The document provides instructions for connecting a computer to either a projector or television to give presentations. It discusses the differences between projectors and televisions, and then provides step-by-step setup guides for connecting various types of computers (laptops and desktops) to projection or TV displays using connectors like HDMI, S-Video, or requiring a scan converter. Setup instructions are given for 5 different scenarios depending on the user's available equipment and ports.

1. How-To: Presenting From a Computer
Presenting From a Computer
The following guide will walk you through the process of setting up your computer for
presentations on a projector or a television.
LCD Projectors vs. Televisions
The two most commonly used presentation devices used with computers in the classroom
are televisions and LCD projectors. There are positive and negative aspects of both set-
ups. The picture on a television is brighter than an LCD projector, but it’s more blurry
and harder to read small type. LCD projectors provide a crisp, high-resolution image, but
the room needs to be relatively dark. LCD projectors are more expensive than televisions,
especially when considering the bulb replacements. Televisions are harder to transport
and slightly more complicated to set up.
Select Your Appropriate Connection Path
Use the following diagrams to jump to the appropriate How-To section of this document
based on your current equipment specifications. First decide which presentation device
you will be using (projector or TV).
If Connecting to a Projector
from a laptop? See Set Up 1
Connecting
to a
projector
from a desktop
computer? See Set Up 2
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2. How-To: Presenting From a Computer
If Connecting to a Television
Whether you are using a laptop or a desktop computer, look at the back of your computer
to know whether or not you have a Video Out port. Look for either an S-Video out port,
or an RCA video out port. If you have neither, you will need to use a scan converter.
from computer
S-Video Output ? See Set Up 3
Connecting
from computer
RCA Video Output ? See Set Up 4 to a TV
No Video-Out port?
Must Use a
Scan Converter ? See Set Up 5
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3. How-To: Presenting From a Computer
Set Up 1 - Connecting an LCD Projector to a Laptop Computer
1. For safety, turn off the power supply to both the
laptop and projector until everything is hooked up.
2. Take the lens cap off the LCD projector.
3. Plug a computer monitor cord (see photo) into
either one of the RGB-In ports on the projector.
This cable probably came with the projector. NOTE
TO MAC USERS: YOU MAY NEED AN ADAPTER
TO CONNECT YOUR MAC TO THE
PROJECTOR.
4. Plug the other end of this cord into the laptop’s monitor port. This is located on
the back of the laptop and has a small monitor symbol.
5. You must turn on the projector before turning on the laptop.
6. If you do not see an image coming from the projector, press and hold the FN key,
then press the appropriate display toggle function key (usually F8), and then
release them both. This will toggle between the three display combinations: laptop
screen only, laptop screen and projector, and projector only. You cycle through
these by pressing these monitor toggle keys until you get to the desired display
combination.
7. After use, turn off the projector by pressing the power button. For safety purposes,
do not unplug the projector until the fan has stopped spinning.
Set Up 2 - Connecting an LCD Projector to a Desktop Computer
1. For safety, turn off the power supply to each
component until everything is hooked up.
2. Take the lens cap off the LCD projector.
3. Unhook the monitor cord on the back of your CPU.
This cord always goes from the monitor to the back
of the CPU. The CPU is the main quot;boxquot; of your
computer.
4. Plug a computer monitor cable (see photo) into
either one of the RGB-In ports on the projector.
This cable probably came with the projector. NOTE TO MAC USERS: YOU MAY
NEED AN ADAPTER TO CONNECT YOUR MAC TO THE PROJECTOR.
5. Take that cord and plug the other end of it into monitor plug in on the back of
your CPU.
6. Plug the monitor cord that you disconnected in step into the RGB-Out port on the
projector. This enables your monitor and the projector to display at the same time.
7. You must turn on the projector before turning on the laptop.
8. After use, turn off the projector by pressing the power button. For safety purposes,
do not unplug the projector until the fan has stopped spinning.
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4. How-To: Presenting From a Computer
Set Up 3 – Connecting to a Television using S-Video Out port
If you have an S-Video Out port on your computer, you can connect this
output device to any TV. You will need to look at the back of your TV
to see if you have an S-Video In port (see image 3.1), or just an RCA Image 3.1
In port (see image 3.2). S-Video Out/
S-Video In Port
The following applies to Microsoft Windows Operating Systems:
1. Make sure your computer is off.
2. Connect a video cable from the S-Video from your computer to
the input port on your TV.
Image 3.2
a. If you have an S-Video In port on your television, RCA Out/
simply connect an S-Video cable (see image 3.4) from
RCA In Port
the S-Video Out port on the computer to the S-Video In
port on the TV.
b. If you do not have an S-Video In port on your television,
you will need an S-Video to RCA adapter (see image
3.3). Then connect an RCA video cable (see image 3.5 on
next page) to the RCA In port on your television.
3. Select the correct line input on the television set by either Image 3.3
selecting the first channel below channel 02, or by toggling S-Video to RCA
through the various inputs using the “Input” or “Aux” button Adapter
on the remote control.
4. Start up the computer.
5. Click Start, point to Settings, select Control Panel, and choose Display.
6. Click Advanced Properties under the Settings tab; this brings up the video card
features.
7. Click on the Display tab; this gives you the
output options.
8. Make the TV the primary display and the
monitor secondary. Select quot;monitor 2quot; (you do
that by selecting monitor 2 with the mousequot; and
then quot;moving itquot; to the left of quot;monitor 1quot;. By
switching the position of the monitors in your
display settings you effectively make the
monitor on the left the primary monitor.
9. Click OK to close window.
10. Click OK to apply the changes
If these steps do not work, or if you are working on a Image 3.4
Macintosh, see your system administrator for assistance. S-Video Cable
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5. How-To: Presenting From a Computer
Set Up 4 – Connecting to a Television using RCA Video Out port
If you have an RCA Video Out port on your computer
(see image 4.1), you can connect this output device to
any TV.
The following applies to Microsoft Windows Operating Systems: Image 3.2
RCA Out/
1. Make sure your computer is off. RCA In Port
2. Connect an RCA video cable (see image 4.2)
from the RCA Video Out port on your
computer to the RCA input port on your TV.
3. Select the correct line input on the
television set by either selecting the first
channel below channel 02, or by
toggling through the various inputs using
the “Input” or “Aux” button on the
remote control.
4. Start up the computer.
5. Click Start, point to Settings, select
Control Panel, and choose Display.
6. Click Advanced Properties under the
Settings tab; this brings up the video
card features.
7. Click on the Display tab; this gives you
the output options.
8. Make the TV the primary display and
the monitor secondary. Select quot;monitor
Image 4.2
2quot; (you do that by selecting monitor 2 with
RCA Video Cables
the mousequot; and then quot;moving itquot; to the left
of quot;monitor 1quot;. By switching the position of
the monitors in your display settings you
effectively make the monitor on the left the
primary monitor.
9. Click OK to close window.
10. Click OK to apply the changes
If these steps do not work, or if you are working on a Macintosh, see your system
administrator for assistance.
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6. How-To: Presenting From a Computer
Set Up 5 – Connecting to a Television using a Scan Converter
If you don’t have access to a projector, and your computer
does not have a video out port, you must use a scan
converter. A scan converter is a device (see image 5.1) that
sits between your computer and your television, and converts
the signal from your computer a readable signal for a
television (see image 5.2). Image 5.1
Sample Scan Converter
To
Monitor To TV, either
RCA Video…
Out Computer
To
Computer …OR
S-Video Out
Computer
Image 5.2
Scan Converter Diagram
Because there are so many scan converters available, and each has different operating
instructions, it is necessary to look at your individual scan converter’s manual in order to
set up your scan converter.
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