We have a laptop Copmaq Pressario 1700 and we want to connect it to a
TV Philips. The laptop has a SVideo output and we use Scart Kit
plugged in to the TV, but the output is black and white or with tiny
shades of colour.
How do we get it to produce full colour?

Hi Roger!
Nice to see you again! - Not a whiff of "virtual B.O." today, i'm
pleased to report!
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I came across some similar questions posted on one of the
Hewlett-Packard business customer discussion groups. "John Horton" 
has experienced the same problem with a Phillips TV. According to
John, "There are problems with connecting SVHS connectors to TVs, it
is all to do with some TV manufacturers not fully supporting the NTSC
standard. It's not only a problem for notebooks but also multi region
DVD players where you purchase region 1 (US) DVD's. These often come
up as being black and white which is a pain. You TV isn't a Philips is
it? I've had problems with these myself. If you need a solution rather
than doom and gloom then there is an answer. You can get an SVIDEO to
composite adapter which you can then plug into your TV if it has
composite connections. Alot of TVs don't but it's easily convertable
to SCART. Take a look at this page as it has a picture:
 
http://www.videocapturecard.com/svideoscart.html 
 
Bear in mind that SVIDEO has no audio output so you 'd need to plug
one end into the notebooks SVIDEO AND audio out and then plug the 3
phono leads into the SCART adapter and there you have it solution to
your problem..."
- posted by Joh Horton (February 07, 2003 09:25 AM GMT)
http://bizforums.itrc.hp.com/cm/QuestionAnswer/1,,0x382a31ec5e34d711abdc0090277a778c,00.html
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Here is more information about the S-Video to Scart adaptor, John
talks about:
"Ok, so you've connected your laptop's S-Video-out to your telly with
a SCART adapter (aka Euro Connector) that you bought from someone in
Europe who knows nothing about s-video and you're getting a bloody
black and white signal? Our "S-Video to SCART" adapter gives you
colour and works with PAL and NTSC video formats. It's better than any
"PC/DVD SCART Converters" sold in Europe that only provide a
black/white signal and there's no need for you to spend more money on
an S-Video TV. We're the exclusive manufacturers and ship world-wide -
see our multiple Shipping Options. Go from your S-Video devices to the
SCART socket on your TV. Peritel is another word for a SCART
connector. Our "S-Video to SCART" adapter consists of our "Pro
S-Video+Audio" convertor and a specialized SCART adapter. Unlike
"S-Video to SCART" adapters sold in Europe and Australia (that provide
you with a black/white signal) our adapters allow you to transmit the
COLOUR SIGNAL...The adapter properly mixes the S-Video signals so that
you get a COLOUR video signal going into the SCART adapter and COLOUR
going to your TV. Our adapter will work with both PAL and NTSC
signals. For instance, you might have a European TV that accepts
either PAL or NSTC signals via a SCART connector and you may have
either a PAL or NTSC video source - our adapter will work with either
system. Availability: ships same day. ETA to most of Europe and
Australia is 3-5 days; to Italy it's 10-15 days..."
Pro-SCART-6  Price: $23.95
http://www.videocapturecard.com/svideoscart.html
 
And here are a few testimonials for this product:
A comment from a customer from Sweden: "I was pleasantly surprised to
find that my previously black & white signal with a normal
SVIDEO->SCART adapter turned out in full blazing colours with this
one. I took a leap of faith with this buy, and it turned out just
fine, I can't stop using my TV-Out now :) All in all, a very good
buy."
A commnet from customer 26985 from Australia: "I needed an S-video to
SCART adaptor to hook my DVD player up to my Sony 1031QM Projector.
Hooked it all up and up came my picture in beautiful colour. Thanks
Guys."
A comment from a customer in the UK:"I recently bought a S-video to
SCART adaptor for working with an HP notebook in Europe that was
giving only B&W pictures on TV-out. Your product arrived in the UK
within 5 days of the order and worked first time. Thanks to someone
who knows what their talking about and can provide the required
solution quickly, effectively and without fuss, unlike a lot of HP
support staff!"
http://www.videocapturecard.com/svideoscart.html
----------------------------------------
 
Here are some other solutions also posted on the HP newsgroup:

"I have had similar problems (I live in the UK) with Black and White
diplay on my TV. I found that I had to make the TV the primary display
and reboot the laptop. Then all comes out in glorious colour on the
TV."
- posted by Carl (February 08, 2003 19:08 PM GMT )
 
"I also had a similar problem, using the s-video>>scart adapter to the
TV. The TV is Italian PAL, but I'm pretty sure the video systems are
identical with Germany here in Italy. Mine is also a N800v but I don't
think that changes anything in this case either.  I needed to reboot
and use the TV as primary display, and also needed to set the TV on a
secondary AV channel which has a SVHS label (hithertobefore unknown as
to why - now I know) and only then did everything work correctly...the
SVHS channel is number 27 on this TV, about half way through, not near
the normal "0 AV" where you usually see the VCR (scart) or videocamera
(video jacks)..."
- posted by Jame Siddall (February 09, 2003 08:13/08:17 AM GMT)
http://bizforums.itrc.hp.com/cm/QuestionAnswer/1,,0x382a31ec5e34d711abdc0090277a778c,00.html
----------------------------------------
 
Sources --
http://bizforums.itrc.hp.com/cm/QuestionAnswer/1,,0x8c0e5fe8b250d71190080090279cd0f9,00.html
http://bizforums.itrc.hp.com/cm/QuestionAnswer/1,,0x382a31ec5e34d711abdc0090277a778c,00.html
----------------------------------------
 
Related links:
"Connect your TV: S-Video or RCA?"
http://www.evga.com/articles/public.asp?AID=52
----------------------------------------
  
Search terms used:
[ connecting computer tv "black and white" ]
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=connecting+computer+tv+%22black+and+white%22
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I hope one of the above suggestions solves your problem!
As always, if any part of this answer is unclear or not answered to
your satisfaction, please ask for clarification before rating answer,
and i will do my best to follow it up.
regards,
--Jack

Hi Jack good to drink to your good health again. In Dublin where I am right now
they would call what you've given me "A bloody fine answer" I'm gunna do the
same; and add to a glass of Aussie Chardoney.

Yesterday (!) I had this problem with my laptop, all I got was a b/w
signal when I connected it to the TV.

I'm a European, and therefor my TV is made for the PAL system, and all
I had to do to fix this b/w problem was to enter the BIOS and set the
tv out to "PAL" instead of "NTSC". My computer isn't a Compaq, so I
don't know exactly how one enters the BIOS properties on your
computer, but at start up, before Windows (if that's what you use)
loads, there's usually some kind of message saying "hold ctrl-alt-s
now to change the BIOS settings" or "tap F10" or something like that.

(Perhaps this page helps:
http://bizforums.itrc.hp.com/cm/QuestionAnswer/1,,0xa1d77680e012d71190050090279cd0f9,00.html)

If you're lucky, among the BIOS settings, there's some video
properties where you can set the tv out signal to the European PAL
instead of the North American NTSC, and voila!

Be careful though with changing things in the BIOS settings, as with
all other kinds of computer 'tweaking'.

Carlar

Thanks for that carlar. Just about got it sorted out now, but I will
pass your info on to my "tech-head" mate who is sorting this all out for me.
Kind regards and thanks from: Roger

Thank you for the rating and tip, Roger.
-- "slon-scha!", as the Irish say.

Hi there Roger,
Good to see you again.
Are you still looking for more CE 126Ps?

G'day Tox-ga;
I'm "sweet-as" for CE-126P Printers. Ended up with bloody 166 of the
so and so's. I'm switching to Bluetooth technology in a cuppla months
so I need
CE-126P's like I need a hole in the head. Thanks anyway and thanks for
remembering. Kind regards from: Roger