Computer Won't Boot With HDTV Connected

[YourFriendDave]

Hi guys I have a problem with my new computer, when I have my Acoustic Solutions (CTVL26W3HD) HDTV connected to it via HDMI to DVI cable it does not boot up.
However it works fine if I boot it up with the VGA monitor and then connect my HDTV afterwards.

I have also tried using a HDMI straight lead (for my xbox 360) with the same results. I then thought about swapping the cable round so that its DVI to HDMI but my HDTV doesn't have a DVI port so I can't do that either.
My TV does have a port but VGA to VGA is impractical because my computer has only one VGA port.

Basically I want to use my HDTV for watching HD Movies on Windows Media Centre, but still have my VGA connected for browsing and gaming etc.

Any suggestions, ideas or comments are fully appreciated.
Cheers, Dave

 

[Crunchy Doodle]

OK, I'm now confused. You have a PC with both a DVI and VGA output, and you have this HDTV and VGA monitor. Why not connect both at once and make the VGA monitor your primary display with the usual PC desktop and the HDTV your secondary display where you run Media Center? I've certainly done that more than once. I also have a HTPC that won't boot if it's connected only via HDMI, so I connect both a VGA and HDMI cable to the HDTV and that satisfies the PC even though I never look at the VGA input.

Bye.

 

[YourFriendDave]

OK, I'm now confused. You have a PC with both a DVI and VGA output, and you have this HDTV and VGA monitor.

Yes

Why not connect both at once and make the VGA monitor your primary display with the usual PC desktop and the HDTV your secondary display where you run Media Center? I've certainly done that more than once. I also have a HTPC that won't boot if it's connected only via HDMI, so I connect both a VGA and HDMI cable to the HDTV and that satisfies the PC even though I never look at the VGA input.

Ive tried that and it still wont boot, thats ideally the way I want to have it so that I can just switch it on and not have to plug in any cables to use it for media center, yet also have it on the ready to just use as a PC. Just don't understand why it wont boot up.

 

[Crunchy Doodle]

My only suggestions would be to be sure the motherboard BIOS is up to date, and if you have a descrete video card, try a different one.

Bye.

 

[Kari]

This might not be your case, and you might think it's a stupid question, but are you sure the computer wont boot?

If the HDMI device is connected and not powered down, only "hibernated" i.e. shut down from the remote, some GPU's still think it's connected and on. If this device is display 1 in a multi display system, the login screen is shown in it, instead of the other displays. In this case, it seems that computer is not booting but turning the HDMI device (TV) on might just show the login screen.

I'm explaining it a bit complicated, so here's an example:

My bedroom setup has a dual screen setup, where an HDMI TV is display 1, and laptop's screen is display 2. When I boot the laptop without first turning the TV on, it looks as if the system would not boot because after the BIOS POST, the signal is sent to HDMI. To see the login screen, I have to turn the TV on.

This only happens when the TV is turned off from the remote. If I power down the TV from its on / off button i.e. it's completely without current, the login screen is shown in my laptop.

Hopefully you can understand this very confusing rant

Kari