Inspiron 1525 X3100 graphics (965 chipset) HDMI output not working

[DrVlikhell]

I have a Dell Inspiron 1525 that I'm trying to set up as a media center PC. It's old but it's plenty fast enough to stream video and play local content. It has a Core2Duo, I forget the exact model, but it's around 2.0ghz. The chipset is an Intel 965 with an Intel X3100 graphics chip.

For a long time, I had Windows 10 on this computer and everything worked fine, including the HDMI output. When I decided to repurpose it, I wiped Windows 10 off because it was getting slow and I was tired of constantly waiting to use my computer while it forcibly did updates at startup and/or shut down. I installed Windows 7 (64 bit), did all the updates, plugged it into my TV and got nothing.

I've tried installing the drivers from the Intel site for the 965 chipset/graphics, I tried installing some random 64 bit Intel graphics drivers from some site, I tried installing Windows 7 32 bit and using the Dell drivers for Windows Vista 32 bit, and I tried the 32 bit Intel drivers for the 965 chipset/graphics. I even tried reinstalling Windows 10 64 bit, but the HDMI port just won't work anymore. I tried the FN key, the Intel Graphics panel, the regular Windows Display settings. It either doesn't detect that there's an HDMI cable plugged in, or it doesn't realize that it has an HDMI port. I'm not sure which.

I know that the HDMI port still works because it works fine in an obscure variant of Debian Linux out of the box, with no fiddling required. I would just use Linux, but that particular variant is unusable as a media center.

I tried to hunt down an old modded driver package for the X3100 graphics chip, but I only found references to it and not the driver itself.

I've run out of options, am I missing something? Does anybody have any ideas on how to make the HDMI port work again?

 

[fireberd]

One thought, did you install the Intel motherboard chipset drivers? That is key to all the hardware on the motherboard working properly.

Install sequence for a Dell (and many others) (1) Install Windows (2) Install Intel motherboard chipset drivers (3) Install device drivers.

Have you tried posting this on the Dell form, laptop section? May be best option since those familiar with Dells may be able to help.

Inspiron - Dell Community

 

[DrVlikhell]

I installed the chipset drivers. Tried ones from different places and different orders, nothing helped.

I don't think this is a Dell specific problem. I have a theory that the hdmi port isn't sensing that there is a connection on the other end of the hdmi cable. I tried four different cables but that didn't help either. On the one Linux distro where the hdmi out works, that distro initializes all video ports, whether they are connected or not. That's why I think it's an initialization problem. I would just use that distro of Linux and run Kodi, but that particular distro runs so slow it's unusable.

I'd like to find out if there's a way to force the hdmi to turn on in Windows regardless of whether or not there is a device present at the other end of the cable. I think that would solve my problem.

 

[mrjimphelps]

Try installing the Vista driver - it's available on the Dell website.
http://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/04/product-support/product/inspiron-1525/drivers

 

[DrVlikhell]

Try installing the Vista driver - it's available on the Dell website.
http://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/04/product-support/product/inspiron-1525/drivers

I tried that. I mentioned it in my first post.

 

[mrjimphelps]

Perhaps you need to do a reset on the computer -- power down, unplug everything from the computer, remove the main battery, then remove the CMOS battery. Wait a few minutes, to give it time for all power to dissipate; then reinstall the CMOS battery, then the main battery, then plug everything back in. Now power on and see if the HDMI port is working.

 

[DrVlikhell]

Perhaps you need to do a reset on the computer -- power down, unplug everything from the computer, remove the main battery, then remove the CMOS battery. Wait a few minutes, to give it time for all power to dissipate; then reinstall the CMOS battery, then the main battery, then plug everything back in. Now power on and see if the HDMI port is working.

I've done that as well, except for removing the CMOS battery because that would require taking the laptop casing apart. The thing is, the HDMI port does work in one specific distro of Linux, so it's not like it doesn't work at all, it just doesn't work in Windows, or in any useful distro of Linux.

 

[mrjimphelps]

If HDMI works only with one specific distro of Linux, not an any useful distro of Linux, then there could be some issue with your HDMI port which is overcome only with the specific distro of Linux.

I have a shared drive at home. I have tried various "lite" distros of Linux on my old computer, and the only lite distro of Linux which allows me to use the shared drive without any problem is Elementary OS.

The reason I bring up the shared drive is to demonstrate that there can be something which hasn't been totally worked out (in my case the shared drive, in your case HDMI support), but which has been worked out in some Linux distros.

Back to the CMOS battery: Removing the battery may not fix your HDMI issue. But it might. If the CMOS battery is at least a few years old, then it should be replaced. So it would be worth trying this if there is any way you can get to the battery.

 

[iko22]

is tv setup to receive HDMI input ?
are you using the same HDMI cable ?
are both devices HDMI(HDCP) or HDTV ?

 

[DrVlikhell]

If HDMI works only with one specific distro of Linux, not an any useful distro of Linux, then there could be some issue with your HDMI port which is overcome only with the specific distro of Linux.

I have a shared drive at home. I have tried various "lite" distros of Linux on my old computer, and the only lite distro of Linux which allows me to use the shared drive without any problem is Elementary OS.

The reason I bring up the shared drive is to demonstrate that there can be something which hasn't been totally worked out (in my case the shared drive, in your case HDMI support), but which has been worked out in some Linux distros.

Back to the CMOS battery: Removing the battery may not fix your HDMI issue. But it might. If the CMOS battery is at least a few years old, then it should be replaced. So it would be worth trying this if there is any way you can get to the battery.

That's what I said before regarding my HDMI initialization theory that I outlined above. That obscure Linux distro bypasses initialization. Also, the CMOS battery is dead. Taking out the laptop battery and letting it sit for a minute has the same effect as removing the CMOS battery. It doesn't bother me enough to tear apart the laptop to replace the battery.

is tv setup to receive HDMI input ?
are you using the same HDMI cable ?
are both devices HDMI(HDCP) or HDTV ?

Yes my TV is set up for HDMI, that's how I get video from that one Linux distro that works. I've tried three different HDMI cables, all the same result. It's not the TV or the cable.

 

[iko22]

It is an interesting question that you have. You say your setup with at least one cable was working under windows 10 and the obscure debian distro. Then you say that the connection is no longer there when you reinstalled windows 10. But you have not tried reinstalling the debian distro? If you reinstall the debian distro and it still works with at least one cable, then I would post a question on a debian forum asking what is it in the distro that makes the external HDMI work, or if the connection still fails then Id assume that some hardware issue has unfortunately developed. We know for sure that the HDMI has never worked when operating with windows 7.

 

[mrjimphelps]

I know that the HDMI port still works because it works fine in an obscure variant of Debian Linux out of the box, with no fiddling required. I would just use Linux, but that particular variant is unusable as a media center.

Try installing Elementary OS (https://elementary.io/) -- it is a very light-weight version of Linux based on Debian. It's also a very stable, solid version of Linux. I have been using it on an old eMachines computer for a couple of months now, and I am very pleased with it.

Create the install DVD and run it as Linux Live off of the DVD without installing it. In this way, you can see if it will work without actually installing it.