How to Get Dell Monitors to Show on a TV

Connect a Dell monitor to a TV with standard video cables.

Dell monitors and laptops with LCD screens are equipped with a variety of ports for connecting AV equipment. The S-video OUT port can be used to connect a television so the images shown on the monitor or laptop screen appear on the TV. This connection requires either a standard S-video cable or an S-video adapter and an RCA-type video cable. Both are available at computer and electronics stores.

Things You'll Need

• S-video cable or S-video to RCA adapter with RCA video cable

Instructions

1. Check the back of the TV to determine if an S-video port is available. This round port contains four pin holes with three notches around the perimeter. It should also be labeled S-video.

2. Insert the S-video cable or adapter into the S-video port on the back of the monitor or the back edge of the Dell laptop. Take care to align the pins in the plug with the holes in the port.

3. Connect an S-video cable directly to the S-video port on the back of the TV to complete the connection. If the TV does not have S-video, insert the end of a standard RCA-type video cable into the S-video adapter connected to the Dell, then plug the RCA cable into the Video IN jack on the TV.

4. Turn on the TV and press the "Input" button repeatedly until the monitor image appears on the television.

Tips & Warnings

• Use the computer's speakers for audio. The connections described here provide video and images only.

• Turn off the TV and unplug the monitor from the electricity while connecting the video cables.

References

• Henrico County: How to Connect the Dell Laptop to a TV