Is It Possible to Connect a PC to a TV?

Connect MSI Wind Top PC to LG LCD TV?

• I'm trying to connect an LG 32" LCD TV and an MSI desktop PC using HDMI, and I'm running into a snag. The TV refuses to recognize the PC, and I'm not entirely sure why. Can anyone help me figure out how this is supposed to work? I currently have the http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=424&Itemid=66&limit=1&limitstart=3 desktop PC, running Windows 7. I have a large collection of video files (TV episodes, movies and so forth) that I would like to play on my brand new LG LCD TV (the http://www.walmart.com/ip/LG-32LD350/13904848 model, to be precise). The PC and TV both have HDMI ports, so I purchased an HDMI cable (with v. 1.3 support) to run between them to handle audio and video. Here's the problem: The TV will not accept a signal from the PC at all. When I go into Control Panel --> Appearance and Personalization --> Display --> Screen Resolution, the PC detects the presence of the TV, but under the Display option, the pulldown menu only shows 2 items: "Wind Net1 22" (the PC itself) and "Display device on: VGA". The TV has 2 HDMI ports, and I've tried both of them, to no avail. Having never tried this before, I'm feeling rather dense. I've searched http://www.metafilter.com/contribute/search.mefi?site=ask&q=HDMI on MeFi, as well as http://hd.engadget.com/2006/02/08/how-to-connect-your-pc-to-your-hdtv/ such as Engadget. I'm not sure if there's something I'm missing, or if there's a major reason why this isn't working. If push comes to shove I can purchase the VGA cable and go that route, but it doesn't seem like it would be necessary. Any help that anyone can provide will be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much!

• Answer:

  From http://www.msi.com/index.php?func=prodaiospec&maincat_no=654&cat2_no=&cat3_no=&prod_no=1933 for the Wind Top and the review you linked to, it looks like the HDMI port on your PC is actually for HDMI in, not out (so you could use the Wind Top like a TV). Same with the VGA port. So you're probably out of luck using that port. You may be able to use a USB 2.0 video adapter http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812797001&cm_re=usb_hdmi-_-12-797-001-_-Product, however.