My TV is not detected when I connect to my laptop through Thunderbolt/HDMI cable

Question

I have a laptop with Thunderbolt(Mini Display Port) and ofcourse TV has HDMI port. Si I bought a Thunderbolt to HDMI cable and connected the devices but TV is just not showing up when I press Detect.

Now, this laptop is not having any issues when I connect it with my external monitor, its just the TV which is not being detected.

• My laptop is a Lenovo T440s Windows 10
• TV is Samsung LCD 1080p
• Now, my laptop connects to other external monitor fine
• While TV also works fine with other devices like Roku very fine.
• its just the combination of laptop and TV is something that is not working at all.
• Here is the Thunderbolt that I am using: http://www.amazon.com/Cable-Matters-DisplayPort-Thunderbolt-Compatible/dp/B00APLJY4C?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00

All I see is No Signal when I turn on the TV and choose the port from laptop

Any suggestions?

Solution 1

OK. I found the solution to the problem. The problem was that Mini Display Port(Thunderbolt) HAS TO HAVE a active adapter connected to be able to successfully convert signals from DP to HDMI.

As soon I replaced a regular converter with an Active Converter which I bought from Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/StarTech-com-Mini-DisplayPort-Active-Adapter/dp/B00AYAF3MQ?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00

It just started working.

Solution 2

On your laptop while it is connected to the TV, see if the TV is being detected as a secondary display. You can do this by going to the Intel HD Graphics control panel. Open it by right clicking on the Intel HD Graphics icon in your notification drawer (you may have to expand it) and choose Graphics Properties. In the control panel, choose Display, then Multiple Displays from the sidebar. See if your TV is detected here. If it is detected, you will see a page with options to clone displays or extend desktop. If your TV is detected, then the single display option will most probably be selected, with your laptop display being the one. You can choose the TV in single display mode or choose to clone displays. This should work if your TV is detected.

If it is not detected at all by your laptop there may be a few causes. I will try to cover the ones that I can think of:

The cable may not be the right one for you. If you can, try it out with other device combinations (a friend's TV and/or laptop etc.) to see if it works. Try a different cable if you have/can borrow one.

Try the other HDMI ports on your TV.

Based on some suggestions in iFixit forum, you could try this. Apparently the power off delay works. Disconnect all HDMI sources from the inputs. > Unplug the power from TV/LCD for 10 minutes. > Plug the TV/LCD back in. > Connect the cable to your laptop. > Repeat previous step for each HDMI port.

Resetting the TV may fix it if it is a setting problem. (From the same forum). There is also apparently another way to reset it by holding the Exit button for around 30 seconds. I cannot test it out as I don't have a samsung TV:

Power off the TV and then on your remote control press Mute 182 Power simultaneously (or sequentially. Some users differ on this. Try the other if one doesn't work). The TV will turn on with a secret menu and all you will have to do is press enter a few times and the TV will do a deep Factory Mode Reset just like the TV came out of the box new! There is also a way to reset the HDMI ports in that menu as well.

Comments

[TheKB]

What is the exact model of your laptop?

[Lost]

It is Lenovo T440s

[fixer1234]

Can you provide a link to the Thunderbolt/HDMI cable? Describe the connection for each hardware combination listed.

[Lost]

@fixer1234 : I changed the question to have the details about theHDMI

[Kinnectus]

Have you got the latest drivers.... I think Intel have a newer version than Lenovo...

[Lost]

yes, I updated the latest drivers from Device Manager

[harrymc]

You could try a better-quality cable.

[Lost]

Already tried multiple cables. No luck.

[harrymc]

Try installing the Intel Graphics Driver for Windows 10.

[Lost]

@harrymc: Tried that and my installation failed. however, I also tried connecting a macbook to my tv and it is also having the same issue. now, I am thinking that it may be some setting on the TV rather than my PC which is causing the issue?

[harrymc]

How exactly did the installation fail? This driver should have been suitable for your computer (asking even if according to you the driver maybe isn't the problem).

[Lost]

It throws "the driver being installed is not validated for this computer Please obtain appropriate driver from manufacturer"

[Epoxy]

Well, try turning them on at the same time. Sometimes it works. I don't know what the devices are doing but used to work with Samsung devices. I hope you have set the input device using your remote control and marked as the input device. Select a proper resolution in lap. Some intructions from Intel intel.com/content/www/us/en/tech-tips-and-tricks/…

[Blaine]

have you tried manually changing the input to hdmi on your tv?