How to Hook Up a Computer Projector

Projectors can be a great way to present PowerPoint presentations or show information to a larger group of people, but they generally seem a bit less user friendly than a standard computer monitor. They are actually quite easy to use, however, and once you get past the initial differences you'll find that using a projector is no more difficult than using a monitor.

Things You'll Need

• Projector
• Desktop computer or laptop

Instructions

1. Most projectors use the same type of interface that a computer monitor does, so you can attach the projector to the VGA input on your laptop or desktop computer. Make sure that both the computer and the projector are turned off when you initially connect them so as to prevent accidental hardware damage or short circuits in case you accidentally start to attach the projector incorrectly.

2. When you have attached the projector to the VGA input on your computer, turn the projector on and let it run for a few minutes. As the projector starts it should display some sort of image or blank screen, despite the computer not being turned on. If there is an image displayed then you can use it to focus the projector if needed.

3. Turn the computer on. In most cases the computer will recognize the projector immediately and use it as a display device. If it does not, you may need to shut down the computer and attach a standard monitor in order to install needed drivers or configure the computer to recognize the projector before reconnecting the projector and trying again.

4. When you are done with the projector, shut down your computer as you normally would. Once the computer has been successfully shut down you may turn off the projector and disconnect it from the computer, reconnecting your monitor so that you can go back to using it.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep a spare bulb for your projector and know how to change it correctly in case the projector isn't displaying anything when you turn it on

• If your video card supports a dual-monitor setup, you can leave your standard monitor attached to your computer and use it as a control or staging area to have better control over what is displayed on the projected image

• Be careful when transporting a projector and make sure that it's always placed on a stable surface, as projectors contain several more fragile parts than most monitors do