Generic Television support

I have a WinXP MCE based HTPC and got the bright idea of trying to install Windows 7 32 bit, and for older gear Windows 7 did a great job detecting and installing it's own working drivers. I have it plugged in to an older standard CRT type television, and I noticed the picture wasn't nearly as clear as it was using my WinXP install.

After investigating the differences, I noticed the old TV was being identified as a "Generic non-PnP Monitor" in Win7 and a "Generic Television" in WinXP. The way the image displays is completely different between the two: like a CRT computer monitor with the slight border around the picture in Win7, and like a standard NTSC device in WinXP.

I've tried the MCE auto configure wizard with no success. Is there any way to force the OS to load Generic Television drivers? Do they even exist in Win7? Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Just posting an anwswer to my own question now that I got it all sorted, in case someone else is having the same problem.

Finally got it working by going into the device manager and manually forcing the Generic Television driver to replace the Generic Monitor driver. Then I disconnected the computer monitor and rebooted. Once booted, I started Media Center and ran the auto configure wizard and it sync'd to the TV and set up properly. Now the TV is receiving raw NTSC signal and not the processed monitor version of the NTSC signal and everything is clear as a bell in Media Center, and the desktop still goes to both the TV and the monitor when Media Center is disengaged.

Strangely, Microsoft tech support couldn't give me an answer either. Trial and error wins again in the end.

Just one question - you said you forced the generic TV to be used. How exactly did you do that?

thank you

Hi mrmike,

Go to the Device Manager > Monitors > (whatever you're monitor is showing as) and select 'update driver', then 'browse my computer for driver software'. There you should see the option 'Let me pick from a list of device drivers on my computer'.

On the next window you have to uncheck 'Show compatible hardware' and then search the lists for the Generic Television driver. Word of warning though, this will allow you to select any driver for your display including the incompatible ones.

Also, the Generic Television driver doesn't show up on one of my other machines so your mileage may vary.

I have an older Thinkpad with a Mobilty chipset and s-video out. It plugs into my older 42" TV that has S-video, composite and Component inputs only. Then the TV option comes up and the TV works, although I am quite limited in screen choices.

So I picked up a SIIG USB to VGA adapter. It only has VGA out. The adapter loads great on Windows 7. So I tried a couple different VGA to s-video adapters (remember no VGA or DVI on my TV) and at first the TV option wouldn't show up. Now I can do that, but the screen just flashes horizontal lines when I move my mouse there.

So evidently my s-video adapters are crappy OR I need a different USB adapter OR maybe there's a way to modify the TV Monitor driver. I downloaded Powerstrip, but I don't really understand it. If you know anything about this, I'd appreciate info. If not, thx anyway!

Sorry, any help from me on your situation would be the blind leading the blind. You could try over at thegreenbutton.com. That forum specializes in Media Center stuff and I've found a ton of info on tweaks and such over there.

Hope you get it sorted.