Think I found a solution....

[Zephik]

Okay, so my laptop's VGA port no longer functions, but I still have the S-Video and DVI-D port. Since there is basically no such thing as a DVI-D to VGA adapter (converter, yes, but much too costly) as DVI-D is digital and VGA is analog, that leaves me with the only other affordable option, which is the S-Video. So I did a bit of research and this is what I've come up with...

http://www.amazon.com/TV-Out-VGA-S-Video-RCA-Adapter/dp/B000S675JU/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

http://www.amazon.com/S-Video-Cable-ft-Gold-Plated/dp/B0002MQGK4/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1261881834&sr=8-2

Now, that adapter has very poor reviews because people keep trying to use it to connect their computers (VGA Signal + No TV-Out) to their TV's (Most TV's are NTSC with no VGA capabilities, so your computer has to support TV-Out which is NTSC). However, I don't think it's even important to know whether my laptop supports TV-Out (NTSC Signal) because I'm not trying to connect my laptop to a TV, I'm trying to connect my laptop to my VGA PC Monitor. So what I was thinking is that I could connect the adapter to my monitor and then run the S-Video cable to my laptop's S-Video port. In my head, that seems like it should work since my laptop should be sending VGA signal to my VGA monitor? But I'm not pretending to be a professional here, so I just wanted a couple second opinions about whether this would work or not?

Thanks very much!

[Trace]

I also am no expert, however I think that some converters like that only work one way. I'm only about 50% sure about that, however, so hopefully someone else will chime in.

Goodluck,
Trace

Edit:

Also, if your trying to connect your Xbox to a computer monitor, get the VGA output for the Xbox. It works like a charm. Same example as above except vice-versa. The Xbox is putting out an NTSC signal when you use the component cable but the monitor wants a VGA signal.

[Zephik]

It's not a converter though, if that's what you're thinking. It's just an adapter, which as I understand, an adapter is basically just something that connects Point A to Point B, so I can't really think of why it wouldn't work in reverse. Hmmm.

As for the deal with that guys XBOX, that makes sense that it wouldn't work (I think that's what he's saying, right?) because XBOX sends out NTCS signal (TV). Computers and computer monitors use a different kind of signal (analog?) unless they specifically say otherwise, so his computer monitor couldn't recognize the type of signal because it only accepts analog, not NTCS. I think my video card (Dell Inspiron 9300) supports either type of signal though, so I shouldn't have any compatibility issues in that area as far as I can tell. But like I said, even if it doesn't support TV out (NTCS) it shouldn't matter since I should be sending analog signal to an analog monitor.

But yea anyways, there's no conversion going on with that adapter so I would think it works both ways. But that's why I'm here in the first place, to make sure. Money is insanely tight until I can find another job.

[Trace]

Isn't SVideo out NTSC, not a VGA signal?

[Zephik]

Isn't SVideo out NTSC, not a VGA signal?

Oooh, see now that's a good question. I'll have to look into that somehow, unless someone else can confirm that it only sends out NTSC?

What type of signal is DVI? or is DVI it's own type of signal?

[Zephik]

"...is an analog video signal that carries video data as two separate signals: luma (luminance) and chroma (color)."
- S-Video via Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S-Video)

"...through its widespread adoption has also come to mean either an analog computer display standard..."
- VGA via Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_Graphics_Array)

I'm not sure, but I think that's basically saying that VGA is analog and S-Video is also analog. So if I'm right in my assumptions, then since they're both analog signals, this plan should work? Hmmm.

[Trace]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Visual_Interface
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S-Video
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_Graphics_Array\

And I think most useful:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_video_connectors

[Trace]

"...is an analog video signal that carries video data as two separate signals: luma (luminance) and chroma (color)."
- S-Video via Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S-Video)

"...through its widespread adoption has also come to mean either an analog computer display standard..."
- VGA via Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_Graphics_Array)

I'm not sure, but I think that's basically saying that VGA is analog and S-Video is also analog, so if I'm right in my assumptions then since they're both analog signals, this plan should work? Hmmm.

Yes, looks like it, I stand corrected

[Zephik]

In the column to the right in the wikipedia page, I found this for S-Video...

"Video signal: NTSC, PAL, or SECAM video"

Hmmm.

[Luke122]

Are you certain its a DVI-D output, and not a DVI-A?

http://www.datapro.net/techinfo/dvi_info.html#Page06

[Zephik]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:DVI_Connector_Types.svg

It matches DVI-D (Dual Link) perfectly. And I know it's a smaller horizontal pin because I've tried certain adapters before and they wouldn't fit. When I went to look to see why not, I could see that there were indentations where the larger pin pressed against the plastic. But, just to make absolutely sure, I'm holding the laptop up to the picture and yes, it does match the DVI-D (Dual Link) perfectly.

It's weird though, because my Asus PG221H monitor came with a DVI to VGA adapter and it fit perfectly, so it must have been DVI-D, which I can't find for the life of me. :/ Must have been a custom made one or something... IDK.

[Trace]

Nevermind that link

[Zephik]

Anyone else have an opinion? Idea? Thoughts?

[Zephik]

Bummer. It didn't work. I'm not sure why, it seems like it would. I guess my only option now is to just buy a monitor with a DVI port.

And of course none of our TV's have an S-Video port. Bah.

[mDust]

Bummer. It didn't work. I'm not sure why, it seems like it would. I guess my only option now is to just buy a monitor with a DVI port.

And of course none of our TV's have an S-Video port. Bah.

The maximum resolution for S-video is 720x480i anyway, so it would have looked really bad had it worked...

[Zephik]

The maximum resolution for S-video is 720x480i anyway, so it would have looked really bad had it worked...

I'm sure it would have looked even worse on my fifteen inch monitor. lol