Question : Problem: Problem connecting laptop to TV

I have connected my HP Pavilion ZV5000 (Win XP) laptop to my Samsung LE32R87 BDX LCD tv via a 15 pin VGA cable. I set the resolution on the laptop to 1024x768 @ 60Hz. After working through the setup instructions in the Samsung user guide I managed to see the HP desktop background on the tv screen. However there are no icons showing and nothing apart from a mouse cursor and if I right click on the desktop I can see a dropdown menu.
Can anyone advise how I can enable a workable connection. I want to be able to view my digital images.
I rang Samsung's techsupport but they were unhelpful. Said the problem is caused by my having a 14 pin cable. Mine is definitely 15 pin.
Any ideas?

Answer : Problem: Problem connecting laptop to TV

Right click an empty space on your desktop, Click properties

Turn off the check mark under settings that says extend my desktop onto this monitor,
You should then get a duplicate display.

(on some video cards there are advanced functions in here as well)

Let me know what you find.