Windows 7: Problems trying to clone my monitor to my TV

Lady Fitzgerald · 20 Mar 2013

I used to have my desktop on my old XP machine cloned to my TV. Using the same monitor on my new machine, I'm trying to do the same thing but when I try to set the machine to duplicate the displays, it screws up the resolution on the monitor and I have yet to get it right on the TV. I've tried the settings both in Windows 7's display settings and in my graphics card driver, Catalyst Control Center.

The TV is 1680 x 1050 and the TV is 1280 x 720. I'm using the HDMI port on the GPU to connect to the HDMI port on the monitor. I'm using a DVI to HDMI cable to connect from the DVI port on the GPU to the HDMI port on the TV.

Any suggestions on how to sort this magnificent mess out? I'm at my wits' end.

BEEFSTIX · 20 Mar 2013

So you're saying you have it set as "Duplicate displays" and not "extend desktop" but the resolution is jacked up?

Is it trying to use the same resolution on both monitors or what? Also if the TV looks just a little off you'll have to keep in mind that 720p TVs have varying resolutions, a lot are actually 1360x768.

Lady Fitzgerald · 20 Mar 2013

Frankly, I can't figure out what the heck it is trying to do. On "extend desktop", I can set the resolution for the monitor correctly but it does what it darned well pleases for the TV. When I switch to "duplicate displays", the resolution on both the monitor and the TV get jacked up and it won't let me do anything about it.

BEEFSTIX · 20 Mar 2013

Hmm, it's been a while since I used duplicate display so I checked it out on my setup. (I happen to have a 1080p monitor and 720p TV also)

It appears that you can't set independent resolutions if you have it as duplicate. I guess it's not too odd that it'd work out like that. Did it in Control Panel and Catalyst Control Center (Video Card) and got same results. Maybe that's just the way it'll have to be, who knows.

Lady Fitzgerald · 20 Mar 2013

Well crap, I really do need that! Odd I could do it in XP but not now.

Indianatone · 20 Mar 2013

You might want to swap the cables around. Put the HDMI cable in the TV and use the DVI to HDMI on the monitor. Watch out for some of the settings in the Video Card Catalyst Control Center. Sometimes it can be hard to tweak but the TV needs to be at its default resolution of 720P and while you are using the combination you may have to set the monitor to 720P too (1280 x 720)

Lady Fitzgerald · 20 Mar 2013

Quote: Originally Posted by Indianatone

You might want to swap the cables around. Put the HDMI cable in the TV and use the DVI to HDMI on the monitor. Watch out for some of the settings in the Video Card Catalyst Control Center. Sometimes it can be hard to tweak but the TV needs to be at its default resolution of 720P and while you are using the combination you may have to set the monitor to 720P too (1280 x 720)

That thought crossed my mind. I'll try it later (I'm using the TV right now). The only problem is I may need the HDMI for audio at a later date (much later).

Lady Fitzgerald · 21 Mar 2013

I finally got around to swapping cables and that did the trick. I also had to go into Catalyst to reduce the underscan to get the image to fill the screen on the TV. It's weird; my monitor is now Display 2 and the TV is display 1 but the monitor is still showing as the main display (like I'm really going to worry about it). Whoo hoo! (doing happy dance

)

Indianatone · 21 Mar 2013

Quote: Originally Posted by Lady Fitzgerald

I finally got around to swapping cables and that did the trick. I also had to go into Catalyst to reduce the underscan to get the image to fill the screen on the TV. It's weird; my monitor is now Display 2 and the TV is display 1 but the monitor is still showing as the main display (like I'm really going to worry about it). Whoo hoo! (doing happy dance

)

Yes the HDMI communicates with the TV and tells it what to do, not so importent with the monitor as the resolution is basically fixed mostly to the default. You can move the displays around in Windows but frankly if it ain't broke don't fix it.

Lady Fitzgerald · 21 Mar 2013

Quote: Originally Posted by Indianatone

...You can move the displays around in Windows but frankly if it ain't broke don't fix it.

You got that right! I'm a firm believer in, "if it ain't broke don't fix it".

Windows 7: Problems trying to clone my monitor to my TV

Problems trying to clone my monitor to my TV problems?