Connecting computer to tv

I like to watch old tv shows on fancast and hulu. I thought it would be cool to be able to watch them on my tv instead of my computer monitor. I had heard that you could access the internet through the Wii, so I bought a Wii LAN adapter and a cable to connect the Wii to my router. This allowed me to connect to the internet but the fancast site wouldn't load correctly. I called Wii's help line and learned that the browser in the Wii (Opera, maybe?) didn't support Flash or Java, which these websites need.

So my son suggested a Plan B, which I would like to run past the experts here before going out to buy anything else. He suggested buying an HDMI cable to connect the tv and the computer. He said I would then have to go to Control Panel, Appearance and Personalization, Connect to an External Display, then select the HDMI choice.

Does this sound like it would work? At first I thought I would have to unplug the computer monitor every time and plug in the HDMI cable to the computer every time, which would be a pain. He thinks I wouldn't have to do that, but would just have to do the Control Panel steps I listed above. If that's all, it would seem pretty easy to do.

If it matters, my tv is an LG bought last Fall and my computer is an HP bought this past Spring, running Window 7.

Thanks in advance for any advice on this.

 

Thanks for the reply. I'll pick up a HDMI cable the next time I'm at and electronics store.

 

So, after I bought an HDMI cable, I discovered my computer doesn't have an HDMI port. It has a DVI port. I've verified that my tv also has a DVI port. Will I be able to accomplish my goal by returning the HDMI cable and picking up a DVI cable?

 

Main difference between HDMI and DVI (besides connector) is that DVI doesn’t carry sound.
So you’ll now need a 2nd cable to carry the sound to either the TV or receiver.

It’ll have a stereo connector on 1 end that’ll plug into the green colored output on the computer and have 2 RCA jacks (1 red, 1 white) on the other end.

Like this:
Cable
Get the length you think you need – it’s a common cable.

BTW. Since both HDMI and DVI are digital connectors – don’t need the super expensive ones stores will try to sell you.

The sound cable IS an analog signal – so quality of the cable can make a difference – but unless you’re a musician plugging it into a high end receiver with excellent speakers – you won’t notice a difference between a 3 or 30 dollar cable.

 

I just found this conversation after my friend went through the same thing and finally returned the HDMI cable ($90.) to the store.

She connected to her 6month old computer and a 40 inch new TV in hopes of downloading and viewing Netflix movies. This is being in preparation for their winter in Arizona and trip down. The Arizona screen will be 26in or smaller 13in depending on whether travelling in smaller trailer or larger TV at final destination. They can do this through the Wii but thought a better way was with the cable.

Hooking it up was no problem, but the instructions are basically three lines with no troubleshooting help. Set to HDMI2 and downloaded netflix movie to computer.
On turning on the computer desktop was visible on the TV full size. Downloaded netflix to computer and sound and picture fine. The TV went to blue screen and only sound was output. No picture.

Help with this would be appreciated. I also note above that the cheaper cable is just as good for most eyes. (I was told this when I hooked up my TV three years ago with HDMI and digital.) The Walmart $24.00 cable looks as good to me as my daughter's $80.00 cable. I don't opt to pay extra for high def channels and take what is included in my digital with some free high def channels.

So these cables for this purpose are really the same cable that I am using now?

If this is the case a $25.00 cable would work for this application for my friend?
Could you please advise what might be the lack of picture problem.......Thanks very much.
They are headed south in three weeks and would be nice if they could get a picture while traveling from BC to Arizona.

 

I've been using $10.00 HDMI cables I bought on line. Work as well as the high priced. Do a google search for HDMI cables. You'll find many vendors offering inexpensive cables.

 

Thank you for that response and information. Seems the tech shops make a lot of money "scaring" novices into buyer only the best.

Granted some perhaps have all the bells and whistles, HD and Blue Ray, etc, and might see some difference, but I'm happy with what I see on the cheaper cable also.

Seems they have the same problem as the previous poster. No HDMI on one of the transfer units.

Ah well, they will have to figure it out.

Thanks again.