Using LCD TV as monitor

Hi, more help please. Mate has a laptop ( XP Pro) and they told him he could run his LCD TV as a second monitor, (sold him cord etc) we plugged it in and set TV to PC, when PC turned on the starting logo etc came up on the Tv, when it started it switched back to the PC, then only thing that will come up on the Tv is the desktop picture and it will play the screen saver, you can slide the icons over to the TV but when you open them they only open on the laptop and the desktop picture stays on the Tv. We ahve tried a lot of screen sizes etc, and been thru the help we have set it up as instucted, ?????
Hope someone can give us some hints. we will be trying it ( TV) on his desktop PC when we can get a longer cord, seems to me if we could shut off the laptop screen it would be OK, we dont want both screens , just the big one, he wants to play Kareok on it,
Any suggestions welcomed. Cheers Des.

 

Hello Des,

What you set up is a "Extend my desktop onto this screen" arrangement. You want to turn that feature off and use a "clone" setting if you want to use the TV as display of what is (normally) happening on the main/primary screen.

Now...
There might be several places to make the settings.

Laptops may have a combination of keys on the keyboard to go into "projector" mode. Check the manual for the laptop.

The system should have a graphics "manager ", like an nVidia, ATI, SIS, Intel, etc graphics manager. You should find it in Control Panel (Classic View). Some graphics managers may be accessed by right-clicking on the desktop, others have an icon in the Notification(System) tray.

The other place may be in Control Panel -> Display -> Settings tab, BUT they are usually overridden by the graphics manufacturer "manager's" settings.

As I said, it sounds like you want to turn off "Extend my desktop onto this screen" (Screen #2) and use "clone" the desktop.

Matt

 

Hi Des,
I take it the Video card is capable of running an extra monitor through an RCA out, what you will need to do is open the program on the PC then drag that window to the LCD, works that way when I tried it in the gamesroom/BAR to watch a DVD, desktop should show up on both (mine is set-up on AV in) but Icons only on the PC monitor, hope that helps??!!
Regards
Jac

 

Thanks Mattman & Jack rabbit, that all make sense to me,they told him the laptop would run it Ok, we only want the one screen.
I will give them a try tomorrow, will post results , Thanks again Des.

 

Hi, fella's, Just let you know that we have the TV working with the laptop, but???. it does not play sound thru the VGA cord.
We tried plugging the sound out of the laptop into the PC sound in on the TV but no joy,
Any idea's??? Thanks again for your help
Cheers Des,
ps, also there isn't RCA outlet on his laptop, it is an Acer Travelmate 6592 +.

 

I doubt you will be able to get audio to go through the TV. I would look at using a standard set of PC speakers.

Matt

 

Hi Des,
Looking at the manual for the 6592 it only gives Video out through 1 of the 3 available ports (Acer ePresentation Management is listed in the manual try <Fn>+<F5>), you would need to connect Audio through the headphone/speaker jack then adapt it to the required input fitting, I have a lead set that converts standard mini stereo jack to Dual RCA, you would probably get what you need at Dick Smiths if you are going to run it out to an amp or a stereo, if it is just for home use I'd do as Mattman suggested a set of powered speakers
hope this helps
Regards Jac

 

Sounds like a possible plan I suppose an output audio signal is...an output audio signal. I was a little sceptical because there is little control over the TV's amplifier.

I have my audio outputted to a HI FI amplifier. If the TV has good stereo, it might be better than PC speakers. (Channel the audio through the HI FI system?)

Matt
Edit: "I suppose an output audio signal is...an output audio signal." Headphone output is on a different level to direct audio output though (no amplifier).

 

Thanks fella's, he has now plugged the lead ( mini to 2 RCA Red & White) in to the video /DVD player and when they are all turned on it works, must work as a amp.
Thanks again for your prompt replies, Cheers Des.

 

Hi Matt & Des,
I actually played around with the desktop in the shed after lunch & set it up to run through the tv, running a ATI Raedon 9200se 128mb card, CMedia 6ch onboard, running as stereo only, don't need speakers in the shed now, I have a great setup to watch DVD or live stream while playing Pool or Darts, Now all I need to do is put the TV antenna Up & its a full Entertainment system on the cheap!!!!
Cheers
Jac