Computer onto TV question,

[VC]

Here's the situation, have a laptop with a broken screen, so I decide it would be sweet if I could put it up onto our tv for netflix and hulu. No problem, turn it on with S-video plugged into tv and its on the tv no big deal.

So it works for a day and since it hasn't been used it six months goes through the massive updating process on vista. So I turn it on day two, its running really slow, so I restart it and it installs 8 updates. It turns back on, desktop shows up and then the tv goes black. So I restart it, by powering off and on, the computer is turning on because its making the start up noise, the tv flickers like its trying to work but in the end doesn't. I've tried different s video ports but nothing, any ideas?

[Fish Rider]

Have the same problem, you may need to change the output to tv again under graphics properties on the laptop screen, I don't know how bad yours is but on mine a flashlight makes the screen viewable to change the options.

[nickwm21]

Through the update process your video settings might have been reset to default. It might be trying to output to your laptop monitor rather than TV, even though you had it setup to plug n play before. If you have VGA or DVI out and have a alternate monitor to try that, then adjust settings. Also, many keyboards have a function key that will switch video outputs. Usually it is the Fn key plus an F# key.

[RShea]

It could just be the settings for the video redirection. Many laptops have a function key to toggle to the external video (but without knowing more on your model and all it is hard to say if it would work to the SVideo jack too).

You also probably need to try it on a standard external computer monitor to see if it is something in the updates applied or the start of a hardware problem with the video chipset on the computer board. NVidia has had issues with their design and many report running one of the HP, Dell, Apple laptops with the NVidia graphics to have the screen go black and quit working (internal and external both)...

[Alaskan Rover]

welcome to the world of billy gates and his automatic updates. I depise automatic updates. The first thing I do when I get a new 'puter is turn automatic updates OFF.

I don't know which laptop you have, but I'd try looking for a function key that switches video outputs like nickwm21 said. On many computers, it's the F5 key. But it should show some sort of a screen icon on one of the function keys.

If not, here is another way with Vista:

1) plug your tv cable in to the s-video slot as you did before.

2) go to Control Panel and click on "Device Manager"...it'll be one of those icons.

3) in device manager panel, double-click on "Monitor".

4) another "Monitor" icon should come up below the first Monitor icon. RIGHT-click on that icon.

5)Click where it says "Scan for hardware changes".

6)it should now be able to find your TV monitor.

7) if no second monitor icon shows up when you do step 4, just right-click on the first monitor icon...you will still get the thing that says "Scan for hardware changes"...click it.

[VC]

function f5 FTW, this place is awesome. Thanks guys