I'm trying to connect an Alienware Area-51m R2 gaming laptop with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Super to a Philips 75PQL7656 TV using HDMI, but Windows doesn't detect the TV at all. The TV only shows "looking for signal."
I've tried connecting the cable with both devices on and off, fully unplugging and restarting them, selecting different TV inputs, using Windows + P, and attempting wireless projection through Windows + K. Wireless projection gets stuck about one-third of the way through. Intel and NVIDIA drivers are up to date, and NVIDIA Control Panel's display-detection tools don't find anything. I've also tried different HDMI cables and confirmed those cables work with other devices, while the TV works with an Xbox and a Switch.
I've tested different resolutions and refresh rates, checked the display adapters in Device Manager, and looked through the NVIDIA PhysX settings. Since neither device has DisplayPort, I also bought a DisplayPort-to-HDMI cable, but that doesn't help. What else can I safely check to determine whether the problem is the laptop's HDMI output, the TV input, or a Windows setting?
1 Answer
First, make sure the TV is manually set to the exact HDMI input where the laptop is connected. With the laptop and TV connected, press Windows + P and choose Duplicate for testing; once it works, you can switch to Second screen only. Wireless casting through Windows + K is separate from HDMI and can be laggy or fail to connect, so it doesn’t prove that the HDMI hardware is faulty.
If Windows + P still shows no change and the laptop never detects a display, the most useful next test is connecting the laptop to a known-working monitor or TV with the same HDMI port and cable. Also try another HDMI input on the Philips TV. If the laptop fails with multiple known-good displays, the laptop’s HDMI port or graphics hardware may need repair. A DisplayPort-to-HDMI cable will not help when the laptop has no DisplayPort output.
I tried the casting feature and Windows + P, including Duplicate, but the TV still says it is looking for a signal. The laptop also never shows a newly detected display. I’ll test the laptop with another monitor and try another HDMI input to narrow down whether the HDMI output is the problem.