputting to HDtv from laptop
« on: July 30, 2010, 09:40:16 AM »
I have another problem that maybe someone here can help me with, though; nothing so critical as the virus problem I had the last week and a half (now cured). I want to output to my tv from my desktop with a  VGA cable--the tv has a VGA input in back and should be capable of being used as a monitor. But no matter how much I play with it, the tv (an LED LG) is still displaying "invalid format." The desktop definitely sees the tv as a monitor; it comes up as "2" in the control panel. But as I said, I can play with the resolution forever and it still comes out "invalid format."
Logged

Offline Thor

  • General Ne'er Do Well, Troublemaker & All Around Meanie!!
  • In Memoriam
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 13103
  • Reputation: +362/-297
  • Native Texan & US Navy (ret)
Re: Need help outputting to HDtv from laptop
« Reply #1 on: July 30, 2010, 10:16:00 AM »
Let's start with what video card/ chip do you have??
Logged
"The state must declare the child to be the most precious treasure of the people. As long as the government is perceived as working for the benefit of the children, the people will happily endure almost any curtailment of liberty and almost any deprivation."- IBID

I AM your General Ne'er Do Well, Troublemaker & All Around Meanie!!

"Congress has not unlimited powers to provide for the general welfare, but only those specifically enumerated."-Thomas Jefferson

Offline Godot showed up

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1170
  • Reputation: +115/-90
Re: Need help outputting to HDtv from laptop
« Reply #2 on: July 30, 2010, 10:57:59 AM »
Ill have to answer that when I get home: it's NVIDIA, but probably old by now.
Logged

Offline Chris_

  • Little Lebowski Urban Achiever
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 46845
  • Reputation: +2028/-266
Re: Need help outputting to HDtv from laptop
« Reply #3 on: July 30, 2010, 11:40:23 AM »
Stupid question, but have you read the manual for the TV?  Maybe there's a setting you're missing.  A VGA-to-VGA connection should work without any issues.

TVs aren't my thing.  I really don't know much about them.  Have you tried turning everything off before connecting the cable and starting it up after the connection has been made?
« Last Edit: July 30, 2010, 11:44:08 AM by chris_ »
Logged
If you want to worship an orange pile of garbage with a reckless disregard for everything, get on down to Arbys & try our loaded curly fries.

Offline Godot showed up

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1170
  • Reputation: +115/-90
Re: Need help outputting to HDtv from laptop
« Reply #4 on: July 30, 2010, 11:48:41 AM »
Quote from: chris_ on July 30, 2010, 11:40:23 AM
Stupid question, but have you read the manual for the TV?  Maybe there's a setting you're missing.  A VGA-to-VGA connection should work without any issues.

TVs aren't my thing.  I really don't know much about them.  Have you tried turning everything off before connecting the cable and starting it up after the connection has been made?

Not a stupid question--lots of people don't read manuals. But I have. The only caveat/instruction is that the VGA cable have a ferrite core, which this one does.

BUT, I haven't tried the second idea--I'll give it a shot. It's certainly worth a try.

Logged

Offline Wineslob

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 14455
  • Reputation: +788/-193
  • Sucking the life out of Liberty
Re: Need help outputting to HDtv from laptop
« Reply #5 on: July 30, 2010, 02:35:27 PM »
See if windows will "clone" the other monitor (TV)
Logged
“The national budget must be balanced. The public debt must be reduced; the arrogance of the authorities must be moderated and controlled. Payments to foreign governments must be reduced, if the nation doesn't want to go bankrupt. People must again learn to work, instead of living on public assistance.”

        -- Marcus Tullius Cicero, 55 BC (106-43 BC)

The unobtainable is unknown at Zombo.com



"Practice random violence and senseless acts of brutality"

If you want a gender neutral bathroom, go pee in the forest.

Offline LC EFA

  • Hickus Australianus
  • In Memoriam
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4527
  • Reputation: +414/-33
Re: Need help outputting to HDtv from laptop
« Reply #6 on: July 30, 2010, 06:03:58 PM »
Check that the TV is capable of displaying the refresh rate that the laptop is supplying.
Logged

Offline zeitgeist

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 6195
  • Reputation: +391/-44
Re: Need help outputting to HDtv from laptop
« Reply #7 on: July 30, 2010, 06:54:36 PM »
Last year I purchased a 32 inch Toshiba to use to stream Hulu from a pc.

In my case after connecting the vga cable and booting the computer it was necessary to use the "input" key on the remote to select "PC" as the source.  

On some TVs this might be under a menu function.  On my Toshiba there are 7 different inputs which can be selected. 

I remember having refresh rate issues when I used my laptop when first setting things up.

« Last Edit: July 30, 2010, 06:57:05 PM by zeitgeist »
Logged
< watch this space for coming distractions >

Offline Thor

  • General Ne'er Do Well, Troublemaker & All Around Meanie!!
  • In Memoriam
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 13103
  • Reputation: +362/-297
  • Native Texan & US Navy (ret)
Re: Need help outputting to HDtv from laptop
« Reply #8 on: July 30, 2010, 10:07:14 PM »
If it IS Nvidia, go to nvidia.com and download the latest drivers. Nvidia has them all rolled into one. Then, access the nvidia control panel and start  from there. It's a pretty easy interface to use.
Logged
"The state must declare the child to be the most precious treasure of the people. As long as the government is perceived as working for the benefit of the children, the people will happily endure almost any curtailment of liberty and almost any deprivation."- IBID

I AM your General Ne'er Do Well, Troublemaker & All Around Meanie!!

"Congress has not unlimited powers to provide for the general welfare, but only those specifically enumerated."-Thomas Jefferson

Offline Chris_

  • Little Lebowski Urban Achiever
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 46845
  • Reputation: +2028/-266
Re: Need help outputting to HDtv from laptop
« Reply #9 on: August 01, 2010, 01:08:22 AM »
Get it working yet?
Logged
If you want to worship an orange pile of garbage with a reckless disregard for everything, get on down to Arbys & try our loaded curly fries.

Offline Godot showed up

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1170
  • Reputation: +115/-90
Re: Need help outputting to HDtv from laptop
« Reply #10 on: August 03, 2010, 09:28:07 AM »
Things have been so nuts the last few days (weekend included--don't ask, you don't want to know) I haven't had a chance to try. This coming weekend I'll finally get an opportunity to try again.
Logged

Offline Godot showed up

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1170
  • Reputation: +115/-90
Re: Need help outputting to HDtv from laptop
« Reply #11 on: August 03, 2010, 09:30:46 AM »
Quote from: Thor on July 30, 2010, 10:07:14 PM
If it IS Nvidia, go to nvidia.com and download the latest drivers. Nvidia has them all rolled into one. Then, access the nvidia control panel and start  from there. It's a pretty easy interface to use.

Oh this is interesting. I'll admit I did wonder if this might have something to do with the problem--I CAN'T access the NVIDIA control panel. I keep getting some kind of error message (I always have been unable to do so; I just never cared about it before). I'll have to wait until I get home from work to give you the exact error mesage.
Logged

Offline Godot showed up

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1170
  • Reputation: +115/-90
Re: Need help outputting to HDtv from laptop
« Reply #12 on: August 06, 2010, 09:09:45 AM »
Hi guys. I installed the drivers (they had to come from HP, not Nvidia, since this is an HP Pavillion--I have no idea why).

Still no joy though. I thought having the proper control panel might have made  difference, but not. The laptop sees the monitor and identifies it, but they're still not synching up. Tried clone, extend monitor, etc. I have a feeling I need to find a custom output resoltion, but I haven't a clue what that should be.

How would I know if the tv can deal with the refresh rate?

The input is correctly selected.
Logged

Offline Chris_

  • Little Lebowski Urban Achiever
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 46845
  • Reputation: +2028/-266
Re: Need help outputting to HDtv from laptop
« Reply #13 on: August 06, 2010, 10:03:04 AM »
You should be able to view the TVs refresh rate from the display properties dialog box or from the tv itself.
Logged
If you want to worship an orange pile of garbage with a reckless disregard for everything, get on down to Arbys & try our loaded curly fries.

Offline Godot showed up

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1170
  • Reputation: +115/-90
Re: Need help outputting to HDtv from laptop
« Reply #14 on: August 06, 2010, 10:05:57 AM »
Whoa! It suddenly worked. I put the resolution up to the HIGHEST setting and then it suddenly worked!

Thanks for the help guys. I'm sure this would never have worked if I hadn't followed your advice on the drivers. This is so cool! A 47-inch screen sure beats a 17-inch screen. And it's crystal clear, too.
Logged

Offline Chris_

  • Little Lebowski Urban Achiever
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 46845
  • Reputation: +2028/-266
Re: Need help outputting to HDtv from laptop
« Reply #15 on: August 06, 2010, 10:17:10 AM »
:II:
Logged
If you want to worship an orange pile of garbage with a reckless disregard for everything, get on down to Arbys & try our loaded curly fries.
Pages: [1]   Go Up
« previous next »