Hi Folks

I mainly work on Mac, but I do have a PC with Windows 7 on it.

Question: I would like to hook the PC up to my TV to watch a video stream that I've paid for.

From the pictures below:

1. Is this possible
2. If so, what cables do I need
3. How to set both up so that the PC screen 'appears' on the TV instead

Thanks in advance for any help anybody can throw my way!

Sockets available on the laptop:

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Sockets available on the TV:

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Sources available on the TV:

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PS. I just checked and I also have two more sockets on the back of the TV: 'VGA' and 'Scart'

Dunno about your set up, but I use a HDMI cable between either the laptop or PC into the TV. That way I can use the telly screen instead of my monitor or laptop screen to view whatever I have going at the time. Phil H is probably your man.

Hi, Chris

You just need a HDMI lead, you've got sockets on the laptop and TV, and just set the TV to HDMI source

Cheers

Ted the Red

bgbazz wrote:

Dunno about your set up, but I use a HDMI cable between either the laptop or PC into the TV.

tedthered wrote:

You just need a HDMI lead, you've got sockets on the laptop and TV, and just set the TV to HDMI source

Many thanks bazz and tedthered - much appreciated. I'll grab a HDMI cable next time I'm out and have a bash!

bgbazz wrote:

Dunno about your set up, but I use a HDMI cable between either the laptop or PC into the TV. That way I can use the telly screen instead of my monitor or laptop screen to view whatever I have going at the time. Phil H is probably your man.

Same here. We don't have ordinary telly and just watch it and record through the lap top. Just the one cable.

Sara

I also have a projector and we can watch movies on a 3metre square screen, just by plugging into the hdmi socket..works the same for anything I'm doing on the laptop or PC at the time. Fantastic stuff when using the flight simulator..everything is life sized!

bgbazz
Thanks.

Yes HDMI is the best way to go, mainly because it configures itself and only the one cable is required, unlike some other connections that you could also use but you would need a graphics cable and also a audio cable.

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3. How to set both up so that the PC screen 'appears' on the TV instead
For an alternative connection (should anyone want to) using windows XP (Windows 7 is fairly similar)

First of all in Control panel find the 'Display' icon, followed by the 'Settings' tab, once a secondary cable is plugged in you will then have the option of choosing the Dual Screen mode, by choosing either the 'Use this device as the primary monitor' or 'Extend my monitor onto this desktop' (One of which is a Mirror image of your existing monitor and the other is using a second monitor/screen)
NB, these options are greyed out until the cable is connected.

Then the fun starts.
You will probably then need to go into your graphics software (again in Control Panel) and set the size and attributes of your TV.
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So as you can see, HDMI makes life very simple.

Phil-H wrote:

So as you can see, HDMI makes life very simple.

Thanks Phil ... that's certainly the way I'll be going!

Chris,

You may find that you still need to alter your graphics settings to get the best view on the TV that you want, ie, 4.5 or 16.9 and also either, letterbox or widescreen, all of which is not really complicated, but first always either create a 'Profile' or a backup, to make it easier if you need or want to get back to 'YOUR' original settings, and not necessarily to the original default setup (if you have already altered any of the settings)

Below are the settings from my Intel Graphics, on a 32"
widescreen/letterbox TV, obviously they may not be relevant on your system but they may help or explain something.
The text on the left of the screen is the default text, with my settings (and any notes) on the right.

Graphics Card &
TV Setting.
Intel(R) Graphics and Media

Display saved profiles: = Philip's

Multiple Displays: ...... = Clone (if you don't want to use the PC at the same time)

General settings: ...... = (for the PC)
Built in display: ........ = 1368 x 768 (my laptops Desktop setting)
General settings: ...... = Scaling = Maintain Aspect Ratio for Built in display

General settings:
TV: ....................... = 1280 x 768 (setting I eventually settled on)
General settings: ....... = Scaling = Maintain Display Scaling for TV

The setting I mainly had a problem with was in the 'TV: - General settings - TV where I eventually discovered that the
Scaling = Maintain Aspect Ratio for TV' setting, because I wanted to fill as much of the screen as possible without making things looking stretched or squashed, and not just a strip of video across the centre of the screen, so what the Scaling does is to slightly 'Chop' the picture down so it fits better on-screen (may not be perfect, just better), the amount that gets chopped off is not really noticeable, but will give a much better viewing picture.

Great stuff, thanks Phil.

Once I get the cable and then hook the thing up, I'll see how it looks and give you a shout if I think something needs changing!

Chris

There may be other suppliers, I don't know, also not sure if they post as I have not looked, but Toolsatation sell a range of LONG HDMI leads, and also couplers if you need to join two together..
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The only thing I don't like about these leads though is that they are fairly thick, but at least they do the job and once in situe no need to keep struggling with short leads where the PC then has to be right next to the TV.
I think the one I bought was a 5 mtr and was about £19.

Edit:
Just spoke to them.
Obviously can be collected from any of their many branches, but unfortunately UK postal deliveries only.

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Edit:
Interesting, take a look here for various other configurations of HDMI to ???
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] ... &
_from=R40

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Edit: (Last one promise)
This 5 mtr flat lead looks good, and just spoke to them and they will deliver to Bulgaria.
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] ... 1c392795a5

No bidding on mine please, finishing in a few minutes, they have more advertised lower down.

I've used HDMI and as already said it does configure itself and its perfect for the job. Good luck Chris.

Hi Folks

Just to let you know, I bought a HDMI cable, plugged it into TV / laptop and everything works fine, thanks to all who suggested this method.

Couple of things which I may need help with...

The image quality is excellent on the TV, however, I have a black border all the way round of around 4 inches.

Could anybody tell me (in very simple stages) how I can try to enlarge the image area a bit?

Also, I have to remove the HDMI cable from my Satellite box to plug in the laptop HDMI cable. Is there any way of getting a 'splitter' so I don't have to do this all the time?

Thanks again
Chris

Not sure of what tv you have Chris, but most modern ones have 'screen ratio or display ratio' in the on screen setting menu..open that and have a play with changing those settings, one at a time and see what you get.

The splitter issue, I can't help with..I plug my cable directly to the tv, not the box.

Hope this helps.