laptop to tv

i'm trying to get tv-out to work on my mam's laptop (a dell inspiron 9300) - i've got the leads connected to the tv correctly, i've updated the graphics drivers, the graphics card and motherboard bios and still it won't let me enable tv in the display properties

anyone have any suggestions?

+Have you tried just pressing the FN + CRT/LCD keys on the keyboard? (The function keys have small blue text or pictures on them, one looking like a monitor. On most of the Dell laptop's I've seen it's Fn+F8. Hitting that combination should switch outputs between laptop, external, and laptop+external.

yeah, i've tried that (it is fn+f8) and nothing happens

atm, i've got the sound coming out of the tv but no picture

Have you checked the actual bios settings, you can sometimes tweak some of them while windows is running. From memory there are some to do with TV output you may need to modify.

following a tip i found on the net, i managed to force tv detection by changing a registry setting, so now i've got a black and white picture, which is a start =]

do you mean the gfx card bios settings skid? if so, any idea how i get at them?

I meant the peripheral section of the standard bios. You are using only drivers from the dell site yes?

Sounds like you may be outputting an NTSC signal, where PAL is required.

Dan, pop to maplin and tell them you're getting a grey picture from SVIDEO. They will sell you a gadget you need to use (It's only a cable). it's messy but required to get a colour picture.

I had the same problem :)

I have the same problem with my Vaio laptop. I will not talk to _any_ projector - it always says there is no projector connected. Of course I found this out after it was out of warranty.

Yup, sounds like you're outputting an NTSC signal at 60hz which some TV's show (mainly old models) as B&W. You should have TV settings in your display driver control panel where you can select PAL.

Seriously. My laptop outputs B&W even in PAL.

Here's something from maplins FAQ:

Cygnus, I believe you :)

If the laptop TV output socket is S-Video and you are getting B&W output even though your TV output settings are correct, then yes, a proper cable is needed.

If the laptop TV output is a composite socket and you get a B&W output then its more likely your output settings are not correct (the cable mentioned above will be of no use)

As the Dell 9300 is SVIDEO out, then you'll need a cable as Cygnus said :)

*edit* I should of checked what the Dell 9300 TV out was before making my previous post *Doh!!!*

I've been struggling a few times with these kind of troubles..
It could also be that your TV-set isn't setup properly.

My Dell inspiron 9100 won't output to TV either. I gave up on it. Shoddy Dell shite - I won't be buying another of their laptops that's for sure.