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12319
Video Out
I have an Inspiron 1520 and can't seem to get the video out to work. I have a cable which has an 7-Pin S-Video Cable and a green audio cable at one end for my Laptop and the other end are the yellow, white, and red cables for the TV. I followed the instructions where I have my computer off and tv off and plug everything in. When I turn my computer and TV on, the desktop should appear on the TV, but it doesn't. So I press fn F8, which turns my laptop's screen blank, but nothing appears on my TV screen. When I press fn F8 to return to my desktop, it finally appears for a split second on the TV, flashing on and off quickly. I don't know why it's not working. The TV is a 27 inch standard def Samsung.
Also, I truly want to use my laptop on our 42 inch Sharp Aquos 1080p TV, but all I have is the S-Video and apparently it won't work with it. I would get VGA cables, but for whatever reason, Dell's VGA ports don't allow VGA cables with "screws" (i.e. almost every VGA cable). Everywhere I look, I can't find "screwless" VGA cables. Someone at that AVS forum suggested (probably jokingly. Maybe not) that I cut off the screws. Does anyone have any suggestions?
I find it odd that I could get a blu-ray player for my laptop (which I did), but not be offered an HDMI input.
Sofu
984 Posts
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August 28th, 2009 02:00
To get your Inspiron 1520 to deliver composite video to your Samsung TV you need to use a specially configured adapter cable such as the one HERE. Alternatively you could try ordering such an adapter from Dell.
To connect the VGA port on your Inspiron 1520 to the VGA input on your Sharp TV use a standard VGA to VGA cable but get rid of the screws at the end connected to the laptop.
EdReedFan20
4 Posts
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August 28th, 2009 21:00
I already have an S-Video cable which on one end is the s-video input for my laptop with a green audio input branching off it for audio-out of my laptop. On the other end the cable has RCA cables (Yellow, White, and Red) for composite inputs on my standard def TV. It's weird, I set it up correctly, yet the only time my desktop appears on my TV screen is when I press fn F8 to switch between laptop only, laptop and external, and external only. It is up on the screen for a split second and when it is it flashes twice and is very jittery. I can't use Dell's adapter with the cable because there is only one S-Video part. This is what I have: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002JFNQU/ref=ox_ya_oh_product.
Sofu
984 Posts
0
August 28th, 2009 21:00
The adapter cable you got thru Amazon will not work for video with the Inspiron 1520. However it might work with certain brands of laptop PC.
Dell does make a suitable composite video adapter cable. See the illustration in the Owner's Manual for the Inspiron 1520 in the section 'Connecting Your Computer to a TV or Audio Device'. You will need an additional RCA to RCA cable that can be bought from any electronics store.
When you have a correct adapter cable the laptop will automatically detect the TV when it boots up. The key combination Fn F8 is unneccessary.
I use my own Inspiron 1520 with a TV having a composite video input (RCA).
Sofu
984 Posts
0
August 28th, 2009 22:00
Contact the Spare Parts people at Dell and order the adapter for the Inspiron 1520 from them. They know (or should know) the compatibility between models.
EdReedFan20
4 Posts
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August 28th, 2009 22:00
Thanks for that info, but when I went to search Dell.com for the product that was shown in the user guide, I checked compatibility and 1520s were not listed. The closest I saw was 1721s. Do I have to look elsewhere because it's been discontinued, or will it work anyways?
These are what I found:
http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/products/Cables/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&cs=19&sku=310-9379
http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/products/Cables/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&cs=19&sku=310-9336
http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/products/Cables/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&cs=19&sku=310-9755
They all look like what was shown in the user guide, but neither show compatibility for 1520s. I want to get one, but I don't want to spend 20 bucks for a cable that doesn't work with my laptop.