So I have a monitor, it only has VGA so I bought a hdmi to VGA cable which doesn't work. Prior to this my laptop has a VGA output so I bought a adaptor from dvi to VGA so I could plug it into a dvi input monitor at my office.

I am confused as to how this works. You get numerous dvi to VGA adapters which you plug in from your graphics card for use on VGA input monitor.

Could someone please explain how this works.

Thought is answer my own question. Simple answer it won't work it is a scam. You need some converter hardware for it to work such as hdfury. As for dvi it will only work if it is a certain type of dvi I think DVi I need to double check

VGA is an analogue video signal.
HDMI is a digital video signal.
As you say you need a digital-analogue video converter to use a VGA monitor on a HDMI signal - these can cost as much as a new monitor with a digital input (DVI/HDMI/DisplayPort).

DVI has 3 variants:

• DVI-A, which is an analogue signal, compatible with VGA but not HDMI.
• DVI-D, which is a digital signal, compatible with HDMI but not VGA.
• DVI-I, which is capable outputting/receiving both digital and analogue video signals.

As most DVI cables are actually wired for DVI-I, it is the source and receiver that play the deciding factor.

Although graphics cards and chips are generally capable of outputting both DVI-A and DVI-D signals, at least hardware wise, a few only have HDMI out; such as those found in laptops or some nettops.