Is there a way I can force VGA output on my laptop? I bought this neat adapter: However, my laptop cannot detect an external device when it's plugged into my tv. That's probably because my laptop or windows vista/xp is not smart enough to detect this kind of external display. So, the adapter I bought is made to convert a VGA signal to the RCA output, it just needs an vga signal to be sent by the laptop. Is there a program out there I can download to force VGA out for windows? You think this will work?
It's an ATI Radeon X1200 on an Acer laptop with Windows Vista. However, I have other laptops too with other GPUs and etc.. I think what I'm looking for is a software solution that will force vga output in windows. Does something like this exist? Can't I assume that any laptop with a spot for a vga cable to hook up to it does indeed support VGA output, no matter the GPU? Else, why is that connector there...
I found an interesting thread here: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=134016 This guy says this: Is that true...?
Have you tried this: While on the desktop, Right click -> Personalize -> On the left hand side of that window it says "Connect to a projector or other external display" Click that, look for "Connect Display" Click it and see what happens. If that doesn't work: While still in 'personalize' click on 'Display Settings' See if it shows up in the drop down menu for displays. If that doesn't work: While still in the 'Display Settings' click 'Advanced Settings' -> Then chose the tab at the top that says what you graphics card is. There is usually some options in there regarding multiple displays etc. I know that in the past, for me anyways, the TV has to be ON before sending the signal to it.
I found on my sisters laptop when it came back from RMA with a broken screen Vista wouldn't output to an external display under every condition if at all, so getting into windows to tell it to clone the displays was impossible, what I done instead was just ran a Linux livedisc like ubuntu 9.04 and saw if that cloned the displays which it did do, you could try DLing and burning one then see if the live disc boots up and appears on your TV and laptop, if not then it must be something hardware related.
You have bought an svideo + composite output adaptor by the looks of things, so trying to "force vga" out isn't going to work. Where did you get the adaptor? Are you sure it's not for something bespoke? as the yellow+red+white is colour coded for composite+right audio+left audio.
Of course.. I tried all the obvious things before I posted here... What I tried: 1. Power ON laptop with cable & TV already on 2. ditto, but on safe mode 3. ditto but with xubuntu live disc 4. all the detect display and display settings on catalyst control & windows vista display properties I did try hooking it up to old CRT monitor and it worked perfectly. I noticed that the VGA connector for my adapter & the crt monitors are different by a single pin. The 2nd from the left on the second row of pins is missing on the CRT monitor cable. See picture: (top - my adapter, bottom - crt monitor cable) Maybe I can take out that extra pin on my adapter..? Why do CRT monitors have a missing pin? What does that mean? Is the TV Out signal different than the signal a CRT monitor accepts. What I'm getting at is why can't my laptop send the same signal it sends successfully to a CRT monitor to my adapter? I got the adapter from ebay(china) here's what they say about it: Couldn't really find any documentation that says my ATI Radeon X1200 doesn't support TV OUT...
That adaptor will never work, unfortunately. There are *very* few graphics cards which use the VGA port for TV output - most have separate connectors for that. Removing the pin from your adaptor won't help. The signal required by a monitor via VGA and the signal required by a TV via composite or S-video (the two connectors on your adaptor) are too different to possibly work. The only reason that adaptor exists is because some manufacturers made it so you can output the required signal via the VGA pins - usually to save space on a small form factor device.
Ya thanks for the input. I gathered something similar to what you've said from my research on it. I've see VGA to s-video converters which are box like contraptions. Their form factor alone represents the complexity of converting VGA to composite or s-video signals can't be done from within a cable alone, but with a processor..etc.. found inside these converter boxes. What's deceiving though is that this product is listed as a VGA to RCA cable converter, when in fact it doesn't convert the VGA signal but expects the signal to already be RCA out compatible for it to work, like you mentioned.
