VGA Cable from PC to TV

[Jski]

Hi. I did run a search on this topic, but I am still missing a step. I have a laptop with Windows XP. It has a VGA jack out, so I hooked it up to the TV using the TV's VGA jack. I changed the TVs input signal from cable to PC, but the TV is telling me that it is not receiving a signal. The sound is coming through, although just the Windows fanfare bootup tune.

So, there is something that I have to do to the computer to send the video signal to the TV. I just don't know what that step is. Any thoughts? I did google this topic to no avail. Thanks very much.

[CuriousGeorge]

Read your TV's manual for what resolutions/timings are required on its VGA input. It will often require a very specific resolution.

[ADoubleDot]

For a laptop, you might wanna try hitting fn+f8 or fn+f5. Varies by manufacturer.

Or reboot the computer with the wire plugged in and it should recognize the new monitor at startup. Resolution has nothing to do with signal, though you may want to adjust that to make it look right once you get it receiving.

[Jski]

OK, for anyone who wants to know: yes, the TV manual indicates that the resolution on the laptop should be turned down to 800 x 600, and that the timing should be 60 Hz. Then with everything turned off, hook up the cables. Then, once everything is turned on, you have to tell the laptop to send the video signal to the TV. On my laptop, there is a function / hotkey thingy that looks like the profile of a laptop, with a slash, then a monitor screen. Turns out this is the button that you have to press to get the signal over to the TV.

Thanks for your input, guys.

[sloppyjoe]

I believe 800x600 is generally the max for analog out -> TV. I know that's the resolution I used for S-Video output from my laptop several years ago.

[ahow]

I have had laptops that could get to 1280x1024 but it still had black borders on the TV which was 1920x1080. It was ok because the actual resolution is less due to overscan.