Why won't my S video cable that is plugged in from my laptop to my HDTV work?

Question

It's a four prong s video cable and when I plug it into my HDTV and I switched the channles looking for the picture of my laptop on the screen but I had no luck. Can anyone tell me why I can't see the picture from my laptop on my HDTV?

Answer 1

Shortest answer:

Was the TV turned on and connected to the laptop before the laptop was last booted up?  Do that if the option to enable the video output is grayed out in Windows.

Not a windows computer?  Seek more help in Computers and Internet section of Yahoo Answers.

Answer 2

First off... Remember that S-Video is only as good as S-Video.

S-Video output needs to be enabled on your video card for it to work... Usually found in your computer's Display Settings.

Most video cards will not let you enable the S-Video unless your screen resolution is set to 640x480 or 800x600 (Try setting your screen to that first)

The source may need to be enabled to have the option to enable the source --- Yes that does sound worder wrong, but it isn't. Many video cards will not give you the option to enable the S-Video output unless the S-Video is connected to a device that is turned on.

Some newer TVs do not seem to be detected by the video cards, so the video card will keep the option to turn on the s-video grayed out an inaccessible.

HOWEVER --- if you can connected to a device that allows you to enable the s-video.... you can then enable it. It will stay on even if you disconnect the wire and can move it to the TV that wasn't automatically detected.

Answer 3

Two things you need to check are as follows:

1.  Cable - make sure the S-video cable is plugged in correctly.

2.  Laptop - check your video setting on your laptop to make sure the output is going to your TV.  

3.  HDTV - using your remote, click through different video inputs (not channels), one of which should be S-video.

Answer 4

On the laptop make sure that you have specified in the display settings to activate the S-Video output

The TV's input setting must be S-Video OR it could be a Video1 or Video2 (depending on the TV). It will NOT be a channel #.

Answer 5

Go to the menu on the HDTV

select input options,

under input options you will see options

for tuner,

HDMI

S-video

and component video inputs

Select S-video input

Exit menu and you are done

Personally I would get a VGA to HDMI adapter, cable.

S- video is a down grade from High Def. or VGA of both your laptop and HDTV. But heck if you like retro go for S-video.