# Trying to hook my computer to my TV to watch DVD's! Please help! **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 26, 2002, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trying-to-hook-my-computer-to-my-tv-to-watch-dvds-please-help/129696 "2002-09-26T07:23:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![gitfiddle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/898d66/32.png) [@gitfiddle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gitfiddle)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2002, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trying-to-hook-my-computer-to-my-tv-to-watch-dvds-please-help/129696/1 "2002-09-26T07:23:53Z")
I have everything hooked up, I just don’t know what to do from here. The TV screen shows something, but it’s just an extension of the computer screen (meaning if I keep moving my mouse to the right it will move of the edge of the computer screen and onto the TV screen. How do I get the TV to show exactly what’s on the computer. The guy in the room next to mine has the same hook up so I know it can be done, he just doesn’t have windows XP as I do. Please help me! ---
**Author:** ![Andy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/aeb1de/32.png) [@Andy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2002, 7:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trying-to-hook-my-computer-to-my-tv-to-watch-dvds-please-help/129696/2 "2002-09-26T07:34:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by gitfiddle \* > Please help me! Please help the Mods! Post in the right forum! ---
**Author:** ![London\_Calling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@London\_Calling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/London_Calling)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2002, 7:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trying-to-hook-my-computer-to-my-tv-to-watch-dvds-please-help/129696/3 "2002-09-26T07:51:56Z")
If the guy in the next room is to the _right_ of you, it’s probably part of a consumer based conspiracy to get you to go out and consume more. If he’s in a room to the _left_ of you, it probably means he’s telling you the upgrade was unnecessary and you’re a fool for buying into the ‘new is better’ culture. Thus we (maybe) have a debate: Is it reasonable that the natural human inclination for betterment be allowed to be manipulated by self-interested political-economic radicals or is emotional based consumption a reasonable/responsible function of capitalist society ? Answer: Time for more coffee while I examine the papers for a bargain priced SUV. ---
**Author:** ![RexDart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b77776/32.png) [@RexDart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RexDart)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2002, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trying-to-hook-my-computer-to-my-tv-to-watch-dvds-please-help/129696/4 "2002-09-27T04:51:08Z")
Considering last night’s SDMB blackout, do we really want to strain the servers moving this post to GQ? ---
**Author:** ![emarkp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3be4f8/32.png) [@emarkp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emarkp)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2002, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trying-to-hook-my-computer-to-my-tv-to-watch-dvds-please-help/129696/5 "2002-09-27T06:12:53Z")
The solution depends entirely on the drivers for your video card. Typically you can reach the settings for your display by right-clicking on the desktop and selecting ‘properties’. Find the Settings tab, the ‘Advanced’ button, and see what’s available there. ---
**Author:** ![PhiloVance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e19adc/32.png) [@PhiloVance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhiloVance)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2002, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trying-to-hook-my-computer-to-my-tv-to-watch-dvds-please-help/129696/6 "2002-09-27T19:09:47Z")
Maybe I shouldn’t even respond because your title does not agree with what the post says, however I will try. If you just want to watch DVD’s on your TV and you only have a DVD ‘player’ on your computer, the best solution is to go out and buy a DVD player (they’re exceptionally cheap now, even good ones). From what I’ve heard (actually haven’t tried it myself) is the picture from the DVD rom when played on the TV is of lesser quality than on your computer screen. Apparently too many links to go through. If DVD players were expensive ($500 or so) it would be different. But I’ve seen lots of them cheaper than that. A good place to [start looking.](http://www.dvdplayerpricesearch.com/) 😉 ---
**Author:** ![UrbanChic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9dc877/32.png) [@UrbanChic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UrbanChic)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2002, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trying-to-hook-my-computer-to-my-tv-to-watch-dvds-please-help/129696/7 "2002-09-27T19:27:40Z")
We once tried hooking our Thinkpad (it has a DVD drive) up to the TV to see how it would work. The Thinkpad has an S-Video interface and a built in feature that allows you to optimize the output for TV viewing. Check the help section of your 'puter or the website for the DVD drive. ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2002, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trying-to-hook-my-computer-to-my-tv-to-watch-dvds-please-help/129696/8 "2002-09-28T00:58:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by London\_Calling \* > **Thus we (maybe) have a debate: Is it reasonable that the natural human inclination for betterment be allowed to be manipulated by self-interested political-economic radicals or is emotional based consumption a reasonable/responsible function of capitalist society ?** If I make a DVD of someone blowing up an abortion clinic, and I defend my video studio with an unregistered rifle that falls under the Federal assault weapons laws, and in the process I get caught smoking marijuana to alleviate the nausea that comes from taking anti-AIDS drugs and arrested without being read my Miranda rights, and then on the way to the police station I notice some fossilized dinosaur footprints alongside fossilized human footprints (thus proving the Creation account given in Genesis) on someone’s private property that was recently declared a Federal wetlands area and confiscated without just compensation, and then the police use a psychic to prove that I’m guilty but the court showed leniency because I was kidnapped by aliens when I was a kid, would that make me look fat in this dress? ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2002, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trying-to-hook-my-computer-to-my-tv-to-watch-dvds-please-help/129696/9 "2002-09-28T01:14:03Z")
**Moderator’s Note:** See, guys, now I’m gonna move this thread over to General Questions with all your smart-ass remarks in it, and then Manny’s gonna kill me. (Of course, if the OP is using the wrong operating system, he’s doomed for sure…)