Computer only "seeing" 2nd display via HDMI cable intermittently

[civilsurfer]

Computer only "seeing" 2nd display via HDMI cable intermittently

I have an HP Pavilion Elite HPE machine, Windows 7, Radeon HD 5700 Series graphics card, connected to an Acer monitor and HDTV. Here's details on my setup: My Equipment | Building a Home Theater With Your Office PC

My problem is that even though my HDMI cable's plugged into my Radeon graphics card, sometimes the PC only recognizes the Acer monitor and not the receiver (that's connected to the HDMI cable and my HDTV). So I end up having to plug and unplug the HDMI cable several times (sometimes 10+) before it recognizes the HDTV/receiver connection.

Is there any setting that would favor the card/PC recognizing the HDMI cable more frequently? I've heard it's a handshake issue, and that maybe using a different type of cable would help. But wondering if there's a setting I could use to help before switching out cables.

Thanks for any help!
S

 

[Solarstarshines]

I have an HP Pavilion Elite HPE machine, Windows 7, Radeon HD 5700 Series graphics card, connected to an Acer monitor and HDTV. Here's details on my setup: My Equipment | Building a Home Theater With Your Office PC

My problem is that even though my HDMI cable's plugged into my Radeon graphics card, sometimes the PC only recognizes the Acer monitor and not the receiver (that's connected to the HDMI cable and my HDTV). So I end up having to plug and unplug the HDMI cable several times (sometimes 10+) before it recognizes the HDTV/receiver connection.

Is there any setting that would favor the card/PC recognizing the HDMI cable more frequently? I've heard it's a handshake issue, and that maybe using a different type of cable would help. But wondering if there's a setting I could use to help before switching out cables.

Thanks for any help!
S

Hi Civil surfer welcome to 7 forums

The problem you descibe sounds like you didnt make a deciated screen for your hardware

it will reconize any HDMI over a VGA first off

When you set up dual monitors the best thing is to have them both on at the same time and see which one will actually pick up the display

after this going into your settings resolution from there it should show you the monitors you have if you want the acer to the the main choose it and apply it

if you want the other to be the main vice versa but you must do this every time you want to change diplay or use extended display for eyefinity etc .... I hope this explains it to you in small detail

Btw if you choose extended diplays and apply it you just have to turn them both on but other then that sounds like you didnt set them that's why you are having trouble could be wrong though

Oh yeah one more thing check to see if the HDTV needs a firmware update yes they do have them so look up your model

 

[civilsurfer]

Thanks so much for your quick reply. I have set the HDMI (receiver) to be the main so it shows the desktop when I do extended displays. However, I most often use "duplicate displays" since I do most work on the acer PC monitor. When I stream video, I use the HDTV, and that's when I turn on the receiver to display the streaming content on the HDTV. When I turn on the receiver, frequently it does not make the connection to the PC, and that's when I do the plug/unplug thing to get it to catch. Does this make sense? Let me know if you have a specific setting that may be the problem. I'm not totally sure where the source of the problem is here.