| If you have ever tried to set up dual
screens on a PC and had no idea what you were doing or wanted to connect
your TV to your computer and play games on your TV; well, here's a guide
that might be useful to you. The first thing
you need to do is decide how you want to setup your TV.
There are many different types of input
devices:
S-video, Component, VGA adaptor, DVi and HDMi.
Once you have chosen the required lead, you next need to get a 3.5mm Stereo Splitter Adapter
and a 3.5mm Stereo to 2x Phono Audio Cable.
Types of adaptors
| S-Video |
VGA |
Component |
DVi |
HDMi |
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Measure the
distant from your PC to your TV, the way the lead will be put on the
ground and then order a lead the suits your purpose. |
The main difference between S-video and the rest of the
inputs is in the clarity of picture. Anything above VGA will give you
a clear picture and it's down to you budget after that.
Now that you have chosen the type of lead you want; you
next have to get the respective connector to hook up your sound.
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3.5mm Stereo Splitter Adapter |
3.5mm Stereo to 2x Phono Audio Cable |
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If you intend
to use the sound on your PC speakers as well as the sound on your
Television, you will need one of these, to allow both sets of
speakers to run simultaneously. |
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Then next thing you want to do is measure out how
long the lead will need to be; you won't want this lead to be too
short. The same applies to your video lead. |
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In Europe,there is the SCART input and this is used when you need to
connect you S-Video input to a SCART TV that offers S-Video Via
SCART. |
So we have connected our PC to our TV and the Next step
is to tell our PC that we have a new monitor display for it to choose.
Switch on you computer and let windows load up.
Once it has loaded up, you want to right click anywhere
on the desktop display and you will see this.
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Were interested in this. Click on
properties and the next window below will appear. |
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Click
on the settings tab at the end and the look below.
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Click
on the advanced button of the lower right part of the display. |
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Were interested in clicking on this tab
specifically to display all the graphics card options. |

Here is where you choose how you
want the second display to work. I use clone display to play
movies.
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This
shows you all the devices that are connected to your PC and the
order you want displayed. I have more than two monitor devices
and have can only choose two of them at once.
If you want to only play your games and movies on
the TV pick single display and you can then pick your TV as your
primary display. Your monitor will switch off but don't worry.
When you are ready to use you monitor, just come back here and
switch the primary display back to your monitor and it will wake
back up again and the TV will disappear. If you have your TV
switched off, the PC will revert back to your main monitor and you
won't need to switch you TV on just to your monitor working.
I used Clone Display mode all the time;
even when the TV is switched off. It never causes me problems
but, should you find that the TV no longer is displaying a picture;
just come back here and turn it back on again. Each TV is
different and doesn't always keep a signal all the time. |

Last but not least. You may
need to set your Secondary monitor to full screen for playing movies.
You need to go here and set one of the displays to full screen. I
choose the second monitor. If you don't, you may find that that
you can't see the film running.
I hope this little guide in
playing games and movies is useful.
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