Connecting laptop to TV to play DVDs

collieb

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Is it possible to connect your laptop to your TV player, via S Video cable or Scart lead, in order to play AVI files stored on the laptop? My TV does not have a S Video input jack, but I was thinking of using a S Video to Scart adaptor. Also, will the surround sound system work if I do this?
 
Is it possible to connect your laptop to your TV player, via S Video cable or Scart lead, in order to play AVI files stored on the laptop? My TV does not have a S Video input jack, but I was thinking of using a S Video to Scart adaptor. Also, will the surround sound system work if I do this?


It is possible if your laptop has the right connectors.

You will get a better picture with VGA to VGA if your TV supports this, or VGA to DVI/HDMI if your TV has no VGA but has DVI or HDMI.

S-Video to SCART will work too but won't give as sharp a picture.


You should be able to get Stereo sound by getting a Headphone Jack (3.5mm jack) to 2xPhono (2xRCA) cable - something like this. Surround sound is another matter - you will probably need an external (USB) sound card or a PC Card which has an optical output (also known as S/PDIF). Something like [broken link removed].
 
I find the easiest for my setup is to plug the 3.5mm jack to 3 x RCA cable into the front AV input of the VCR which then feeds the signal on to the TV. Our setup is that normally we use the VCR as the TV tuner and switch channel on that with sound routed to the hifi amp/speakers. The VCR is connected via SCART to the TV.
 
I find the easiest for my setup is to plug the 3.5mm jack to 3 x RCA cable into the front AV input of the VCR which then feeds the signal on to the TV. Our setup is that normally we use the VCR as the TV tuner and switch channel on that with sound routed to the hifi amp/speakers. The VCR is connected via SCART to the TV.

Thats great, but how do you connect a Laptop to the TV?
 
Exactly. Laptop 3.5mm AV to 3 x RCA into the VCR and VCR connected to the TV by SCART. Mainly because it's handy anyway but also because my TV is a cheapo make with no fancy inputs other than a single SCART. I guess I could get a 3 x RCA to SCART adaptor/connector that would allow direct connection to the TV but that would be more hassle in my situation.
 
I watch AVIs from my Laptop on the TV. I have S_Video out on the laptop (as most laptops do). Got a cable in Maplins - scart one end other end has two jacks S-Video and sound which goes into the headphone port on the laptop. You may then need to fiddle around with the display settings on your laptop to make sure you enable output to the TV but that is usuallly straight-forward.
 
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