Is your switchbox supposed to convert S-Video to composite?
No, but that's not the problem. I have a little S-Video-to-Composite converter already. In the living room, the connection normally goes thusly:
1. Computer 2. S-Video cable 3. SV-to-C converter 4. RCA Composite video cable 5. Switchbox video in (RCA Composite video) 6. Switchbox 7. Switchbox video out (RCA Composite video) 8. Television RCA video in
This works with my own laptop PC. The PC sees the video connection and allows me to select it in the video driver. When I replace my laptop with the identically-configured-same-model replacement laptop, leaving every other piece of hardware unchanged, it doesn't work. The driver says there is no valid connection on that port and won't let me select it.
If I remove steps 5-7 above, going straight into the TV RCA port rather than via the box, then the replacement computer works. (The current machine works, too.)
Based on some searching of the Dell forums, I tried various combinations of turning the power on and off on the TV and computer (the switchbox does not have a separate power supply), none of which made a difference.
The bedroom hardware configuration is not the same as the living room:
1. Computer 2. S-Video cable 3. S-Video port on converter box 4. 75-Ohm (TV cable) output from converter box 5. 75-Ohm cable 6. TV cable port on television set
In this configuration, both machines see a connection.
no subject
1. Computer
2. S-Video cable
3. SV-to-C converter
4. RCA Composite video cable
5. Switchbox video in (RCA Composite video)
6. Switchbox
7. Switchbox video out (RCA Composite video)
8. Television RCA video in
This works with my own laptop PC. The PC sees the video connection and allows me to select it in the video driver. When I replace my laptop with the identically-configured-same-model replacement laptop, leaving every other piece of hardware unchanged, it doesn't work. The driver says there is no valid connection on that port and won't let me select it.
If I remove steps 5-7 above, going straight into the TV RCA port rather than via the box, then the replacement computer works. (The current machine works, too.)
Based on some searching of the Dell forums, I tried various combinations of turning the power on and off on the TV and computer (the switchbox does not have a separate power supply), none of which made a difference.
The bedroom hardware configuration is not the same as the living room:
1. Computer
2. S-Video cable
3. S-Video port on converter box
4. 75-Ohm (TV cable) output from converter box
5. 75-Ohm cable
6. TV cable port on television set
In this configuration, both machines see a connection.