Linking computer to TV

Jack, please notice this: my recommendations are based on the facts that you A) get the exact TV model you mentioned, and B) Your PC make and model are as you mentioned and it has the default Geforce GT 220 graphics card that is included on that model according to the Packard Bell's website.

Come back if you need something when you have the gear. :)

Kari

Any TV with HDMI input is OK. USB is then another question, for instance we have an older LCD-TV where is a USB input but that is only for service purposes, we can not connect anything to it. Just to be sure, ask about hard disk connectivity when in store.

Kari

According to system specifications, that TV has built-in Freeview HD and Freesat HD tuners, so the answer is yes.

Kari

Hi Jackdash. I think you also may be able to connect that TV via WiFi. So, cables are not necessary. You will need to connect the TV to the router and the same with your PC laptop or just anything. It will also give you access to the internet etc. You will be ablle to use Youtube and if you live in the UK you can get the iPlayer as well...
Havefun seting it all up though. Take your time and do it via the book...

BTW you need to set the TV to accept HDMI transmission from a HDMI connected device...Look in the manual or the manual on the TV...


Sorry to set it up via WIFI you have to purchase a dongle which should come with the TV but, you will have to buy the seperate...(Bathplugs!) Nice TV though...

Yep in settings for HDMI set the incoming connection for HDMI 1.

OK, Jack, let's try this:

• Connect the HDMI cable to the graphics card on PC and one of the TV's HDMI inputs
• Select the correct input in TV
• Start Windows 7
• Right click an empty spot on Windows desktop, select Screen Resolution
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• Screen resolution tool should now show both your displays, one colored blue indicating it's connected an in use, the other (TV) gray indicating it's connected but not in use
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• Select your preferred display mode from the drop down menu in Multiple Displays. In dual display system you can choose:
  
  • Duplicate these displays
  • Extend these displays
  • Show desktop only on 1
  • Show desktop only on 2
• Show desktop on 1 or 2 are quite self explanatory. The other two alternatives might need some explaining.
  
  • A duplicated display mode means the displays are cloned, showing exactly the same. Maximum resolution you can choose is the maximum resolution of the smaller of your displays, for instance if your display 1 (monitor) have a maximum resolution of 1440 * 900, and display 2 (TV) has a maximum resolution of 1920 * 1080, you can only choose 1440 * 900 or less, reason being that because the monitor can not show more than 1440 * 900 it would be impossible to duplicate the desktop if the chosen resolution were more
  • In screen resolution tool you can see that instead of two monitor icons, only one is shown, labeled both 1 and 2:
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  • An extended display mode means that both displays are showing different part of your desktop. You can drag a window from display 1 and drop it on display 2, to have different applications open on different displays. You can for instance watch a movie on display 2 (TV) while surfing the net on display 1 (monitor). Resolution can now be individually set on both, in this example of mine for instance I have display 2 on the right as my main display with resolution 1680 * 1050, and display 1 at left is the secondary display with resolution 1440 * 900:
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If this the first time you are using dual display system, moving the mouse in extended mode can be a bit confusing. It really is extremely simple: you can drag those monitor icons as you wish in Screen Resolution tool to tell Windows where you want the mouse to move to other display.

Some examples, first the image showing monitor icons and then explanation:


Here you move the pointer between displays by moving it over the bottom right corner of display 1 or top left corner of display 2.


Move the pointer over the top edge of display 1 or the bottom of display 2.


Move the pointer over the left edge of display 1 or the right edge of display 2.


Move the pointer over the right edge of display 1 or the left edge of display 2.

Kari

Jack, it seems your PC has a Geforce GT220 graphics card. That card has three outputs: VGA, DVI and HDMI. Two of them, VGA and either DVI or HDMI can be used at the same time for a dual display system.

I'll bet you monitor at the moment is connected with VGA. That leaves both DVI and HDMI free. My recommendation would be to measure the distance from your PC to where the new TV comes, and buy a long enough HDMI cable together with the TV. Then it's simply to connect the HDMI cable's other end to your GT 220 card in your PC, and the other end to one of four available HDMI inputs on that Samsung TV your mentioned.

When you are so far, just come back here and we'll be happy to help you to set it up.

Kari

I changed my mind on the Samsung and bought a Panasonic TX-L32D28BSA
Plugged my HDMI lead into the GT 220 HD socket the other end into the Panasonic HDMI1 port.
Shut down the computer, switched on the TV used the AV button to select the HDMI1 port then booted up the computer but nothing happened on the TV screen also nothing new on the computer monitor, no new hardware detected etc.
Any suggestions on where to go from here would be welcome.
Sorry I forgot to mention I already use 2 monitors on my desktop computer, one in the VGA slot and the other in the DVI.
Maybe I should disconnect one of these.
Thanks
jack