Enabling DVI on my Sony VAIO

[Just Me]

Got no help from the guy on the chat-line at Sony, who sits there
telling me that the DVI to HDMI adapter won't work--using my HDTV as
a
monitor for viewing NetFlix and YouTube, etc.

BUT IT DOES work because I get a display on the HDTV as the computer
begins to boot up. Only when Windows XP starts to load do I lose the
display.

Any tips, as to how I can get that DVI interface up and running?
Would
I have to go into SET-UP before Windows boot and enable it there? If
so, which function key do I have to hit to get in there? Been so long
I can't remember.

Also which screen resolution is best?

 

[Paul]

Got no help from the guy on the chat-line at Sony, who sits there
telling me that the DVI to HDMI adapter won't work--using my HDTV as
a
monitor for viewing NetFlix and YouTube, etc.

BUT IT DOES work because I get a display on the HDTV as the computer
begins to boot up. Only when Windows XP starts to load do I lose the
display.

Any tips, as to how I can get that DVI interface up and running?
Would
I have to go into SET-UP before Windows boot and enable it there? If
so, which function key do I have to hit to get in there? Been so long
I can't remember.

Also which screen resolution is best?

Hardware details ? Computer make and model ? What about your
video output options ? Video connectors in the I/O plate
area of the computer ? Does the machine use an add-in style video card,
with video connectors in the "PCI slot area" ?

Generally, for full control, you want two video connectors
on the computer. Preferably, on the same video card, for
convenience.

If it's a single connector, and you're swapping monitors,
it's possible you'll end up with a black screen. Try reconnecting
the original monitor (both VGA and DVI can be installed hot,
and I've done that hundreds and hundreds of times here). The
black screen might result from Plug and Play (somehow) using
the wrong resolution.

It's easier if the two devices (old monitor and new monitor)
are connected at the same time, as then there is less chance
of losing control.

Plug in the regular monitor to one connector, the HDTV to the
other connector. Windows may currently be using only the
regular monitor, and doesn't know about the HDTV.

You then need to change video card modes, to a "dual head"
configuration. Or, otherwise get Windows to recognize the second
display. Then, change the HDTV to be the primary display,
if your intention is to run with nothing but the HDTV in the
future.

The BIOS has a setting, for display card priority, and it
can be used to steer the BIOS screen output to a particular
GPU. It sounds like that is already happening (since you saw
the BIOS on the HDTV screen). But once Windows
starts, it has its own configuration details.
And then the screen can go black if it wants.

On a laptop, there are Function keys defined in the user manual,
for changing the video configuration on the fly. These allow
a saleman to switch his laptop to driving a projector, while
doing a sales presentation. A desktop might not come with
that same exact setup, and then you use the Display control
panel to make changes.

Example for an ATI video card:

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/video/p152390/en/displays.htm#wp1132831

Example for an Nvidie video card (Classic control panel, out of date...)

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/video/p56135/en/usage.htm

Nvidia "New" control panel, picture of dual monitor setup

http://i358.photobucket.com/albums/oo21/Happy_Ocuk/Clipboard01-20.jpg

Intel probably has something too, if it's an Intel built-in chipset
graphics. Example here.

http://support.gateway.com/s/Mobile/2007/Phantom/1014329Rfaq10.shtml

Paul

 

[Just Me]

Very helpful post. Thanks, Paul

Hardware details ? Computer make and model ? What about your
video output options ? Video connectors in the I/O plate
area of the computer ? Does the machine use an add-in style video card,
with video connectors in the "PCI slot area" ?

It's a Sony VAIO PCV-RZ14G "Digital Studio PC", all very high end
'state of the art' when it came out about the time Windows XP was
first released--a state long since defunct by now.

* Processor: 2.53GHz Intel Pentium 4
* 512 MB PC-2100 DDR (Boy! Does this thing ever need a memory
upgrade.)
* 64 nVidia GeForce4 MX 440

Front panel: S-Video and RCA video/audio inputs.
Back panel: S-Video/audio input & output

On the S-Video input/output card there is a TV RF receiver/tuner which
works with the "Gigapocket Digital Studio" feature, for recording TV
programs.

Generally, for full control, you want two video connectors
on the computer. Preferably, on the same video card, for
convenience.

Good. That's what we've got. On the card/slot with the VGA monitor
output is the DVI socket right next to it. The s-video/audio card is
separate, in its own slot.

If it's a single connector, and you're swapping monitors,
it's possible you'll end up with a black screen. Try reconnecting
the original monitor (both VGA and DVI can be installed hot,
and I've done that hundreds and hundreds of times here). The
black screen might result from Plug and Play (somehow) using
the wrong resolution.

It's easier if the two devices (old monitor and new monitor)
are connected at the same time, as then there is less chance
of losing control.

Okay, we're good to go on that.

Plug in the regular monitor to one connector, the HDTV to the
other connector. Windows may currently be using only the
regular monitor, and doesn't know about the HDTV.

That's the way it looks, alright.

You then need to change video card modes, to a "dual head"
configuration. Or, otherwise get Windows to recognize the second
display. Then, change the HDTV to be the primary display,
if your intention is to run with nothing but the HDTV in the
future.

We'll be switching back and forth, if possible.

The BIOS has a setting, for display card priority, and it
can be used to steer the BIOS screen output to a particular
GPU. It sounds like that is already happening (since you saw
the BIOS on the HDTV screen). But once Windows
starts, it has its own configuration details.
And then the screen can go black if it wants.

Yup. That's exactly how it looks to me.

On a laptop, there are Function keys defined in the user manual,
for changing the video configuration on the fly. These allow
a saleman to switch his laptop to driving a projector, while
doing a sales presentation. A desktop might not come with
that same exact setup, and then you use the Display control
panel to make changes.

Right. That's how it is for my Toshiba laptop with ATI video card. I
just hold down the Fn key and hit F5 to go through the selection of
modes. I see that you have a link to an out of date nVidia card down
here which just may be the ticket. I'll check that out right now.

And thanks a million, Paul for taking the trouble. Sure do appreciate
it. Kind of looks like I'm going to need a major upgrade for that RAM
though, before this thing will accommodate any streaming net video.
That would be my hunch, anyway. Same goes for my laptop which now has
only 2 gig of RAM. The problem with the laptop is some kind of a heat-
sensor for the processor that will trip a circuit breaker in the power
supply which crashes the computer about half-way through a movie. Then
you have to unplug it and wait about ten minutes for it to cool down
before it'll boot again.

Hope to get back with you, let you know how things worked out.

Example for an ATI video card:

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/video/p152390/en/displays.htm#w...

Example for an Nvidie video card (Classic control panel, out of date...)

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/video/p56135/en/usage.htm

Nvidia "New" control panel, picture of dual monitor setup

http://i358.photobucket.com/albums/oo21/Happy_Ocuk/Clipboard01-20.jpg

Intel probably has something too, if it's an Intel built-in chipset
graphics. Example here.

http://support.gateway.com/s/Mobile/2007/Phantom/1014329Rfaq10.shtml

    Paul

Thanks again!