Connect your computer to a TV

To connect your computer to a TV, your computer needs to have an output port that matches one of the input ports

 on your TV.

   What you'll need if you have an HDTV

Because almost every computer has an output port, you can use a cable to connect your computer to your 

high-definition television (HDTV). Most computers have a VGA output port (so using VGA cables is very 

common). Others have Digital Visual Interface (DVI), high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI), or 

component video output ports, which all require different kinds of cables.

The following scenarios show you how you can connect a computer to an HDTV:

If your computer has this type    It should work with this type          Using this type of cable

of output port                               of TV input port

   HDMI                                                  HDMI                                                HDMI to HDMI

   DVI                                               DVI or HDMI                                   DVI to DVI or DVI to HDMI

   VGA                                                   VGA                                                     VGA          

   What you'll need if you have a standard-definition TV

Most standard-definition TVs support only composite video or S-Video connections. If your computer supports

 one of these, you might be able to connect it to your TV. However, both of these connection types will result 

in displays that are not as sharp as the results you get with an HDTV or with a standard computer monitor.

The following scenarios show you how you can connect a computer to a standard-definition TV:

If your computer has this type    It should work with this type          Using this type of cable

of output port                               of TV input port

Composite video                              Composite video                           Composite video to composite video

  S-Video                                           S-Video                                               S-Video to S-Video

   Connect your computer to your TV

After you have the right cable, follow these steps to connect your computer to your TV:

1. Turn off your computer and position it within easy reach of your TV. Disconnect the monitor, but leave
    the mouse and keyboard connected.
2. Connect the appropriate video cable from your computer's output to your TV.
3. Turn on your TV and set it to the input that matches the output on your computer. You might need 
   to refer to the user's guide included with your TV for instructions on how to do this.
4. Turn on your computer.
   You should see Windows displayed on your TV. If the screen looks stretched, or part of the screen
    seems cut off, you probably need to adjust the screen resolution in Windows.
   If you can't see Windows on your TV, you might need to reconnect the computer to your monitor
   and adjust the screen resolution before you connect to your TV.

Notes

• Cables for VGA, DVI, and component video don't support audio signals. However, HDMI cables do support audio 
  signals, but not all HDMI-enabled video cards support audio. If your HDTV has an audio input, you might be able

  to connect a separate audio cable from your computer sound card directly to the TV. Otherwise, you'll need to

   connect the 
  audio signal to a different device, such as external computer speakers or your home stereo system.
• If your computer doesn't support the type of video connection you need, then you might be able to install a new
   video card that has the right connection.