Hi guys and gals,
I have  an acer aspire series notebook. Im trying to hook my laptop up to a big screen tv to do some presentations. however my computer only has a monitor output. i saw a cable on the internet that converts a VGA output to either S-video or Component. so i bought one. but my laptop refuses to put anything out. Its as if the computer doesnt think anything is hooked up to it wont send the info out the monitor output. any ideas what could be wring or other CHEAP solutions?

have you tried forcing it to output to monitor?

its usualy fn + something, although ive never used an acer before.

Igloo

yes its fun F5 and it doesnt work. i had a regular hooked up recently so i know the feature works it just wont work with the TV when i go to the display setting in the control panel and try to extend the windowssetting to the secound monitor my laptop screen go blank for a sec then go back to normal and nothing changes!

Yesi made sure the tv was set to video 1 and i was plugged into the video 1 port.
also i tried to reboot and it didnt work
when i first got the laptop when i pushed function F5 (screen change) i would get a green graphic come up and the let me choose between laptop, external monitor or both but it doesnt do it anymore. the same thing happens with the volume control it used to show me a graphic to see what the volume was at. it doesnt anymore but i can still change the volume. anyone got an idea how to get my on screen graphics back?

I think a  repair or reinstall is a little drastic. the laptop is only like 1.5 months old. and it workd a few weeks ago. im sure its just a setting  that needs correcting. i just dont how to do it.

ok i have my on screen graphics back and i hooked up a regular monitor and it works. but not when the TV is hooked up.
i heard that different manufactures use different ground pin outs for monitors is this true?
Could it be that that monitor communcates with the computer and tv doesnt?

The on screen graphic came back after i adjusted some video settings.

I can hook up fine to either a monitor or projector.
but when i try to use a vga-s video adaptorand  hook up to the tv i cant change from single monitor to dual monitor mode
its as if the computer wont recognize the tv as a display source and wont put the signal out.

Is this an Nvidia graphics chipset?  NVidia drivers have a little check box that says "force TV detection", or something like that.  Have a look for soemthing similar.  My TV-out wouldn't work when using a S-video/composite adapter until I checked this box.

the video card is SIS M661MX

unfortunhately i believe this is integrated so there is now way to replace it.

Not sure if this will help since your hookup and this is slightly different.
You might try the setup procedure just to see though.

http://www.svideo.com/compaq1700.html