How to connect old laptop to TV

ripplyuk

It's a Dell Latitude and was bought second hand many years ago, so there's no HDMI connections. I'd like to be able to play movies from my laptop to the TV but I've no idea of the best way to do it, or if it will work well. I've tried looking up YouTube videos but I'm getting confused with all the terms like VGA etc.

There are USB sockets so I was wondering if an adapter to convert USB to HDMI would work?

I've also seen this: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00U20ZTKO/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=AI2GDOEQT9PU8

Any advice would be appreciated.

slinga

Looks good.

I've always had problems coonecting my pc to TV.

First did it with an old HP notebook through a HDMI cable and things worked perfectly first time.

Then tried it from my desktop to TV through HDMI, no sound.
Had to remove the PC speaker cables for sound to work,
Then did it with a dell XPS but it only had a mini display port which I had to use an adapter for HDMI to the TV.
For some reason that only works now and again and getting audio is always a pain.
Now I've just bought a new desktop today and at the moment I can't get output from the DVI cable to the monitor and a picture on the TV using the HDMI cable at the same time.

Dunno why.
Things used to be so much easier.

System

Hi

http://cpc.farnell.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Search?pageSize=25&st=hdmi+to+vga&catalogId=15002&categoryId=700000007688&langId=69&storeId=10180


http://cpc.farnell.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Search?catalogId=15002&langId=69&storeId=10180&categoryName=All%20Categories&selectedCategoryId=&gs=true&st=hdmi%20to%20laptop

http://cpc.farnell.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Search?catalogId=15002&langId=69&storeId=10180&categoryName=All%20Categories&selectedCategoryId=&gs=true&st=hdmi%20to%20dvi%20cable

Hopefully one the above combinations should work, I use mine the other way around. HDMI to DVI, Raspbrry Pi to old Dell monitor.

alexisonfire123

You want a VGA to HDMI cable my friend, can pick them up for next to nothing on eBay, pay no more than a fiver

AndyPix

What is the model of latitude ? (or the service tag, should be a sticker on there)
Some have mini DP output and that being digital would give a better picture than VGA

ripplyuk

AndyPix wrote: »

What is the model of latitude ? (or the service tag, should be a sticker on there)
Some have mini DP output and that being digital would give a better picture than VGA

It's so old that the main stickers have worn away but the service tag is 3JNNY1J. I've just googled that and it says the model is a D610.

AndyPix

Ok yes a VGA-HDMI adapter is your only way to go on that.


Unless your TV is really old too and has s-video input

ripplyuk

So I got the connection lead (the one in my OP) but for some reason, it's causing major problems with the laptop.

When I have it connected, the laptop won't even start up. It makes the usual noises but then just shows a grey blank screen and nothing shows on the tv.

It will start up fine on its own, but once I connect the dvi to HDMI lead, it goes wrong again. The screen sticks/breaks up, then goes grey. The tv then says 'no signal'.

I did manage to get both the laptop to work, and the tv to show the picture, but it was only for about 2 seconds. And there was no sound either. (The lead has a USB connection for the sound)

Is this laptop just too old? Or, am I doing something wrong? If it makes any difference, it's running Ubuntu. I really am clueless about this stuff so if anyone does know what to do, please explain it to me like you would to a child.

I_have_spoken

I'd send the cable back and get a Firestick for streaming movies

mchale

A chromecast might be a better option.

tonyh66

one of the function buttons on the keyboard switches between displays, as you are running unbuntu im not sure the function buttons will work though.
It may also be a bios setting that needs changing.
This kind of set up is always a bit ropey every time I have tried it its hit and miss whether it works or not.
You haven't said what the source of your movies will be, discs? harddrive? streaming? a more direct solution like the 2 mentioned above would be easier.