I try to connect my hdmi cable to my laptop with a vizio hdmi cable and the tv says not format... how do i address this issue

There could be a few possible issues causing the black screen on your Vizio M3D550KD. Here are some troubleshooting steps you can try:

1. Make sure all cables (HDMI, component, etc.) are securely connected to both the TV and the source device (e.g., cable/satellite box, DVD player, gaming console).
2. Try using a different HDMI cable to connect your source device to the TV, as the cable may be faulty.
3. If possible, test the TV with a different source device to see if the issue is with the TV or the original source device.
4. Unplug the TV from the power outlet, wait for a few minutes, and then plug it back in. This can sometimes reset the TV and resolve temporary issues.
5. Check the TV's menu settings to ensure the input source is correctly selected. Use the remote control to navigate through the TV's menu and adjust settings if necessary.
6. Perform a power cycle by turning off the TV, unplugging it from the power source, and holding down the power button on the TV for about 10 seconds. Then, plug the TV back in and turn it on.
7. If none of the above steps work, there may be a hardware issue with the TV itself. In this case, it is recommended to contact Vizio customer support or a professional technician for further assistance.

If your Denon AVR-888 is not passing HDMI signal from your Asus UX431F laptop to your Vizio TV, but is passing signal from your Apple TV, there may be a compatibility issue between the laptop and the receiver or between the receiver and the TV. Here are a few things you can try:

1. Check HDMI cables: Make sure all HDMI cables are properly connected and working. Try using different HDMI cables to see if that resolves the issue.
2. Update firmware: Check if there are any firmware updates available for the receiver and the laptop. Updating the firmware can sometimes resolve compatibility issues.
3. Check laptop settings: Make sure the laptop is set to output video through its HDMI port. On some laptops, you may need to manually select the HDMI output in the display settings.
4. Try a different input: If your receiver has multiple HDMI inputs, try plugging your laptop into a different input to see if that resolves the issue.
5. Contact the manufacturer: If none of the above steps resolve the issue, contact the manufacturer of the laptop, receiver, or TV for further assistance.

It's also worth noting that some older HDMI receivers may not be compatible with newer HDMI devices. If your receiver is several years old, it may not be able to pass the HDMI signal from your laptop. In that case, you may need to upgrade to a newer receiver that supports HDMI 2.0 or higher.

Toshiba Satellite L855D S5117 Laptop
No idea what "serial" means in regard to video.
Your laptop does 720p through hdmi.
The issue is with your TV, which of course you didn't describe.
When you have two things that are not working together, why wouldn't you say what model your TV is?
You have to select the HD (HDMI) output in the laptop OS as well.

Have you checked these?
1. Input settings in the TV,
2. Cycle the laptop output (laptop screen, external screen, both)

Possible bad source, bad cable or connection was made with units powered up which HDMI does not like.

First thing to try in this case is to remove power from set and whatever unit is connected via HDMI and disconnect the cable itself.

Wait for several minutes, connect HDMI again and THEN return power to the units that were removed from power, this cannot hurt and may help or correct this issue.

Failing this try if possible to connect using component connections.

disconnect hdmi cable and shutdown pc, completely power it off. plug your hdmi cable back in to your pc and power it up. it should properly detect your tv. i use projector mode. tv must stay on while performing this procedure.

if your tv and laptop has hdmi port u can connect both using the hdmi cable

If your laptop has a VGA port, your Vizio needs to have a VGA port too so you can use a standard VGA monitor cable.

If your laptop has a DVI port, you hook it up to the Vizio using a DVI-to-HDMI cable.

And if your laptop has an HDMI port, you hook it up using a standard HDMI cable.

Hope this helps.

How old is the TV? It may need a firmware upgrade to support new HDMI/DVI formats