[bfclad]

I have a Dell Inspiron 1300 and I have XP. Last week I bought a new LCD TV so I bought a VGA cable and hooked up the laptop to the TV. Initially everything was fine, I was using the extended monitor function and both my notebook and LCD monitors were working.
Yesterday morning I used the extended monitor function and it was running smoothly. I turned the extended function off and just used my notebook monitor as I didnt require the 2 montors. Later on I switched back onto the extended monitor but this time, my LCD TV was flickering.
The only activity I had done in between extended monitor sessions was install Photoshop CS2.
I know flickering monitor is a common problem so I carried out troubleshooting, and did everything required such as update BIOS, drivers, chenge screen resolutions etc. If the monitor never worked in the first place i could understand, but it has just stopped working.

Any help would be appreciated

[buffoon]

turn the extended monitor function off completely (uncheck the "extend" box). then clone the primary monitor. You can do this on most any laptop with the Fn + one of the F keys (F3, 4 or whatever, you'll have to find out on yr model). Usually by toggling (pressing the Fn+F) repeateldy you can choose between laptop LCD, LaptopCD and TV and TV only). Hope this works. If it does, yr TV is ok and should actually sync automatically on the AV setting chosen. Yeah, you won't have the extended monitor function just two showing the same image.
Oh yeah, I'm not trying to be funny: check the cable connections (happens to all of us).

[bfclad]

Thanks, iv tried everything and still no luck, i tried it on my other tv and it works fine so it must be my TV? (even thought it worked fine a few days ago), what do you think might of happened to the tv? All other features work fine,

[buffoon]

Beats me for the moment. Your TV works??? Like watching programmes, other externals (like DVD player etc.)?? Did you connect PC VGA out to VGA socket on TV in ??? I presume it has one? Does it have any other inputs and what are they?

[panicrooster]

IF you have multiple monitors and are running the new version of PS BE SURE to go into Bridge preferences -> Advanced Miscellaneous and check "Software Rendering" if unchecked your video card must do the heavy lifting and according to Adobe tech support it really doesn't matter if you have a fast card. THis may not help but I know some have had major problems using PS with multiple monitors. BUT could be your card or your cables have gone bad as well.

[bfclad]

Thanks for the advice panicrooster but i tried to do what you said and there was no software rendering option on my version, my version is an old version so maybe thats why.

Bufoon thanks also, my TV works in every way including DVD, Playstation etc. Yes I connected via VGA all as it should be. It works fine on my dads TV so im thinking it cannot be either my laptop or the cable itself.
It must be my TV even though it used to work completely fine, it doesnt make sense.
I thought of trying S-video, but my laptop doesnt have a socket for that.

All i can think of is that maybe my TVs VGA socket is damaged in some way?

[buffoon]

Yeah, well I'm sunk here now. Does sound like the VGA input on TV is gone in some way. Last thought is checking whether your TV is set to its native resolution (consult manual) and whether PC output resolution matches that (could have been inadvertently changed). Also try lowering your PCs output resolution (say 640 x 480 pixels) and see if anything comes up on TV.

[panicrooster]

Yeah, I'd try what Buffoon said, the resolution difference can cause problems. Also I'm guessing you are using the CS2 PhotoShop? ALl I know is people have had directly had problems with multiple monitor and PS, but it's more rendering related and shouldn't effect just hooking up to the Tv. The one thing that stands out here is you say it works on a different Tv but not on your new one. if works properly on a different Tv, then your notebook vga output is fine, and so is the cable, and so is the Vga input on the 2nd Tv. The more I think about this, it only leads back to your new Tv. Either it has some settings that are not correct, not properly being put into the correct mode, or the Vga input is bad on the new Tv. Can't see any other choices. I would make sure to figure out if it's just an option on that Tv and do quickly so as to not inhibit you from returning the new Tv.