How to Connect Your Laptop to Your Television

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Tired of squinting over your laptop? There are several ways to turn a big-screen TV into your new computer monitor and enjoy video games, web content, and photos like never before.

To complete this How-To you will need:

A laptop
A digital television
A male-to-male video cable of one of the following types:
S-Video
VGA 15-pin
DVI
DVI-to-HDMI
A mini-to-RCA audio cable
A PC-to-TV converter box
A mini-DVI-to-VGA or mini-DVI-to-DVI adapter for Macs

Step 1: Connect with S-Video

First, connect a video cable -- you've got several choices. For PC users, an easy option is an S-Video cable. Most PCs and digital televisions are equipped with an S-Video port.

Tip: The ends of S-Video cables usually feature either four or seven pins and pinholes. Check your TV and laptop ports to make sure they match.

Step 2: Connect with VGA

If you have an older HDTV, try a VGA cable, which produces better picture quality and works with both Macs and PCs. To connect, turn off your laptop and your TV. Find the trapezoid-shaped VGA outlets on the TV and on your laptop. Once you're connected, power everything back on.

Tip: Macs need a DVI- or mini-DVI-to-VGA adapter to connect the VGA cable.

Step 3: Connect with DVI

You can also connect with a DVI video cable. A DVI connection is a step above VGA in picture quality, but only newer computers and HDTVs come with DVI ports. Connect as with a VGA cable.

Tip: Some Macs require a mini-DVI-to-DVI adapter for DVI connections.

Step 4: Connect with HDMI

If your HDTV doesn't have a DVI connector, use a cable that is HDMI on one end, and DVI on the other to connect to your laptop.

Step 5: Connect audio

Hook up the audio. After you've connected your laptop to the TV via video cable, connect the mini-to-RCA cable from your computer's headphone jack to your TV.

Step 6: Use a wireless converter

A final PC option is to go wireless, using a converter box and the software that comes with it. Using a VGA cable, plug the box into your TV and install the software onto your computer. The box will then convert your computer's VGA signal to the TV, and transfer both video and audio.

Step 7: Adjust display settings

If you have a PC, go to the Control Panel and adjust the display settings to accompany double display on both your monitor and TV set. Mac laptops should automatically adjust for double display. If yours doesn't, go to System Preferences, click on Display, and then Detect Displays.

Step 8: Find your laptop

Click your TV's video source -- usually a button called "input" or "TV/Video" on your remote -- until your laptop comes up. You're set!

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Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• HotHowTos
• computers
• technology
• hardware
• Laptops
• connecting
• powerbook
• TV
• television
• hooking

[ethriasEU]

You will need A laptop. NO SHIT SHERLOCK

[Bawang0716]

step 1, step 2, step 3... such misleading organization, you only need one of these steps.

[raye11e]

VGA sounds like a short way of spelling vagina

[Willowman35]

You will need a laptop. Wo Wo wo slow down Einstein.!

[TheRunningPuzzle]

WHAT ABOUT ANALOG TV for those that dont have any money

[AmberxBernal]

I feel like I came out a science convention

[randomusa100]

@randomusa100 i forgot to mention that my laptop may only have a VGA Output to work ( i think the other jack is actually a modem jack)

[randomusa100]

@Bawang0716 Maybe that is why i am confused since my laptop is a HP 2000 (intel core i3) and i know it only has a VGA Jack that could work, there is another jack that might work though it may be a modem connection

[randomusa100]

I am just confused since i bought a HP 2000 notebook (intel core i3) and i am trying to figure out what cables to get since the tv i am connecting with has S-Video ONLY (red,white,yellow:jacks) and i am completly lost HELP???!!!

[ConnectPC2TV]

Visit Us to Connect your PC and TV, searching by Make and Model

e.g. Toshiba Satellite L300 to Apple MacBook Pro (Summer 2011)

[TsunamiTD]

This music sounds hella like Double Dragon 2....lol