How to connect a laptop to an LCD tv?

How do I connect a laptop to a LCD TV and use it as a monitor?

• Hi, I have a toshiba portege 800 laptop and I want to connect it to my toshiba regza LCD tv using a VGA cable. Currently it seems to be able to connect easily but once it reaches the startup screen, the LCD tv screen turns blank. Why is that so and how do I fix the problem? Also, I have white and red RCA cables that are linked to a stearo plug, how do I connect it to the laptop also cos it also doesn't work?

• Answer:

  Hiya Mad, You are so on the right track!! Your question was informative enough for me to determine a few major things and give you the right answer to fix it. Since the TV works before loading Windows; this tell me 2 things. 1. The laptop may not need to be configured. 2. Windows does need to be configured. To configure Windows: Boot the laptop and once in Windows, open the CONTROL PANEL. Click and open DISPLAY, then click on the SETTINGS tab on the top of the display properties applet. You should see 2 monitors in the window and one should be grayed out. Right click on this monitor and select ATTACHED, and then click OK. The monitor should come to life and display exactly what you see on the laptop LCD. If you only see 1 monitor, this means that Windows does not detect the external display and this is most likely fixed by enabling the external output in the laptop BIOS. If you need help doing this either read the manual or e-mail me and I can help. For the other cable, plug the black and red RCA connectors into the AUDIO INPUT on the TV. The mini-stereo jack will plug into one of the audio output jacks on the laptop, usually labeled SPEAKER or LINE OUT. This will let you hear the laptop sound over the TV speakers. I hope this clears things up. GOOD LUCK!!!