How to Connect a Dell Projector to a Laptop

by Jason Taetsch
A good projector can be an indispensable business tool.

A good projector can be an indispensable business tool.

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Dell projectors present the images and video from your computer's graphics card on a large screen instead of your computers display. With just one cable connection, you can have your laptop hooked up to the projector and begin projecting the images. Use a VGA or DVI cable to connect the feed from your laptop to the projector.

Step 1

Locate the video output port on your laptop and determine if you have a VGA or DVI port. VGA ports are squarish, blue in color and have 15 pins. DVI ports are usually white in color, have a thin, rectangular shape and have square holes instead of pins.

Step 2

Plug one side of the cable into the video port and screw down the fasteners on the end of the cable to secure the connection.

Step 3

Plug the projector into a power outlet. Insert the other side of the video cable into the input panel on the projector and press the "Source" button on the projector to select the matching input.

Step 4

Click "Start" on the computer and type "projector" (without quotes) into the search field. Click the "Connect To A Projector" result that appears in the list.

Step 5

Click the "Duplicate" display type to send the image from the computer to the projector. Verify that the image from the laptop's screen is displayed on the projector.

About the Author

Jason Taetsch graduated from The College of New Jersey with a degree in English. Taetsch co-founded the on-campus literary magazine, "Paperclips." In 2006 he began writing professionally. He wrote news articles and independently authored op-ed columns for the on-campus newspaper, "The Signal" and had articles published in "Garden State Surf Magazine."

Photo Credits

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