Solved Laptop Conneting to TV Media Player Question

[ddix1026]

Hi all.. I have a question that I hope someone can help with. Here's my situation..

On my old laptop, which was running Win XP, I could connect the laptop to the TV (via VGA input) and when I would open a video file, the video would play on my TV and I could browse the web or do whatever I wanted on my actual laptop display and it would not affect what was playing on the TV screen (would still be showing the video I was playing). I could even minimize the WMP program that was playing the video, and it would still play on my TV screen without interruption

Now, I got a new Toshiba laptop with Win 7 Home Premium (64), and I would like to have that same thing happen when I play a video. However, I tried playing a video for the first time tonight, and no matter what I tried, I could not browse the web (or do anything else) without the browser window (or other program windows) showing up on my TV while I was playing the video.

Does anyone know how I can play my WMP video on my TV (through the laptop) while having the video show on the TV screen and have my browser/programs open on my actual laptop screen without interrupting the video playing on my TV?

My video is the integrated Intel HD Video (i3 processor, 2.1 GHz) with a Toshiba Satellite P755-S5215 model. 6GB RAM, 640GB HDD..

Please help. I really need to know how to do this, as I like to go to things like IMDB while watching movies/shows that i have on my laptop and look stuff up, but cant be pausing it and switching back and forth from WPM to internet, etc.

Thanks!

 

[carwiz]

Just change Windows display mode. (Presentation Mode)

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2019-presentation-mode-change.html

Change to Extended Mode. Then you can move WMP over to the TV.

 

[ddix1026]

I tried that (changing it to extended), unfortunately, when I did that, I could see the desktop background on my TV, but no icons or video or programs.

 

[Barman58]

You may need to set up the driver for the graphics first before you can use the Windows controls

There should be an icon in the system tray for the Intel Graphics check this is set to send the video to both monitors and then set up as above

 

[ddix1026]

yeah, there is the icon in the sys tray for the Intel graphics.. I will have to try that later (when not watching TV) and see if that does anything.. thought I tried that and did the same thing I said above, but I could be wrong...

 

[Barman58]

The driver level control is normally one of Laptop/External [TV]/both, where you should select both once you have the image on both screens you should then chose to display as multiple desktops, Best to set the default screen [1] to be the laptop screen as this will always be available where the TV will not

 

[ddix1026]

I cannot select multiple display option unless I actually have the TV plugged into the laptop (when I disconnect it, it goes back to Single Display option only). that sounds correct?

keeping in mind, I didnt have to do any of this with XP, which I just got rid of about a week ago on my laptop, that's why im asking all these questions about these options

 

[Barman58]

Sounds correct that you cannot select a display unless it is actually available

The multiple display situation is different on win7 from XP but as you also have a new laptop that may also be different to your previous set-up, both will need to be set-up correctly to get things working.

Once you have things set-up you can modify settings from a right click on the desktop, allowing you to set the screens up to follow the physical layout.

The taskbar BTW only appears on the default [1] screen it is not visible on the [2] screen

 

[ddix1026]

Just wanted to let you know that what you told me worked. I simply didnt know I could drag the WMP over to the other monitor (off my laptop screen and completely on to the second display, which is the TV). never had to do that before

thanks for your (and carwiz's) help