LCD TV - HTPC bother

DuncyBoy · 13 Jul 2007 at 12:55

This was sort of a display/home cinema/HTPC/graphics query, so I've posted in general. Hope that's OK.

Took delivery of a Samsung LE40R87BDX on Tuesday and I have an HTPC made from

Shuttle Barebones
1GB RAM
Seagate HDD
Radeon 9250
Hauppauge 250 TV card

and running Windows MCE 2005

Now, this HTPC's been running fine for years, no problems. Used to connect it to my old CRT with an S-Video cable to SCART convertor. Now swapped that for the standard PC-PC connector for the TV and also swapped the on-board sound connection to Optical.

Now something's gone all bendy! I can get the PC to boot to MCE but after around 4 or 5 minutes it reboots and switches off the display. Even after turning off the PC, it still keeps turning the TV off if I leave the source as PC. I think the graphics drivers are corrupt- I get an error saying "Graphics Drivers not supported by MCE" or somesuch. The Radeon 9250 isn't supported by MCE and ATI don't do MCE drivers for it as a rule, but it's been working grand for years with my CRT. Why has changing to the LCD naffed it?

I have a spare Radeon 9600 that I can swap and that is supported by MCE/ATI but I'm struggling to get into Windows full stop because it keeps re-booting. Can I clean the old drivers and reinstall new ones in Safe Mode? If I change the lead so it's VGA - HDMI would this stop the power off loop?

Any advice greatly taken!!!

Valo · 13 Jul 2007 at 18:23

I would try using the 9600 card in place of the 9250 card (to insure complete compatibility with MCE2005) and boot into safemode and remove all ATi display drivers, reboot and reload them in normal windows.

I think your problem may be down to connecting via VGA rather than s-video...but don't hold me to that.

I would kep it connected via VGA - VGA as a DVI - HDMI can be problematic.

DuncyBoy · 13 Jul 2007 at 20:02

Tried cleaning the driver's and a fresh reinstall of the 9250- same problem, swapped it for the 9600 and ATI's MCE drivers- works a treat.

Best guess I can make is that LCD resolutions were a bit beyond the other card

Will stick with VGA-VGA, looks spot on for me and saves me a £10 buying a different cable.

Thanks for the tips, man

Valo · 13 Jul 2007 at 20:25

No worries mate!

Glad you got it sorted enjoy the LCD...I know the difference it makes, my MCE Box looks great running through my panasonic plasma.

squiffy · 13 Jul 2007 at 20:27

There's a option in MCE to turn off "notify me that when something is incompatible " or something or other.

Since you have ATI card, disable "DVI high frequency output" on my ATI X300 I got no signal DVI-HDMI, 1920x1080 @ 60hz. Disabling that sorted it.