Connecting laptop to HDTV w/HDMI

Cuba

As the title suggest, I am trying to connect a laptop:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8670075&type=product&id=1197073928749

to this HDTV:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8277535&type=product&id=1171671628885

From what I understand, all that should be necessary is the HDMI cable that connects the laptop to the HDTV, and that from there I should be able to view on the HDTV, what is being displayed on the laptop. I have connected the laptop to the HDTV with the HDMI cable, but the HDTV will not display anything.

There are three HDMI plug-ins on the HDTV, and I have tried connecting the laptop to all three. From there, let's say that the laptop is connected to HDMI port #1, then the HDTV will give me a blank picture, and say that there's "No Signal". Which is odd, considering that everything that is needed (the HDMI cable connecting the laptop to the HDTV) is there.

The satellite signal that is pumped into the HDTV displays and works fine, as does the PS2. But for whatever reason, it's not liking this HDMI business.

Any thoughts?

Does anyone have any idea what the reason may be?

vonPoonBurGer

Is the laptop configured to send a signal on the HDMI port? Most laptops I've worked with, you have to toggle it to use the secondary video port, it doesn't send any signal by default (saves power). Usually you hold down the blue function key and hit F4. That should let you switch between the built-in display, an external display, or a combo of the two. I know that works for the VGA port on a laptop, not sure if it's different for the HDMI port or not. If it's not Fn+F4, then I'd say it's probably a video driver thing. I know for Nvidia 6000 series cards, you need to specify the HDTV resolution in your display properties before you'll get an image.

wazilla

It's likely a setting on the laptop. There should be some sort of wizard that guides you through the process of detecting and configuring devices connected via HDMI. Usually it would be found under your graphics card manufacturer settings panel.

Disclaimer: I've never worked with Vista, I've heard shady rumors about HDMI having some sort of DRM on it when streaming content but I really wouldn't know if that applies to just trying to display your desktop on a TV

vonPoonBurGer

wazilla wrote: »

Disclaimer: I've never worked with Vista, I've heard shady rumors about HDMI having some sort of DRM on it when streaming content but I really wouldn't know if that applies to just trying to display your desktop on a TV

That'd be HDCP, and it shouldn't come into the picture unless the OP is trying to play some media that flags itself as protected content. However, it is possible that it could be a handshake issue, where two HDMI+HDCP compliant devices don't manage to work out the details of the connection properly. I recall the PS3 briefly having issues of this sort when plugging into certain HDTVs. As I recall, those problems were resolved with a software and/or firmware update. Something similar could be happening in this situation.