Need advice on connecting laptop and TV.

[Deji]

So basically I used an S-video to SCART connection with my last TV which died a few days ago (and it had only SCART inputs :P ) and I'm hopelessly out of date with the current possibilities of connecting stuff:

My laptop has: a VGA out, an S-video out (and USB ports) (no HDMI out :/)
My TV has: HDMI ins, a component in, a VGA in and a composite in.

So I would really like your guys advice, which cable/connection should I use for the best visual quality? The cable will have to be of some length, like 4-5 meters, if that has any effect on the image quality.

Also, I will be running an audio system/DVD player through SCART to the TV (there's only one SCART input, so I can't use the old setup), so it would be nice if I could have one cable connected to the TV from the laptop and the audio would transfer from the TV to the audio system, if that's even possible. If not, I can always use a direct 3,5mm jack from laptop to the audio, though it's slightly annoying.

[MKJ]

VGA > SVideo.
you already ruled HDMI out so not much choice ey.
as for sound.. well no hdmi so thats gonna be a seperate cable. direct connection to the receiver is recommended.

[EtUL]

Everything I've connected to a TV has been VGA thus far and everything up to 720p video has looked great. Not sure if I've tried 1080.

If you use the VGA most TVs have a headphone jack sound input right next to the VGA. Convenient, unless it's easier for you to just plug into a receiver or whatever.

[Doombrain]

@OP. Really?

[Captain]

My laptop has: a VGA out, an S-video out (and USB ports) (no HDMI out :/)
My TV has: HDMI ins, a component in, a VGA in and a composite in.

You answered your own question.