Why is this giving me so much trouble ??? (1 Viewer)

[AJ_80]

Let me start out by apologizing for such a long winded problem.

HTPC Specs:
Motherboard: Gigabyte MA78GPM-DS2H
Graphics: Onboard ATI Radeon HD 3200
CPU: AMD Athlon 4850e
Ram: 1.5gb
Software:
Mediaportal build 1.0.2.0
ATI Catalyst Control Center 9-12

I don't know if all that above would be relevant but i figured i would list it anyways just in case.
Also note that this PC is used as a dedicated Media PC and is not used at all as a gaming machine, but we do use it for the internet ....... well we used to be able to (see below)

Problem 1 - In a nut shell ...... when ever i turn off my Samsung 40" LCD ...... i have to reboot the computer.
Background ...... when i had my CRT TV i had a Nvidia GPU in the PC (disabled the onboard ATI graphics) because the motherboard did not have onboard s-video. I also have a 20" monitor attached too where i would run these displays in dual view and i NEVER EVER had a problem ...... everything just worked.
But now i have this nice big LCD screen and the Nvidia GPU has been removed and uninstalled drivers then enabled the ATI onboard graphics so i can use the HDMI and then has come the problems. For some reason when ever we switch off the TV i can see the HDD light on the HTPC flicker for a bit and then when i turn the TV back on it does not display TV through mediaportal, i can play videos but not TV and the ONLY way to make it work again is rebooting the PC.

Problem 2 - This one may be in some way slightly related to the first problem but in a nut shell again ......... i cant run dual view anymore.
Since changing the graphics set up (as per above) running the two displays (TV & Monitor) only works until the TV is turned off, once the TV gets turned back on stuff is just all over the place, it has changed the resolution of the TV down from 1920 x 1080 to 1440 x 900 (same as monitor) and instead of maintaining the setting i selected of dual view (extended to desktop) it changes it to clone view. I even tried removing the monitor in the display options but it would still revert back to this unwanted setting, the only way i could stop this from happening was to completely dissconnect the monitor but this isn't what i want ........ i want to be able to use the monitor and the TV at the same time in dual view.

I am goin out of my mind trying to figure out whats goin on and i'm pretty darn close to snapping because i'm getting sick of having to reboot the PC every time the TV gets turned off and not being able to use the PC in dual view.

Again my apologies for such a long thread and Thank You in advance.

 

[infernalshad]

I've found out that many Onboard-ATI-Graphics-Cards have alot of problems with 2 Monitors plugged in.

I think the best solution for this is, buy a cheap NVidia-Graphics-Card with DVI and HDMI, and use "UltraMon" to set your DualView right.

Maybe this one: Amazon.com: PNY GeForce GT 220 1024 MB PCI-Express 2.0 DVI with HDMI and VGA
or this: Amazon.com: PNY GeForce 210 512 MB PCI-Express 2.0 DVI with HDMI and VGA

 

[AJ_80]

I wouldnt mind giving an Nvidia card a go because i didnt have a problem when i had that other card installed but i would also like to have this working as a mate of mine has EXACTLY the same hardware as i do and he does not have a problem although he is not trying to run dual screens but right now because it wont work either am i and i am still having problem 2 and on top of that it does not display to the extremities of my LCD TV ....... its cutting off about an inch around the whole perimeter of the screen but yet he doesnt have that prob either.

Extremely frustrating .......

 

[Biografen]

When i had my Onboard ATI X300 graphics board runnein i had no problems, it is now uninstalled and i installed a ATI Radeon HD 3450 cause of the HDMI Port
And i have no problems at all .... I can turn on and off what ever i have connected, no problems.
AJ_80 ..What version of Catalyst Control Center do you use ??

 

[AJ_80]

Hi Biografen

"What version of Catalyst Control Center do you use ??"

I'm using 9-12

 

[chris37130]

i don't know if you've thought about it, but with the tv issue you could use the same card you were previously and use an adapter to hdmi, that is what i did, and mine is outputting hdtv just fine. i was using a nvidia 7600GT XXX which has 2 dvi and a s-video i used a dvi to hdmi adapter and the pc worked just as it did with the s-video connection. the only thing to keep in mind is there is no audio passthru if you use an adapter

 

[AJ_80]

Hi Chris

Unfortunately that is not an option for me as the Nvidia card i have only has S-video and VGA out.
She's a fairly old school graphics card.

 

[chris37130]

ok just a thought, good luck on a solution. the only onboard graphics i've ever tried hdmi was a xfx 750a. it was a nvidia chipset 8300 series. but you can get a decent nvidia card for around $50

 

[AJ_80]

Thanks for the replies so far guys.

I guess i could live without using dual screens albeit it would be nice but i would much rather sort out the whole mediaportal
not working after i switch off my TV.
Any ideas on this one ???
Oh i was wrong about the videos working too ...... actually NOTHING plays after i switch the TV off then back on again.
As i said before the ONLY way to get mediaportal working again is to reboot the PC.