HDMI-out stopped working, Win x64, Radeon HD 3200

[hrudu]

Up until the other day, I've been using my MSI Wind u230 netbook / Radeon HD 3200 to output to my monitor (Acer S243HL - only has 1x DVI and 2x HDMI inputs) and then occasionally swap to a Westinghouse 32" TV.

The other day: I was using my monitor then swapped to the tv, and then returned to my room to connect to the monitor and it just won't work. (To note, I've been using Win key + P to set projector only and to disconnect projector before unplugging the HDMI cable.)

The netbook screen will turn itself off (as if it detects the HDMI-out) but the screen or TV will just show "No signal."

I tried a shorter HDMI cable, tried the other input on the monitor, still nothing. Strangely enough, checking the displays in Catalyst or the Screen Resolution properties, it can detect both the TV and the monitor. There's just no signal coming out.

Even stranger: trying to connect another laptop to the monitor (which used to work) displays "No signal" too.

Now I'm confused. Could it be a software issue? Could I have broken an HDMI port somewhere that somehow broke the other two HDMI cables in turn? Help?

 

[James7679]

Does the same HDMI input on the TV function properly if you connect, say a gaming console to that port, or a dvd player to that port?

 

[hrudu]

Hey James, thanks for the reply. To be honest, (and I know it's a bit silly, but some computer problems are like that) I still have a vague suspicion that a port (laptop's/TV's/monitor's) might be breaking pins or something in the cables, so I didn't want to try and plug in the PS3's HDMI cable in there.

However, the monitor has two HDMI inputs, tried plugging in to both, still no signal.

Again, I'm afraid of trying to plug in the PS3's HDMI port in the monitor for fear that the port may break it.

 

[James7679]

Well, it sounds more like a tv issue than it does a pc issue. If you use the current cable that is connected to your PS3, disconnect it from it's current HDMI port and reconnect it to the HDMI port your were sending signal from your PC to, if you still get no signal then you know that you have a bad HDMI port on your tv.

 

[hrudu]

The part that bothers me is now HDMI-out won't work with my monitor. (Tried with netbook, then laptop. I don't have another HDMI cable to test.)

Is it possible that a broken HDMI port can break HDMI cables that you connect to it, then in turn, break other HDMI ports you use that cable to?

 

[James7679]

well, what's more strange, after re-reading your posts, you say that the PCs recognize the monitor an tv correctly.

Have you updated drivers recently? Maybe windows did and you are just unaware?

EDIT: So, just to clarify, BOTH of your laptops are now not sending signal to BOTH your TV AND MONITOR?

 

[hrudu]

Thanks for the reply! No updates, no changes in anything. This has been my setup forever. I use the monitor for things like word processing, spreadsheets, then connect to TV's HDMI for videos or YouTube.

The other laptop has never been able to HDMI-out to the TV, so that's normal. What's strange is now even that won't send out a signal to the monitor. (The monitor works with the other laptop flawlessly before.) Which has led me to the slightly-improbable scenario of an HDMI-port somewhere in my setup breaking cables that connect to it, or whatever the cable is used for later on. Pulling hairs.

 

[James7679]

Is this the driver you have installed? AMD Catalyst

 

[hrudu]

I tried to check if it was a driver issue by updating my Catalyst drivers on the netbook, but not on the other laptop. Still nothing. And, like I said, it was working fine even before with the older drivers.

Is it possible for an HDMI port to short out?

 

[James7679]

It is possible for an HDMI port to go bad. Unfortunately, you will have to take the laptop to a repair shop to test it. Does your laptop have a VGA out? If so, try connecting it to the monitor.

 

[ripbox]

can you per chance try another HDMI cable? i think it may be possible your cable has a break or snapped pin
Cheap HDMI cable are usually made of inferior material to keep cost down but the leaves them less robust and prone to breaks and snapped pins

 

[hrudu]

can you per chance try another HDMI cable? i think it may be possible your cable has a break or snapped pin
Cheap HDMI cable are usually made of inferior material to keep cost down but the leaves them less robust and prone to breaks and snapped pins

Hey ripbox, thanks for the reply! I've tried another, shorter and (ugh) more expensive HDMI cable. Still nada. What's bugging me is that both cables won't work with either my netbook or my laptop now.

Or is this one of those weird coincidences when both cables just managed to break at the same time? (I'm out of HDMI cables at home, save for the one connected to the PS3 which I am reluctant to test, since I might break that too.)

I'm thinking a pin might've broken in a port somewhere, causing the cables to break or not send signals?

Is it possible for the computer to still detect the display if only the voltage pin (the shortest one) in the port breaks? Catalyst can detect both monitor and TV correctly, but it just isn't sending anything out. Tried testing by changing default audio device as HDMI controller, and I don't hear anything.