R51: S-/composite video out stopped working ...

[RBob]

I have an old R51 (1836-H7U) running Windows XP Pro SP3.

I used to be able to connect a cable from the S-Video out to a TV and get a low-res copy of the LCD display, but when I tried it yesterday, I got nothing.

I've tried direct S-Video connections and an S/composite adapter to 3 different TVs with the same result.

Playing with Fn-F7, I see the TV screen flicker briefly, but no image appears. I even installed Presentation Manager (never needed it), but it doesn't do anything different. Rebooting with the cable connected to the TV doesn't do anything either.

But, if I right-click the desktop, select Properties->Settings, click on the "2" screen icon and check the "Extend my Windows desktop onto this monitor", the TV lights up with the desktop background and I can move the cursor into that space and drag windows there, so the video out is actually working.

So, why can't I get the desktop to display? Have I forgotten some important step? It's been a long time since I've tried to use that feature.

[RBob]

So, why can't I get the desktop to display? Have I forgotten some important step? It's been a long time since I've tried to use that feature.

That was it; pressing the "power" button on the tab for the external display in the advanced settings fixed everything.

[vitalous]

I have the same R51 and have never tried the S-video.
How does it look?
I wish my R51 would do 1400x1050 like my T60!

John

[RBob]

I have the same R51 and have never tried the S-video.
How does it look?

Even on a 20" TV it's pretty fuzzy; you'd certainly never want to use it in place of a real monitor for day-to-day use.

For slide shows (photos or PowerPoint style) or for watching streaming TV or movies, it seems to be perfectly adequate.

I'm sure it would be worse on a larger screen, but that's all I have in the house at the moment.