Can someone help me, please? (S-Video Cable)

I am trying to hookup my brother's Dell laptop to the TV via an S-Video cable. It fits in the laptop and also in the TV, but when we go to the channel it's supposed to be on, it just remains a blank/black screen on the TV. Is there something I am forgetting to do? Is there more to it than just using an S-Video cable? Do I need some sort of special S-Video cable?

Thanks in advance to anyone who can help. Wow, been a while since I've posted here. I had a busy summer and now I'm at college (UT Austin). Nervous as hell and don't know how I'll be able to do it, but oh well. I would really be appreciative if anyone could show me where I went wrong with this S-Video cable business. I know it's gotta be something I'm doing, unless the computer needs something more than just the cable. Thanks again if anyone can help me out. :)

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Originally posted by Bones12484
I am trying to hookup my brother's Dell laptop to the TV via an S-Video cable. It fits in the laptop and also in the TV, but when we go to the channel it's supposed to be on, it just remains a blank/black screen on the TV. Is there something I am forgetting to do? Is there more to it than just using an S-Video cable? Do I need some sort of special S-Video cable?

Thanks in advance to anyone who can help. Wow, been a while since I've posted here. I had a busy summer and now I'm at college (UT Austin). Nervous as hell and don't know how I'll be able to do it, but oh well. I would really be appreciative if anyone could show me where I went wrong with this S-Video cable business. I know it's gotta be something I'm doing, unless the computer needs something more than just the cable. Thanks again if anyone can help me out. :)

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You do know that you normally have to switch the TV to an SVideo channel, and not just tune in a normal TV channel? :)

And alos, just incase your not doing it, make sure your Bro's laptop is turned off, when you plug in the cable, and off when you remove it or else it might not transmit to the correct video source, there may also be something in the software you have to change, so you will want to read the manuall that came with the comp, or check with the manufactures website.

Good look at UT/A.

Yeah, make sure you have the right settings for the computer too... NTSC/PAL etc... :)

Cool. Thanks you guys, I'll try out the suggestions.

As for the S-Video channel... the way the TV is set up, there are three sets of input outlets. There is only one with an S-Video plug-in though, which is input #2. When using something in one of these outlets, the TV goes to TV/Video 1, 2, or 3 depending on which one you want. I put it on TV/Video 2. So I don't think this is the problem.

I will definitely try out the other stuff. Thanks again!

did you know you have to switch your laptop from main screen to tv out. most people forget this, the pal/ntsc settings arn't a problem yet if you see nothing, my bet is you havn't switched your screen output to tv.

You need to enable the tv in your display properties. It also should be set to primary.

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Originally posted by scdfred
You need to enable the tv in your display properties. It also should be set to primary.

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no need to set it to primary

if it's the Riva TNT no need to set it as primary, unless you won't be using the laptop monitor

better use the Clone option to see the display on both monitors, as the resolution on a TV is awful

and what's an Svideo Channel, mine does have AV channels only, but mine doesn't have an Svideo connector either ;) have to use a scart if I need to connect an SVideo to it

you do have to set it to primary if you want to see movies on the tv screen. Also you might want to be careful using those thing; my old tv has display problems I can't fix ever since I tried to use my video out.

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Originally posted by SubwayDesigns
you do have to set it to primary if you want to see movies on the tv screen. Also you might want to be careful using those thing; my old tv has display problems I can't fix ever since I tried to use my video out.

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Did you fry it by using the wrong format? NTSC/PAL? :)

nah I don't think so; it might have something to do with my tv not working on lower frequencies... it's not fried, I just have some horizontal "scratch" lines that appear after a while...

Ahh, now don't quote me on this, infact don't even try it because I think it was someone posting about monitors not TVs... but they used a light magnet to "drag" the lines down off the screen.

Like I say, this will probably kill your TV, as magnets have a tendancy to do that, but if you don't care about the TV it may be worth a go :)

thanks for the advice; since I'm probably going to buy a new tv I'll try that right before I head out to the store so i have nothing to lose :)