swinster

Hi,

I have had issues trying to get the HDMI port working reliably on this laptop (Win XP, SP3). It's not that it doesn't work, it is just very sporadic to get the TV (Pioneer Kuro PDP-428XD Plasma) to be recognised and be able to switch to the HDMI output.

The laptop has the typical output selection keys (FN+F4) that should toggle between the desired output (Laptop, HDMI, Latop + HDMI Clone), but the HDMI output is not recognised immediately.

To get this to kind of function I need to tell the PC the the screen is "attached", and I have to do this using the standard windows Display Settings dialog rather than the Catalyst Control Centre as the latter gave very unreliable results. Even so, I have to repeat the attach/extend screen several times (apply the settings each time) before I get an image on the TV.

Eventually, an extended screen will show on the TV. Then I can sometimes (not always!) press FN+F4 to display just the HDMI. However, once the display is set to just output to HDMI, if I press FN+F4 again, the only option I see is to go back to the notebook LCD screen. The image then disappears from the TV and have have to repeat the whole process.

Recently things have got a lot worse and I can no longer "attach" the TV via HDMI at all. I temporarily restored the laptop to an original image to check the hardware and I can get the HDMI to function (although only as well as shown above). I then went back to my current image, I have tried to install the latest drivers from both Samsung and using the Mobility Modder - both install fine but I can't get the HDMI TV to be recognised.

Firstly, is there a way I can make sure that I have removed all traces of the ATI drivers from the PC/registry so that I can start again - I don't really want to permanently go back to the original setting, as even then things aren't perfect.

Secondly, has anyone seem these types of issue and can they be overcome?

Many thanks

Chris

swinster

Well, I had to bite the bullet and restore. No matter what i did I coud not get the TV to be recognised via HDMI, even after using Driver Cleaner.

As mentioned, the original is still not perfect. Depending on how the computer is feeling, it can take several (7 or 8+) attempts to extend the screen (Dispaly Properties -> Settings --> Second Screen, then Extend/Apply), or several FN+F4 key presses before HDMI is recognised. I wish this was more reliable.

I do not seem to have these issue when connecting a second monitor via VGA.