TV Display

robfwoods · 24th March 2007

I've completely rebuilt home computer - the previous system had XP Pro - now XP Home.

I had things set up so could watch MLBaseball on 2 regular TV's in the house - going out from TV card to TV's - and continue using computer monitor for email or whatever. (Do have proper Radeon TV card)

There were controls in 'Windows Settings' where could see 'TV' understood and mentioned - and even a place where you could click 'force TV' - it worked like a charm.

With 'new' setup I can't get TV working and 'display settings' says NOTHING about TV's - and even 'Help Search' yields zero assistance.

I have ATI display and there is a Catalyst Control Center - but can not make any sense out of it - as it - too- seems to be oriented to setting up extra 'monitors' and heeds no attention to TV

Any suggestions? Thanks

**JSS3rd** · 25th March 2007

Hi Rob,

I don't have a TV attached, so I can't verify this.

Open the Catalyst Control Center and make sure you have the Advanced view selected. On the Graphics Settings tab, select Display Options. Then, check "Force TV detection", select "Detect whenever CATALYST® Control Center is opened", and click Apply.

I'm not sure, but you may have to close the Control Center and re-open it before the next step.

Select Displays Manager. I show "Attached displays currently disabled", but I think you should show your TV. See the screenshots.

robfwoods · 25th March 2007

Hi Jim

Thanks much - crazily enough I just did that a few minutes ago - and the 'force TV' seemed to work (that was part of the Windows Display Settings with the XP Pro which I was using but disappeared with 'Home Edition')

Anyhow - has now progressed to seeing startup 'DOS type' screen - and then the Win XP opening screen - but when goes to regular screens and/or video - just a BLANK

I can't make any sense of the other settings on the Catalyst Center - any suggestions - tried juggling the 3 possibilities under the 'limited resolution' choice system - but didn't help - but maybe didn't reboot all - was totally unsure what would help

Went to the TV Properties too - and scrolled to the 2nd monitor - which reads Radeon etc - followed by 'Default TV' - rebooted - but it didn't help

Any suggestions? Thanks

**JSS3rd** · 25th March 2007

Hi Rob,

I wouldn't think that XP Home vs. Pro (which I'm using) would make any difference in this case, but that may be the answer.

What happens if you click on the "Detect Displays" button on the Displays Manager page? Also, try the choices available when you right-click on the TV icon.

Other than that, I'm out of ideas. Not having a TV attached kind of reduces me to guessing.

robfwoods · 25th March 2007

What happens if you click on the "Detect Displays" button on the Displays Manager page? Also, try the choices available when you right-click on the TV icon.

I had done that along with the 'force TV' - and I guess that's what allowed the original detection.

(Do get momentary 'zaps' on the screen when it should be detecting the reg screens but remains blank)

Thanks much for your help as it got me realizing was doing the right kind of things. Tomw being Monday and places open again - I'll call the folks who sold the stuff to me and see what they advise

I'll report back here what the resolution was (pun intended) - thanks again

ps - re Home vs Pro - would make the usual MS backwards sense to facilitate TV at work rather than home

robfwoods · 25th March 2007

Jim -

Found solution

The ATI BASIC allowed to set it up properly - it had been Advanced when done thru the XP Pro Settings system

So somehow meandered back to the Basic - and got it working

Thanks your help - you encouraged me to find the solution.

**JSS3rd** · 25th March 2007

Hi Rob,

Glad to know you got the problem solved, but I don't know how much help I really was. Our exchange took place in the middle of the night here, and I wasn't really wide awake. After my last post, I went back to bed.

In the Spring of 1990 I hadn't yet bought my first PC, but had several years experience with the Amiga. I continued on that interesting platform until Spring 1997, when I migrated to the PC and Win95. I got considerable experience with Win3.x, though, trying to help friends new to (older hand-me-down) computers struggle with it.