Solved NO video or audio from computer to receiver to HDTV via HDMI

[Thenin]

This is a real puzzler, since I've successfully done this with other hardware previously. I eventually want to set up an HTPC via a computer's HDMI through an HDMI switch (because the TV I will be using doesn't support enough HDMI inputs) to my receiver (which also doesn't support enough HDMI inputs) and then to my TV.

But before I start using the HDMI switch, I'm struggling to make the setup work just with the computer connected to the receiver and then to the TV. Whatever I try, I get no output at all -- no video and no audio! Here's a list of the hardware that will become the HTPC:

TV: Sony Bravia HDTV Model # KDL-32ML130
Receiver: Pioneer VSX-821-K
Computer: Home-built with MSI NVIDIA GeForce GT 710 (includes HDMI output), running 64-bit Windows 7 Pro


Here's a list of the things I've tried:

Tried using several different HDMI cables (all high-quality)
Tried different input and output ports to and from the receiver and the TV
Tried different startup orders (e.g, TV first, computer first, receiver first, etc)
Tried two different computers (both running the same OS) but with different HDMI graphics cards
Tried changing NVIDIA control panel output ports/settings, but it reported that only one output was connected (the HDMI)
Tried using an HDMI spitter to circumvent HDCP
​

But none of these attempts worked!

Note that I confirmed that the receiver HDMI I/O ports used, and the TV HDMI port used, work correctly by using a different HDMI source (BluRay player, Fire TV, etc). I really thought that HDCP was the problem and that the splitter would confirm that, but that doesn't appear to be the case.

Here are some screen shots of the relevant Windows 7 control panel settings:
(NOTE: these were captured while the NVIDIA HDMI port was connected to the Pioneer receiver and the NVIDIA VGA port was directly connected to the PC port on the TV -- otherwise no video would ever be seen):

Sound Control Panel Main:

Formats supported by the Pioneer receiver:

NVIDIA high-def audio page:

Please help!!

 

[centaur78]

Have you enabled the 'CONTROL ' option in HDMI Setting in the Pioneer Receiver

Connect the HDMI from the HTPC to the VIDEO1 of the A/V Receiver and from the HDMI OUT of the A/V receiver to one of the HDMI IN on your SONY TV.

Let me know if this works

 

[Thenin]

First, thanks enormously for your response!

Have you enabled the 'CONTROL ' option in HDMI Setting in the Pioneer Receiver

Until your reply, I hadn't even been aware that this setting existed! I enabled it, and I also enabled the ARC setting, the manual's description of which reads:

Select the ‘ARC’ setting you want.

When a TV supporting the HDMI Audio Return Channel function is connected to the receiver, the sound of the TV can be input via the HDMI terminal.

• ON – The TV’s sound is input via the HDMI terminal. This can only be selected when Control is set to ON.

• OFF – The TV’s sound is input from the audio input terminals other than HDMI inputs.

Connect the HDMI from the HTPC to the VIDEO1 of the A/V Receiver and from the HDMI OUT of the A/V receiver to one of the HDMI IN on your SONY TV.

Let me know if this works

OK, I've done that, but I still get no video or audio! I get the same results regardless of which of the receiver's HDMI input ports I try (while changing the associated input setting of the receiver).

By the way, whenever the computer is connected to the receiver and the input port matches the input setting, a red light marked "HDMI" lights up, indicating that it IS getting communication from the computer. If I have a mismatch between input port and input setting, the light does not appear.

Also, FYI, when I take the computer and connect it to a different HTPC system with different, newer components (Yamaha A/V receiver & JVC HDTV), both audio and video work correctly.

What should I try next?

 

[Thenin]

Barely adequately SOLVED: It was an extremely frustrating and extremely irrational process, but here's what finally worked acceptably (but far from ideally!):

As a desperate move, I replaced the NVIDA card with an AMD card. I'm not certain at all that was a key part of the solution or not, but now that it's finally working okay I'm not going to spend another hateful day experimenting some more. But both video and audio worked IF and ONLY IF I connect the AMD card's HDMI port to the receiver AND connect the AMD card's VGA port directly to the HDTV! If I try without the VGA port connected, it never, ever works.

Furthermore, if I try to increase the video resolution above 1280 x 720 on either port, the HDMI port ALWAYS goes blank and will not show any video until the auto-restore feature returns it to 1280 x 720. Yet the receiver's HDMI resolution is full 1080p, and the HDTV's is 1360x768, if you try even for the latter, it NEVER works. I suspect this may be related to the fact that I have to "duplicate" both display outputs for this to work at all, and obviously VGA has lower resolution capabilities.

And getting the HDMI audio to work was an exercise in horrible frustration because when I tried to get the sound working, I kept getting the dreaded "This device is in use by another application..." message! I tried many suggested fixes, but the only one that worked was to roll back the AMD HDMI audio driver.

All in all, a dreadful experience and a less-than-ideal solution.