Can only display desktop from laptop to flat screen TV, cannot display icons or play video

[Evan__]

I am using a C2G adapter to connect HDMI from flat screen TV to port on a Lenovo laptop. The desktop background from the laptop displays on the TV, but none of the icons on the desktop. When playing video on laptop, none of this is displayed on the TV, which shows just a blank desktop, without icons.

This only happens with an older Panasonic LGD screen. When the same set up is connected to a newer Panasonic plasma screen, videos are displayed properly from laptop to TV. Not sure why the difference.

 

[popatim]

One tv is setup as an extended desktop display and the other one is cloning the desktop.
Since nothing is on the extended desktop, all you see is the blank desktop.
Open a youtube tab on your browser, drag the browser to the extended desktop and maximize it, Run a video and make it full screen.
Notice your main screen still shows the desktop and all its icons.