z60m s-video out not working

[classybum]

hi guys-

i just got my z60m 2529efu about 2 months ago.. and so far no real problems. however, just last night i was messing around with the s-video out connection, and couldn't get it to work.

i suspect the problem may have something to do with the output resolution. however, i could not find a combination of lcd resolution and s-vid out that worked. has anyone experimented with this?

here's hte specs on my laptop:
P M 740(1.73GHz), 512MB RAM, 60GB 5400rpm HD, 15.4in 1280x800 LCD, 128MB ATI Radeon X600, CDRW/DVDRW, Intel 802.11abg wireless, Bluetooth/Modem, 1Gb Ethernet, UltraNav, Secure chip, IEEE 1394, Fingerprint reader, 6c Li-Ion batt, WinXP Pro

so if one of you has the x600 video card, could you possibly test the s-video out and if it works let me know your settings? I was switching video modes using the presentation director (FN + F7), and tried the default modes and creating my own with various resolutions and color bit depths but nothing sent a picture to my tv. i tried two tv's, and also going through a reciever, nothing worked.

thanks!

[GomJabbar]

Try this. With a TV connected and on, right-click on an open area of the desktop. Choose Properties > Settings > Advanced > Displays, then click on the button (should be red) with the I in the circle next to TV. The button should turn green. Click on OK then OK.

To watch videos on the TV, you also need to turn on Theater Mode. As above, choose Properties > Settings > Advanced > Overlay > Theater mode options... > Theater Mode.

[classybum]

well, i did as you advised, with no luck. when i go into desktop properties > settings > advanced > displays, the tv icon is always greyed out. i've gotten the vga output to work correctly, but never the s video. the button is never even red, just greyed out. but here's a question: the picture of hte connector below the tv most resembles a vga connector... not an s-video connector. does that match what you see? i tried searching around the menu options looking for an option for tv out to be sent through s-video, but didn't find anything.

i also tried messing with the theatre mode options, but everything on the overlay, as well as the advanced screen, are greyed out.

have you installed hte latest ATI video update? i installed one a week or so ago, and i wonder if that messed things up.

i suppose if i find time during the next few days, i'll try to give lenovo support a phone call.

thanks for the input tho.. and if you have any other suggestions i'm happy to try them out. and i can post screenshots of the menus if you want.. but they're all greyed out anyway, even with the svideo connected to powered tv.

[GomJabbar]

An S-Video connector on the laptop is a round female jack. The S-Video cable is a male connector with a metal ring on the outside, 4 metal pins inside, and a plastic alignment pin inside. Basically it looks like a DIN plug - if you are familiar with that. Note: I have read that some older S-Video cables have 7 pins rather than 4.

The TV has to be plugged in to the laptop before you can choose it in display properties. This could be the reason it is greyed out for you. Make sure the input jack on the TV is active (choosen on the TV menu). Verify that your S-Video cable is in good condition by testing it on something else if possible.

I just checked on my T42 (I don't have the Z60m). Launch Access IBM help by pressing the Access IBM button (maybe it's called ThinkVantage on yours). Go to Get Help & Support > View References > Use on-system help > go to TV, click on Display, then click on See Also. You should see a diagram of the S-Video jack and it's location.

[zinkpad]

Hi classy,

My Z60m also has an X600 video card. I have successfully used Fn-F7 to enable S-Video output for television. From Fn-F7, I choose Manage Schemes, add a new display scheme and choose TV for it. Remember to choose NTSC/PAL, a resolution of 800x600 or lower (unless your TV can support the higher resolution) and switch your TV video input to S-Video.

Good luck!
zinkpad