Can't send movies to TV from Svideo on Inspiron 1768

I can't comment on your setup specifically, but I can provide some of my personal experiences with S-Vid. I use a desktop PC with an ATI video card. The S-Video port is actually a 7-pin connector which requires a cable adapter to convert to a standard S-video cable.

My computer was connected to a monitor, and I decided that I would also hook it up to my TV. No go...the TV wasn't receiving a signal. Checked the ATI dual monitor properties, but couldn't get anything to work (not that I tried too hard).

Instead, I re-booted my PC and my TV received a signal (my VGA monitor did not). So the vid card drivers seem to pick up on the fact that an external device is connected. The video card I have supports VGA, DVI, and S-Vid. I guess the DVI (digital) counts as one monitor and VGA-S-Vid (analog) are the other monitor...I also guess that the VGA-S-Vid signal cannot be shared between TV and monitor (due to the different resolutions required?). I wonder...if I had a DVI-capable monitor, could I use the S-Vid at the same time as the DVI?

Try re-booting your laptop with S-Video cable connected (and TV on), if you haven't already. Alternately, try setting your laptop resolution to something that might be useable by your TV.

Lew