Laptop to TV

[kittykat558]

Well, I read another thread here about the same question, but my situation is different and I don't really know too much about computer hardware, so I thought if I asked, then I would be able to get the same help....

I am trying to connect my laptop to my TV so that I can watch my PAL format movies since they don't work on the average US DVD player....

My laptop isn't the best, I have an Acer Aspire 5600, so the only ports it has are the USB ports, the ethernet ports, and this blue one on the side that I think is used to plug in a monitor. It has a picture that looks like a monitor, plus it makes sense to have something like that.

Any ideas would greaty be appreciated...thanks

[jlreich]

Welcome to the http://www.pcguide.com/ubb/pcgubb.gif forums.

Most laptops have an S-video out port. Even my 8 year old Dell has one. Look for one on your laptop. It's black and about 3/8".

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8f/MiniDIN-4_Connector_Pinout.svg/170px-MiniDIN-4_Connector_Pinout.svg.png

[kittykat558]

No such luck. The ones I listed earlier are the only ones I have with the exception of the ones I didn't think would be helpful such as the SD reader on the front and the space on the side which I think is supposed to be used for a wireless card? The laptop is bluetooth compatable if that helps, but I have yet to get anything to hook up to it (it says there are no devices when there clearly are since other computers around are hooking up to them).

I'm not sure...is there some way maybe that there's a cord that can plug both into the monitor spot and the headphone jack? then the other end could be the Svid cords (I think that's what they're called..the red white and yellow wires that go into the TV)....I have no idea...

[jlreich]

I'm not sure...is there some way maybe that there's a cord that can plug both into the monitor spot and the headphone jack?
Not that I'm aware of.

There has to be some way for your system to hook up to a TV. Have you looked in your manual? There may be something helpful in there. I tried looking up aspire 5600 and couldn't find anything on that exact model. Only 5610 and up.

[kittykat558]

I haven't checked my manual...I think it's at home (I'm a college student away at school)

We found this wire

http://www.eforcity.com/pothvgasvrc1.html?gad=CNGV0_4CEgjzLnO-zCySDRiJp-j9AyDV7too

and we thought it might work, but we're not sure. It has that little disclaimer at the bottom that I'm not quite sure about.

but we thought that if we use that and then get a cord that comes out of the headphone jack and splits into the red and white svid cords, it would all connect ot the tv [of course needing an attatchment for the cord at the URL since it is female ended..]

does this sound reasonable? do you think it will work? my tv is the kind you have to turn chanels to watch dvds and stuff (to TV/AV button or anything)....any ideas?

[jlreich]

If your system supports TV-out directly through the VGA port it will work. I can't say for certain since I can't find your manual online but your system may very well support it since it doesn't have the usual Svideo port like most laptops do.

This also assuming your TV has an Svideo-in port, or an RCA jack.

Is your model number exactly 5600? Does it have any letters or numbers after it?

Edit - for the price of that cable I would say it's worth a shot. If we can find the manual we can say for certain. Or if nothing else you could email Acer tech support and see if they can confirm that it will work.

[kittykat558]

Specifically? it's an Acer Aspire 5601 AWLMi--

that's all it says...

im not sure how to contact them...i guess their website?

[jlreich]

The manual doesn't say anything about TV, but like I said before I think it is worth a try with the cable you linked to. Just the fact that it doesn't have Svideo makes me think that it will support it through the VGA port. I of course can't guarantee it will work. But for less than $15...

[kittykat558]

sounds great.

thanks for the help

[jlreich]

Good luck. Let us know if it works or not.