How to use your TV as a computer monitor question.

[Op2]

I have a connection from my computer to my monitor, via the spiky prong thing, and my computer monitor works fine.

I have a big screen TV with two HDMI ports and my Roku plugs into one of them it and works fine.

I'm thinking I may want to use my big screen TV as a computer monitor. So I go to plug the spiky prong thing I use for my computer monitor into my 2nd HDMI port instead but it won't connect so I buy an adapter/converter so that it will plug into my 2nd HDMI port. And then it connects into the 2nd HDMI port.

But even though it connects into my 2nd HDMI port I get a message saying "Can't find, check connections," or whatever.

Any idea on why it won't work are appreciated.

 

[Bob_Anderson]

Buy a modern computer with an hdmi or displayport connection

 

[ClarkstonMark]

try right clicking on your computer monitor, and look for "Display" or "Screen" or "Graphics" settings.
Try extending your monitor, or adding a second monitor, something like that.
Google those terms for that matter.

 

[lionville]

Did you change the input on your tv to HDMI 2?

 

[Op2]

Did you change the input on your tv to HDMI 2?

I typically have my Roku in HDMI 1 and it works. And of the two HDMI to choose on my TV screen, only HDMI 1 lights up.

Then I plugged my computer into HDMI 2. At that point both of the two HDMI to choose from on my TV screen light up. But when I choose HDMI 2, in which the computer is plugged in, it says "Can't find." It's lit up so it knows something is there, but it can't find what my computer is sending.

Then I took the Roku plug out of HDMI 1 and put the computer in there instead and I still got "Can't find."

The more I think about it the more I think it's what someone else said, namely my computer is old. It's maybe 8-9 years. Maybe I'll just get a new computer and plug it into my big screen TV and still have my old computer over at my uncomfortable, small desk and use them both and gradually transition over to the new one if things work out. I assume new computers have the capacity to plug right into a big screen TV to use it as a monitor. My big screen TV is only three years old.

 

[Obliviax]

You may need to go into settings on your computer and tell it you want to motor or extend your desktop. Sometime you have to hit something like control and F7. Best way to figure out out is to google your question or grab the tv manual
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.ho...p-or-desktop%E2%80%99s-screen-on-your-tv/amp/
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.ho...p-or-desktop%E2%80%99s-screen-on-your-tv/amp/

 

[Nittany Ziggy]

Based on the responses so far, I thought I would add to the party: I like two (2) slices of cheese on my cheeseburgers.

 

[84Lion]

If your computer has a USB port, you might want to try a USB to HDMI adapter (check Amazon). Is the computer a desktop or a laptop? If it's a desktop, an HDMI graphics card might be the best solution.

Check to make sure what the max resolution output of your computer is. If you're using Windows 7, check Adjust Screen Resolution under Control Panel, Appearance and Personalization. If it can't output 1920 x 1080, then I'd really wonder how good the output's going to look on a big screen TV. A newer refurbished computer might be a good cost-effective solution.

 

[10 Years After]

Based on the responses so far, I thought I would add to the party: I like two (2) slices of cheese on my cheeseburgers.

Bacon is the Candy of meats!!!!!

 

[UncleLar]

I typically have my Roku in HDMI 1 and it works. And of the two HDMI to choose on my TV screen, only HDMI 1 lights up.

Then I plugged my computer into HDMI 2. At that point both of the two HDMI to choose from on my TV screen light up. But when I choose HDMI 2, in which the computer is plugged in, it says "Can't find." It's lit up so it knows something is there, but it can't find what my computer is sending.

Then I took the Roku plug out of HDMI 1 and put the computer in there instead and I still got "Can't find."

The more I think about it the more I think it's what someone else said, namely my computer is old. It's maybe 8-9 years. Maybe I'll just get a new computer and plug it into my big screen TV and still have my old computer over at my uncomfortable, small desk and use them both and gradually transition over to the new one if things work out. I assume new computers have the capacity to plug right into a big screen TV to use it as a monitor. My big screen TV is only three years old.

How big it your "big screen TV"? If it's anything larger than 27 inches, even if you get it to work, it will look almost assuredly look like crap because the pixel density ism't great enough (unless you sit pretty far away from the TV).