MacBook to TV - Displays Desktop Background Only

Question

MacBook to TV - Displays Desktop Background Only

I am attempting to connect my MacBook to my TV so I can watch video on the bigger screen. I have a Mini DVI to DVI and the Belkin DVI to HDMI adapters. All I see on my TV is the desktop background. How do I get anything other than that background to display on the TV? I am interested in streaming video and watching slideshows from iPhoto. Any thoughts?

MacBook 13 2007, Mac OS X (10.5.8)

Posted on Jun 2, 2010 11:26 PM

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Answer 1

Best answer

BucksCountyBob

Level 1

105 points

Jun 3, 2010 4:04 AM in response to soultrain2003

It sounds like you have the display preferences set to extend your desktop onto the TV. In that case you can drag windows you open over to that screen from the main screen and then run in full screen mode and they SHOULD use the TV in FS mode (at least that works on my macbook with MD to HDMI). Another option would be to go into display preferences and set the second display to mirror your first display. That will produce the same image on the TV and your MB display at the same time.

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Answer 2

★ Helpful

Aldo_IceMan

Level 1

16 points

Jun 3, 2010 7:12 AM in response to soultrain2003

When using your macbook to play video through a tv, you're best operating your macbook in clamshell mode.

See this article http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3131

Hope this helps.

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Answer 3

Jun 3, 2010 7:52 AM in response to soultrain2003

Thanks so much! This really helped. In this case I just needed to drag the windows over to the secondary display - my tv. It looks like in order to follow that "best practice" (closed clamshell) I need to procure a wireless mouse and/or keyboard.

Much love to the Mac Users!

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Answer 4

GfulDedFan

Level 4

3,315 points

Jun 3, 2010 8:34 AM in response to soultrain2003

soultrain2003 wrote:
I need to procure a wireless mouse and/or keyboard.

....or wired.

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