PC to HDTV problems

[wanted]

Hello everyone,

I'm having troubles connecting my PC to my HDTV, so I was reading a post on these forums about EDID and HDTV/PC connections.

The problem is that my PC is not detecting my hdtv, although it should according to the TV's specifications and customer support.

I downloaded the software mentioned in the post (softMCCS), but it says DDC/CI not supported. What exactly does that mean?

I'm running windows xp 32bit, my VGA is the ATI 4850, and the TV is the Philips 42" 1080p 120Hz.

When connected to the PC, it displays everything fine until the window's log in screen, and then it loses the signal (Unless the resolution is 640*480)

Any help would be much appreciated

Thanks

 

[scottbakertemp]

If you have another monitor that supports 720 or 1080 I would connect to that via HDMI or DVI - set the resolution to whichever your monitor supports - power off the PC - reconnect it to the TV using either HDMI or DVI (use the same port as you connected to the monitor) - and turn the PC back on. If you have up to date drivers and you're running Vista or 7 you shouldn't need any extra software.

Most likely the PC is switching to something like 800x600 which your TV probably doens't support.

 

[scottbakertemp]

my bad, I just saw your running XP. It should still work.

If not, I would try connecting your PC to a monitor and the TV at the same time. This will allow you to play around with what resolution each will support without losing the desktop.

If you don't have a monitor, you can also try running VNC on the thing so you can change the resolution without disconnecting from the TV. I've had to use VNC on my HTPC at times when the resolution gets messed up.

 

[wanted]

If you have another monitor that supports 720 or 1080 I would connect to that via HDMI or DVI - set the resolution to whichever your monitor supports - power off the PC - reconnect it to the TV using either HDMI or DVI (use the same port as you connected to the monitor) - and turn the PC back on. If you have up to date drivers and you're running Vista or 7 you shouldn't need any extra software.

Most likely the PC is switching to something like 800x600 which your TV probably doens't support.

Thanks for the reply.
I tried doing that. I have a 22" Asus LCD monitor. I forced it to use a "HDTV resolution" which is supported by the TV (1280*720 or 1920*1080). The image gets distorted a bit on the LCD but that's fine.
I've also set the refresh rate to 60Hz (Which is what the TV's manual say)

But the same thing happens, the TV loses the signal once it reaches the log in screen.

By the way when I plug the TV as a second display, the ATI's catalyst doesn't detect anything at all! As if the TV is failing to submit its "capabilities" to the graphics card.


Edit: I have windows 7 installed on the same PC too, but I thought this problem is not related to which Windows I'm using, or is it?

 

[scottbakertemp]

You are using a DVI or HDMI connection right? The only other thing I can suggest is installing VNC or live mesh so that you can remote into the thing while it's on the TV and figure out what resolution it's running at - and hopefully change it to something that works.

You can not use the regular remote desktop application as you'll be changing the resolution of the RDP session not the video card.

good luck,
-Scott

 

[scottbakertemp]

Windows 7 has a detect button in the resolution settings that XP doesn't have. That may help.

It could absolutly be XP.

 

[wanted]

You are using a DVI or HDMI connection right? The only other thing I can suggest is installing VNC or live mesh so that you can remote into the thing while it's on the TV and figure out what resolution it's running at - and hopefully change it to something that works.

You can not use the regular remote desktop application as you'll be changing the resolution of the RDP session not the video card.

good luck,
-Scott

OK I'm a bit lost now

Do I need VNC if I have a second monitor?

And what about this "DDC/CI" thing that is supported on my LCD monitor but not the TV?

Thanks again, I've been trying to fix this thing for a week now.

 

[Neutron]

You haven't told us yet if you are connecting via DVI or HDMI.

Welcome to Satelliteguys!!

 

[wanted]

You haven't told us yet if you are connecting via DVI or HDMI.

Welcome to Satelliteguys!!

PC to HDTV: DVI ->DVI/HDMI adapter->HDMI (Because the TV doesn't have DVI inputs)

PC to LCD monitor: DVI ->DVI


Edit: Thanks for the welcome

 

[scottbakertemp]

If you're going to use a second monitor all the time you don't need VNC. However that would keep you from carrying a monitor to the TV if you have problems in the future. Did you try it with Windows 7?

 

[wanted]

If you're going to use a second monitor all the time you don't need VNC. However that would keep you from carrying a monitor to the TV if you have problems in the future. Did you try it with Windows 7?

No I did not yet.

Will try it when I go home tonight.

 

[scottbakertemp]

And what about this "DDC/CI" thing that is supported on my LCD monitor but not the TV?QUOTE]

All modern video cards should be able to feed all modern HDTV's. A 4850 and a 1080P TV with only HDMI connections sounds really new. I'm sure there are some weird exceptions though.

 

[wanted]

And what about this "DDC/CI" thing that is supported on my LCD monitor but not the TV?QUOTE]

All modern video cards should be able to feed all modern HDTV's. A 4850 and a 1080P TV with only HDMI connections sounds really new. I'm sure there are some weird exceptions though.

This is what I thought

I tried uninstalling the 4850's drivers, which rebooted the PC and set the resolution to 640*480, which was the only time I managed to get anything on the TV after the log in screen.

 

[scottbakertemp]

This is what I thought

I tried uninstalling the 4850's drivers, which rebooted the PC and set the resolution to 640*480, which was the only time I managed to get anything on the TV after the log in screen.

That's good news though. Sounds like it will work to me. I bet your resolution is being set to 800x600 when the PC boots on the TV. I've fixed this in the past with VNC. Once it's fixed the PC should remember it's set to 1080P. I never did this with XP though.

 

[Smith P.]

How the two monitors defined in Windows ? As mirror or span ?
Anyway you always can select second monitor and play online [Advanced] with refresh rate and resolution on General tab.

 

[wanted]

How the two monitors defined in Windows ? As mirror or span ?
Anyway you always can select second monitor and play online [Advanced] with refresh rate and resolution on General tab.

The TV is not being detected in windows, as if it's not connected (Although it was able to display from boot to log in screen)

I tried to use "Force detect" but it's not helping much

 

[Smith P.]

Try to extend without querying it. Just set the 1920x1080x60 parameters or other what you like. Actually force the video card driver to send out the signal regardless ability to obtain it from the TV.

 

[wanted]

I just tried with windows 7, and the same thing happens. Actually in windows xp, when I plug the HDTV, the monitor's screen (The 22" Asus) flickers a bit (which means at least it detected something, while in Win7 it does not).

P. Smith, how can I force the video card driver to send out the signal?

By the way, can this problem be because the TV is "damaged" I've read a lot about damaging a TV by sending wrong signals. Although I downloaded an application called "Advanced WinI2C-DDC Delphi" which can get the EDID and parse it (Which then can display info like the brand, minHfreq, maxHfreq, minVfreq, maxVfreq, gamma and other stuff..)

Edit: But that same application fails when I push on the "Get technology" button, which generates this error: ERROR_I2CWRITE

 

[Smith P.]

Something wrong with your cabling - I2C signals presenting on DVI and HDMI connectors. Check for all pins.
Forcing mean just Expand your your Desktop to second monitor - post here a screenshot of General Tab of Desktop properties.

 

[wanted]

I tried forcing it, the Asus monitor goes black for few seconds, and then it's on again but the "extend my Windows desktop.." check box is not selected, as if it failed to.