Maybe you have done this already, but I was told (not sure yet, as my TV connection is still not working) that you need to configure your system (either PAL or NTSM).
Click on the TV label (right bit of the on/off TV button), it will open a dialog box. Go to format and pick up:PAL for European Systems, or NTSM for US (I reckon). It may work.
Cheers, Tiago.
PS: What is the driver version you are using and from where did you download it?
That is the site of the update for my video driver. From DELL ... and the most recent one. Tell me if there is a even more updated one out there ... even so, I don't think it has anything to do with the video driver update. Honestly saying, I even tried opening up my laptop to check if there were any damage done to the video card somewhere. (But I failed to open it.) Anyways, I think it was fine before I updated it.
Anyways, assuming that your method of changing the format does not work, are there any other solutions or suggestions? (I do not have my laptop on me currently) In addition, I think it would be nice if you had some images so I would understand it easier ...
I am having this same (very common!) problem. Strike 1 for Dell...
My problem: I am using a Dell Latitude D600. Running on Windows 2000. This is a brand new notebook (just 2 weeks old). I put a CD in my laptop, and hooked up the component audio cable from the headphone jack of the laptop into the front composite jacks on my TV. My TV is hooked up to my stereo. I played the CD and it sounds fine - the audio is successfully coming thru the TV to the stereo.
I then hooked an S-Video cable to the component video jack on the front of my TV. I put a DVD in the laptop and pushed play. No picture -- nothing. I tried changing the Input selection on the TV - nothing. I tried looking at the Display Settings of the computer under Control Panel -- nothing. I tried pressing Function + F8 (CRT/LCD) -- nothing. I tried looking at the user manual and online help. Nothing. Nada. No help at all.
Two key differences between my setup and the recommendations made in this thread:
1. I am running Windows 2000. Win2k Does not have a TV/Monitor/etc.. option in the Display settings of Control Panel. That is a Win XP setting option.
2. I have not updated any of the drivers. As this is a brand-new computer, I would have *assumed* that the drivers are already up-to-date. (One would think that Dell would deliver the latest-greatest...) Obviously - this could very well be a false assuption. If it is, which driver do I need to update?
Try updating ur video card ... I'm not sure if you also have to update the rest of ur drivers but for now, just do the video card and try to test out the S-Video again. I'm assuming you plugged the other end of the S-Video to the back of ur TV .. not the front ... because I tried the front of the TV and there was no response.
I downloaded and installed the updated driver (ATI 9000). That seemed to do the trick - initially. I uploaded the driver & rebooted. Plugged the cable from my computers S-Video to my TV's front component inputs. Then went to the Display Options on the Control Panel of my computer. In the settings, the TV image appeared available (no red X through the connector image). I selected it and clicked On. Saved. Then loaded up a DVD and was able to watch and listen to it successfully thru my TV.
But not consistently.
Problems occur intermittently. The TV will go blank - and when I look up the Display Option settings on my computer, the TV will appear disabled and unavailable (red X through the connector image).
This problem happens at random times, for instance: 1. I put in the Hidalgo DVD - which immediately prompted me to install their own DVD player. I hit cancel and the TV screen immediately went blank and disabled.
2. I was successfully watching a DVD and halfway thru my computer went into "lock computer" mode - (requiring me to login again). I logged in, but the TV screen had gone blank and unavailable by then.
Each time, I have to reboot and play around with the settings to get it to work again.
Damm Dell. They really need to make this easier to use out-of-the-box.
Regarding your problem with installing their own dvd player ... and the screen going blank ... that never happened to me. Anyways, instead of rebooting all the time, why not try to take out the S-video component and put it back on ... or close ur laptop (not shutdown but fold it down). Sometimes when u have both the tv and laptop screens on showing the video ... or just the tv ... it's best if u close ur laptop screen ... opening it back after closing it down ... will make the TV turn off or go blank. I'm not sure if this would solve ur problem but I think I had similar problems but it wasn't really a "problem".
In review, either:
1. Unplug the S-Video cable from ur laptop and set ur options again instead of rebooting. 2. Fold down ur laptop screen instead of leaving it open.
PS ... at least it worked in a way after u installed the video driver
Tiago Lopes - P
1 Message
0
August 19th, 2004 11:00
Maybe you have done this already, but I was told (not sure yet, as my TV connection is still not working) that you need to configure your system (either PAL or NTSM).
Click on the TV label (right bit of the on/off TV button), it will open a dialog box. Go to format and pick up:PAL for European Systems, or NTSM for US (I reckon). It may work.
Cheers, Tiago.
PS: What is the driver version you are using and from where did you download it?
nomisage
7 Posts
0
August 22nd, 2004 00:00
http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/format.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=gen&SystemID=LAT_PNT_PM_D600&os=WW1&osl=en&deviceid=3083&devlib=6&category=6&releaseid=R82040
That is the site of the update for my video driver. From DELL ... and the most recent one. Tell me if there is a even more updated one out there ... even so, I don't think it has anything to do with the video driver update. Honestly saying, I even tried opening up my laptop to check if there were any damage done to the video card somewhere. (But I failed to open it.) Anyways, I think it was fine before I updated it.
Anyways, assuming that your method of changing the format does not work, are there any other solutions or suggestions? (I do not have my laptop on me currently) In addition, I think it would be nice if you had some images so I would understand it easier ...
Thank you.
NS
NYC_Girl_115
7 Posts
0
August 23rd, 2004 15:00
I am having this same (very common!) problem. Strike 1 for Dell...
My problem: I am using a Dell Latitude D600. Running on Windows 2000. This is a brand new notebook (just 2 weeks old). I put a CD in my laptop, and hooked up the component audio cable from the headphone jack of the laptop into the front composite jacks on my TV. My TV is hooked up to my stereo. I played the CD and it sounds fine - the audio is successfully coming thru the TV to the stereo.
I then hooked an S-Video cable to the component video jack on the front of my TV. I put a DVD in the laptop and pushed play. No picture -- nothing. I tried changing the Input selection on the TV - nothing. I tried looking at the Display Settings of the computer under Control Panel -- nothing. I tried pressing Function + F8 (CRT/LCD) -- nothing. I tried looking at the user manual and online help. Nothing. Nada. No help at all.
Two key differences between my setup and the recommendations made in this thread:
1. I am running Windows 2000. Win2k Does not have a TV/Monitor/etc.. option in the Display settings of Control Panel. That is a Win XP setting option.
2. I have not updated any of the drivers. As this is a brand-new computer, I would have *assumed* that the drivers are already up-to-date. (One would think that Dell would deliver the latest-greatest...) Obviously - this could very well be a false assuption. If it is, which driver do I need to update?
Thanks so much for your help!
nomisage
7 Posts
0
August 24th, 2004 01:00
The site below is the update for ATI Radeon 9000 ... I'm not sure what type of video card do you have.
http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/format.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=gen&SystemID=LAT_PNT_PM_D600&os=WW1&osl=en&deviceid=3083&devlib=6&category=6&releaseid=R82040
Try this website if ur graphic card is different.
http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/index.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=gen
Try updating ur video card ... I'm not sure if you also have to update the rest of ur drivers but for now, just do the video card and try to test out the S-Video again. I'm assuming you plugged the other end of the S-Video to the back of ur TV .. not the front ... because I tried the front of the TV and there was no response.
-NS
NYC_Girl_115
7 Posts
0
August 31st, 2004 14:00
Thanks for the tip. It helped...sort of...
I downloaded and installed the updated driver (ATI 9000). That seemed to do the trick - initially. I uploaded the driver & rebooted. Plugged the cable from my computers S-Video to my TV's front component inputs. Then went to the Display Options on the Control Panel of my computer. In the settings, the TV image appeared available (no red X through the connector image). I selected it and clicked On. Saved. Then loaded up a DVD and was able to watch and listen to it successfully thru my TV.
But not consistently.
Problems occur intermittently. The TV will go blank - and when I look up the Display Option settings on my computer, the TV will appear disabled and unavailable (red X through the connector image).
This problem happens at random times, for instance:
1. I put in the Hidalgo DVD - which immediately prompted me to install their own DVD player. I hit cancel and the TV screen immediately went blank and disabled.
2. I was successfully watching a DVD and halfway thru my computer went into "lock computer" mode - (requiring me to login again). I logged in, but the TV screen had gone blank and unavailable by then.
Each time, I have to reboot and play around with the settings to get it to work again.
Damm Dell. They really need to make this easier to use out-of-the-box.
nomisage
7 Posts
0
September 1st, 2004 13:00
By the way, I'm from Queens, New York .... nice to meet you. If you wanna chat more to get to know each other, send an email to nomisage@hotmail.com
-NS
nomisage
7 Posts
0
September 1st, 2004 13:00
Regarding your problem with installing their own dvd player ... and the screen going blank ... that never happened to me. Anyways, instead of rebooting all the time, why not try to take out the S-video component and put it back on ... or close ur laptop (not shutdown but fold it down). Sometimes when u have both the tv and laptop screens on showing the video ... or just the tv ... it's best if u close ur laptop screen ... opening it back after closing it down ... will make the TV turn off or go blank. I'm not sure if this would solve ur problem but I think I had similar problems but it wasn't really a "problem".
In review, either:
1. Unplug the S-Video cable from ur laptop and set ur options again instead of rebooting.
2. Fold down ur laptop screen instead of leaving it open.
PS ... at least it worked in a way after u installed the video driver
-NS