Computer -> TV via S-Video: blank space at top and bottom of display (1 Viewer)

[steven506]

I just setup a new machine with Windows MCE 2005, and I plan on installing MediaPortal as soon as my tuner card arrives. In the meantime, I am connecting the computer to the tv via s-video (graphics card is an nVidia 6200), and I've noticed that at the top and bottom of the screen there's about a 1/2 inch of blank space. The width is correct, but the height is not. Messing around, I started Media Center, and it took up the full screen.

Am I missing something? I looked through the nVidia control panel but only found the option to increase the overall size of the picture (and when I do this to eliminate the blank space it chops off the left and right).

Thanks,

Steven

 

[natrlhy]

If you right click or have an MCE remote, press the "i" button when in fullscreen TV mode. You will see the crop settings and select it. Modify to your liking from there.

I had "noise" at the top of my TV output and that is what the crop setting is for; getting rid of the unwanted

 

[steven506]

If you right click or have an MCE remote, press the "i" button when in fullscreen TV mode. You will see the crop settings and select it. Modify to your liking from there.

I had "noise" at the top of my TV output and that is what the crop setting is for; getting rid of the unwanted

Maybe I didn't explain the situation clear enough...

Whenever I boot up the computer into Windows, the full width of the TV is taken up by the desktop; however, at the top and bottom there is about 1/2" each of space not taken up (these areas are black). When I then go into Media Center it takes up the full screen (both height and width).

I am using 800x600 resolution and the latest nVidia drivers. Within the nVidia control panel you can change the position of the screen as well as the size. Unfortunately, when you adjust the size it adjusts both the height and width at the same time...you cannot change the height (which is what I need to do) without affecting the width. I can increase the size so that the entire TV screen is consumed; however, that makes the left and right edges of the OS desktop go beyond the left and right edges of the viewable TV screen.

Whenever you boot your HTPC into the OS, does it take up the full screen? I guess I shouldn't worry about it since when I launch MCE it takes up the full screen.

 

[steven506]

Okay well I just installed Media Portal, and when I launch Media Portal it does NOT take up my entire TV screen like MCE 2005 does. I guess I'll play around with lower resolutions and see if that does anything.

 

[natrlhy]

You can try and play around with the screen calibration. In the Main Menu, select Settings; Screen Calibration or something like that. I have a 50" plasma and I had to use the nvidia desktop overscan functionality in order for the resolution to fit my entire display area. With this custom setting my resolution ends up being 1216x684.

And to answer your question about when my HTPC boots up, with the custom nvidia overscan settings, it does takeup the entire screen once WinXP gets to the logging on screen.

HTH!

 

[steven506]

Looks like the overscan functionality is only available if you are NOT using s-video (which I am).

I guess I'm going to have to make the leap and buying a flat panel lcd.

 

[Spragleknas]

You should alter your resolution

See: Using Standard Definition Native Resolution for MediaPortal

Good luck!