How to Connect My Laptop to My TV

Level of difficulty: Intermediate

The transition of media from television to computer is happening at a fast rate because of the rapid progress of information technology. There are several Internet websites with movies and television shows that could be downloaded into computers. Frequently, television shows are made available by networks online once the show has finished airing. Connecting the laptop to the TV enables users to watch shows in their original format and at their convenience.

Materials Needed:

- High-definition multimedia interface (HDMI)
- Composite/phono plug (RCA)
- Digital video interface (DVI)
- S-Video
- Video graphics array (VGA)

Step 1

The first step to connecting the laptop to the television involves identifying the connections located at the back of both components. The five basic kinds of ports or jacks involved include the composite or phono plug or RCA, video graphics array or VGA, S-video, high-definition multimedia interface, and digital video interface.

Step 2

Check if the television has the correct connections. Older television sets do not have the connections required to connect the laptop to the TV. The most common type of connection employed is the S-video connection. S-video, also called Super-video, is a more advanced analog video connector. It employs a round plug with four prongs like the ones used in the installation of cable television. The S-video is more commonly found in older television sets and a number of laptops. With the S-video present on both the laptop and television, connecting both components to each other is simple because only one S-video cable is required. When the laptop has an excellent sound system, audio cables will no longer be necessary.

Step 3

Check to make sure the laptop has video capable of being connected to the television because not all laptops are equipped with the TV-out video card. When the laptop does not have connectors, install an Mpeg decoder card. The only drawback of installing Mpeg cards is its inability to play .mov or .divx files.

Step 4

Get the right cable to connect the laptop to the television. S-video cables are frequently the most common and the easiest to connect. Other cable options include the VGA or video graphics array cable which is a regular monitor cable capable of carrying analog video signals and displaying graphics data. This cable option is used only for HDTVs.

Step 5

Establish a connection between the laptop and the television. Make sure that both components are turned off before connecting them. Before turning on the television, make certain that you have activated the correct video mode. For example, when the S-video cable is employed, the television’s video option has to be set to S-video. Afterwards, set the proper video output to the appropriate source on the laptop computer. Always consult the manual because the steps to setting modifications are different for each model of laptop