Warning Computer idiot question can I use my HD TV as a screen for my laptop?

Miss_Cakey_Bun

I have very little understanding of such things but wondered if there is a way I can use my HDTV as a screen for my laptop? not all the time but especially for photos and when doing family history stuff it would be very helpful if both me and my husband could see the screen at the same time without sitting on each others laps :-0 as we have a large HD TV it would be fab if it could be linked somehow

Is this possible with a wizzy cable or is it a complete no-no?

sorry if this is a really daft question but I really don't understand how this sort of thing works

Thanks in advance
Wanda x

Cat695

in simple terms yes you can (very simple all you need is one cable)

depending on the connections on the back of your tv and how new your laptop is you could even get a HD picture

what laptop is it

shadowdragon

you need to have a VGA input on your TV the female of this.the output of the laptop should have a blue female that this lead plugs into, then you use the Function key and one of the number keys to initialise it.

Miss_Cakey_Bun

Hi I have an advent 5401 ( acouple of weeks old) if this helps any :-) there might be a place a cable like that plugs in but without a cable its hard to know....are the cables expensive? (if not to bad might get one to see :-) )

Cat695

yes very cheap....especially the VGA ones ~(in the picture above)

easily less than a tenner.....just don't buy one that says GOLD in it
won't make a bit of difference.....just a cheapo bog standard one will do

according to the specs you could connect via HDMI (so DVI from laptop to HDMI to TV) but thats only if you feel the need.....these cable are quite expensive (well 20 quidish expensive)

But VGA will do

shadowdragon

Mrs_Hornsey wrote: »

Hi I have an advent 5401 ( acouple of weeks old) if this helps any :-) there might be a place a cable like that plugs in but without a cable its hard to know....are the cables expensive? (if not to bad might get one to see :-) )

the output on the laptop will be blue in colour. and usually on the rear of the laptop you cant miss it.

The back of the TV it could be anywhere depending on the model of the TV if you look a the back they are all usually labeled up anyways and will say "VGA"

Miss_Cakey_Bun

I think we have a short DVI cable that came with the TV our skybox is a distance away so we had to get all new cables will have a look in the morning and see whats there. I have no blue sockets at all but have a few so will See what fits :-)

Thank you all so much for your help will let you know what happens :-)

Sssssss

you may also need to link on Fn + CRT/LCD buttons on your keyboard to switch display from laptop to tv or both

Miss_Cakey_Bun

very confused ....what don you mean about linking buttons?

shadowdragon

on the laptop keyboard there is a function button marked "Fn" near the left ctrl you hold that down and look on the F keys at the top and one will have a picture of a monitor (or maybe two monitors) you press that and it enables the external monitor. You can usually cycle through Lap top screen/laptop and external/external only.

Miss_Cakey_Bun

Thank you :-) hoping to try this tomorrow when I am home alone so I dont get kid stress while trying it out :-)