connecting pc to tv

Posted by CathyTan (338 days ago)

Hi! trying to find out whether it is possible to connect my HP laptop to my Philips HDDV TV. I just want to watch movies which are saved in the PC on my TV. Is there a way of doing it?

All help appreciated.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

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Posted by axptguy38 (338 days ago)

There are plenty of ways. Here are some random thoughts.
- The easiest is if your TV has an RGB (AKA "VGA") input. If so, you can just get a long RGB cable and connect from the RGB/VGA out port on your laptop (the one you use for an external monitor or projector) to the in port on the TV. For sound, you'll need to go from the line out or headphone port on the PC to the in port on the TV that corresponds to the RGB port.
- Many newer PCs use DVI instead of RGB, but a converter is only a few dozen dollars. Anyway HP laptops typically do not.
- Some laptops have an s-video out port. Get a cable to go from s-video out (typically 4-pin) to s-video in or component in (depending on what your tv has). You'll still need to do the sound. If you go component get a cable from 3.5mm sound port to two plug component sound (white and red, the video cable is coded yellow).
- Many computers and video cards come with nifty software that allows you to create display profiles. That way you can set up the TV profile with the correct resolution (1920x1080 if it's "true HD, check the manual) so that you can just flip over quickly.

- Get a tech savvy friend to help. Or bring your TV manual and laptop to the Wan Chai Computer Centre or 188 Centre and ask someone what you need.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by CathyTan (337 days ago)

thanks for the info. Sounds very complicated to me.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by axptguy38 (337 days ago)

"thanks for the info. Sounds very complicated to me."

If I could draw you a diagram it would seem very simple. It's this text thing that makes it seem rather complex. ;)

Just get a savvy friend to help. It's not that complex if you have some experience.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by krobert999 (337 days ago)

if this is similar to the HP (Compaq) laptop I have, you should have an S-Video connector on the laptop. If yo are connecting to a newer TV, it will also most likely have an S-Video input so you need to buy an S-Video cable to connect the video to the TV. So in a nutshell:

1) S-Video cable to go from the laptop to TV (if the TV does not have S-Video, you can use an S-video to composite cable which is an S-video connector on the laptop end and an RCA style plug for the TV end).
2) Cable with a standard headphone jack plug into the laptop headphone jack with two RCA style plugs on the other end to plug into the TV sound inputs
3) You will need to go to the diaplay settings and set up the TV as your display now which will reuire some knowledge of the settings.

I could probably help some...

Good luck :-)

(I am based in Shanghai)

Posted by valeriechan (322 days ago)

I am a IT professional and can help you to fix your problems and meet your requirements. You can catch me up on kwlee0928@gmail.com

Please just let me know if I can be of any further assistance to you and I am available for 24 hours.

(I am based in Hong Kong)