Computers have two seperate systems - one for video and one for sound.
The only computer (or laptop) connection that carries both video
and sound is HDMI. If you do not have a HDMI/DVI connector on the back
of your computer, then you will have to use the VGA-composite or
s-video connectors to display your PC's output on an external monitor
like an LCD TV.
On both my HP and Dell laptops the display settings (Start/Control
Panel/Personalize/Display Settings) allow two modes - single or dual
monitor mode. Single monitor mode allows me to switch between any one
of three possible video outputs - VGA-composite, S-Video or laptop
screen, or a split-desktop (display spread over two seperate monitors).
Dual monitor mode allows the same display on any two of three possible
video outputs.
Switching is performed using the fn keys on the keyboard (fn key
plus the F2, F8, etc. function key with the display marking). You guys
use single monitor mode until you figure out what your are doing.
Select VGA-composite or S-Video.
Non-HDMI sound to your TV monitor or sound system must be obtained
from your laptop's Headphone or S/PDIF jacks. Headphone is stereo and
S/PDIF is 5.1 surround sound. Headphone is electrical, but S/PDIF may
be electrical or optical (laser light). You must set the sound jack
that you intend to use as the default on the PC control panel
(Start/Control Panel/Sound).
None of these connectors is two-way in the context of an LCD
monitor - your PC cannot record a TV picture or sound from the external
monitor. To accomplish this you must purchase a video converter box
that converts cable TV or video+sound inputs to USB format usable by
your laptop. Do this and you can turn your laptop into a Tivo
recorder/DVD burner using Beyond TV, Sage TV or a variety of other
software packages.
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