Hannspree ST42DMSB, HDMI Ports not working properly.

You will not be able to split them, but they do make a HDMI Switcher, allowing you to use your Xbox 360 as number one and your PC as number 2, w you cannot mix both at the same time.

Most TVs will have HDMI and RCA component and composite jacks. Some TVs will also have a VGA port. Your laptop will have a VGA port. (If the laptop is fairly new, it may also have an HDMI port.)

Not all TVs will support an HDMI signal from a computer, so the VGA signal is often better. However, that limits you to SD (anything with HDCP will fail.)

Very few TVs ship with the HDMI or component cables. However, there are some vendors who do package the HDMI cable with their TV. Without knowing which exact model of TV and laptop, I can only make a few suggestions. I know that the TCP42ST30 (Plasma 42") doesn't have a VGA port.

Look at your laptop for any external monitor port. VGA ports are generally blue female ports with 15 holes (D-Sub). If your TV has a matching VGA port, get a standard VGA monitor cable.

If you have the VGA port on the laptop but not on the TV, you can try a converting from VGA to HDMI. (You may need a DVI to VGA adapter and either a DVI to HDMI cable or a DVI to HDMI adapter.) Note: this gives an analog signal (RGB format) to the TV. You'll also need to make sure that your VGA port is active (in the BIOS for some computers) and then set your computer to send the signal to the external monitor. It is best to turn off both the computer and the TV before connecting the two. Then turn on the TV and set it to the correct input before turning on the computer. (In Windows 7, I set the video signal for the external monitor by right clicking on the desktop and selecting Graphics Properties. Set the signal to the external monitor and click Apply. Then click OK (in the external monitor's screen).)

If this doesn't work, you need a VGA to component video converter. (Not a VGA to component video cable - those are for projectors that read the RGB signal.) See http://www.ramelectronics.net/audio-video/video-converters/vga-rgb-hv-to-component-video/c10000-c11200-c11215-p1.html .

Some laptops come with an HDMI, mini-HDMI or a DisplayPort option. For the latter two, you will need the appropriate cable with that end and the HDMI connector on the other. Then connect the TV and the computer as described above. (Note: my TVs accept a computer signal at the HDMI port labeled HDMI/DVI. However, you need to make sure that your TV understands this signal. It isn't the same format as that from a set-top box. My laptop has VGA and HDMI out; the desktops have VGA, DVI and HDMI (on one).)

If you add a comment with the model of your TV and laptop, I'll be glad to give you more specific options to connect the TV and the computer.

I hope this helps.

Cindy Wells
(A DVI port is a digital video out option with ~21 pins and is usually white.)

The detail in this answer is somewhat in disproportion to the detail in your question, since I want to help you to the best of my ability. It is, however, much easier for a solution-provider to give succinct, accurate, relevant and useful answers if the customers helps the process, as much as possible, by providing as much background information as possible.

You give no specific information about either the PC's or the TV's model number or specifications and are yet to respond to the other expert's valid prompt for additional details, so I will assume that you are only interested in general non-specific advice, as that is all that I will be able to offer you because of the sparse information in your question.

If both your computer and your TV have Video Graphics Array (VGA), Digital Video Interface (DVI) or High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) ports, then you can connect the two devices with the appropriate VGA, DVI or HDMI cable.
If your TV does not have the above ports but only has Radio Corporation of America (inventor - RCA/Phono) connectors, then you can use the appropriate VGA to RCA/Phono, DVI to RCA/Phono or HDMI to RCA/Phono Adapter Cable between the TV and the PC (see images below).
Since all cable interconnections suffer from some degree or other of signal degradation os dissipation and gold is the most efficient conductor amongst the metals commonly used for cable connections, cables with gold plated connectors perform the best and therefore cost more than standard cables with connectors made with cheaper, less conductive metals. You should consider buying the best cabling that you can afford.

Once connected, if your TV has a Remote Control, press:

Menu -> Input (Signal/Device) Source -> PC -> Select/OK.

If you have no RC, then you can try using the Program or Channel selector buttons on the TV's control panel to manually select the Input Device.

When the Desktop PC is powered up, after setting up the TV as described above, the PC should send the image to the TV.

If the above information does not match the specifications of your equipment, them please post further background information here and one of the experts here will try to offer you further advice.
Gold Plated Male to VGA Cable



Gold Plated Male to Male HDMI Cable

Gold Plated Male to Male HDMI/VGA to RCA Adapter Cable





Gold Plated Male to Male DVI to RCA Adapter Cable




Gold Plated Male to Male DVI Cable



Standard Male to Male DVI Cable

If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or video reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:

• Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
• Increase the separation between the W4207 HD Monitor and receiver.
• Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected.
• Consult the Westinghouse Service Center or an experienced technician for assistance.

DVI CONNECTION: Connect a Digital DVI cable from your computer to the W4207 HD Monitor DVI port. Using a 3.5mm mini cable to RCA Red/White (Left/Right) audio converter cable, connect the 3.5mm cable plug into the computer

HDMI carries both "audio" and "video" signals, while DVI carries only "video" signals.

Does your computer have a HDMI-output port, or separate DVI-video and stereo-audio ports?

If the former, then one HMDI-to-HDMI cable will make all the necessary conections.

If the latter, you'll need a cable to connect "line-out" from your computer's sound-card to the left/right RCA-jacks stereo-inputs, and you'll need a DVI-to-DVI cable to transmit the "video" signals.

The computer has VGA, DVI-I (dual link) and HDMI ports. The monitor has VGA, DVI and HDMI but only came with a VGA cable. Some computers have recently come with shielding covering all of the ports except the one that is currently live. Thus, check your hardware; the computers I've seen with only one active port, the HDMI port was active before resetting the video options. So get an HDMI cable (it will provide the best signal in addition). If the DVI-I port is currently live, you should get that cable as well and then change the settings to enable the HDMI port.

I hope this helps.

Cindy Wells
(you do not need to get the super-expensive cables; the low end ones will be fine. However a single link DVI cable is not the same as a dual link cable; sometimes using the wrong cable leads to no signal to the monitor.)

1. S-Video ? This is probably the most common method out there currently because an S-Video cable is cheap as heck and just about every TV under the sun has a S-Video port. You?ll have to make sure you laptop is equipped with this port. Remember, there are two types of S-Video cables: 4-pin and 7-pin. Most laptops and PC?s are equipped with a 7-pin port, so if your TV only has a 4-pin S-Video port, then this method will not work. 2. VGA ? If you have a HDTV, then you will be better off connecting using a VGA cable. It gives much better quality than S-Video and as with S-Video, the cable is very cheap. You usually won?t find a VGA port on regular TV?s though, so this option is if you have an HDTV. 3. DVI - DVI stands for Digital Visual Interface with ?digital? being the key word there. The digital signal will give a higher quality picture than either S-Video or VGA. Of course, your computer will need to have a DVI connection and your TV will need to be an HDTV. This cord is definitely not cheap, it ranges anywhere from $40 to $80. 4. HDMI ? Using HDMI will give you the best quality by far. No computers that I know of yet have HDMI ports, but you can get a DVI to HDMI cable to connect it to your HDTV. HDMI is compatible with DVI. 5. Scan Converter Box ? This is the last method that I could think of and it involves using a scan converter box, which takes a VGA signal and converts it into S-Video or component video.

If it like my monitor, same hookups as yours, then when you want to use the hdmi port you need to disconnect the dvi cable. The monitor cannot read from hdmi & dvi when both are connected, Try this & see if your PS3 works. Good luck

Only if you've got an HDMI output on your computer. Some computers with higher quality video cards, or just newer ones will have a DVI output for a monitor. You can get a DVI to HDMI cable that will then be able to connect the two.

As others have said, if you have a video card with DVI output, you can get the video to the TV using a DVI to HDMI cable.

But no one mentioned anything about audio. DVI can not carry audio, so you'll need to send audio from the computer to the TV (or receiver). Some TVs have audio inputs associated to one (or more) HDMI ports for use with devices that have DVI, but not HDMI. My Sharp LCD has two HDMI ports, one with separate audio inputs, one without.

may i know the model and maker of the device you want to use a HDMI cable