HDMI Video Problem

[iolaus]

Hey all,

I'm trying to get SageTV set up on my Asus P5E-VM HDMI system and I'm having some trouble. The problem I'm experiencing is that when I turn off my TV, which is connected to the HTPC via HDMI, while SageTV is open the application doesn't render correctly when the TV is turned back on. When using Fullscreen Exclusive mode for SageTV it doesn't render at all after turning the TV back on. I either get a black screen or the Vista desktop with SageTV showing in the taskbar (but unable to regain focus). If I turn Fullscreen Exclusive off in SageTV the application is visible when turning the TV back on but only the top left corner of the application is rendered. I believe all this is related to the HDMI interface and how it handles the connected display device turning off. I don't think there would be any issue, for instance, with a VGA connection.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Ryan

[steven017]

Hey Ryan,

I think I'm having the same problem. I usually leave my box in full screen mode, put Sagetv to sleep, and then turn the TV off. Sometimes when I turn it on, I get the same thing, a black screen.

SageTV does, however, continue to record properly, and I have verified that Windows functions also (I've got some scheduled macros that I know are running and I have a couple macros mapped to my remote that I know are working).

Interestingly, I am also using an ASUS HDMI board, although I am using the lowly S-Video out. In particular, my board is the ASUS M2A-VM HDMI.

I'm thinking this thread probably belongs in the hardware forum, where hopefully someone might see it and know a solution.

Steve
P.S. My solution right now is just to reboot my system when this happens. That's one of the macros mapped to my remote ;-).

[CollinR]

My HDMI out has none of these issues, it works just like VGA but my plasma underscans the hell out of it and will only accept 1280x720. Over VGA it'll accept it's native resolution of 1366x768 SageTV had no troubles dealing with this in either case. SageTV does not like you to change display size or color depth while it is running though.

[weikeongho]

I'm not sure where the problem lies. I'm using the same board P5E-VM. Very frustrated with Vista resizing to 800x600 when the LCD TV is switched off and on. Googled all over the net and only found a solution. ie. to buy a Gefen DVI dectective device that tricks Vista into thinking the LCD TV is always on.

Given the poor boy that I am... I worked out a workaround, which may or may not work for you.

I wrote a java program that detects the resize to 800x600. When it detects the resolution change, it tries to change the resolution back to 1184x666 (my 1280x720 has overscan). It then sends itself to the back to lose focus back to SageTV. It uses QuickRes, a freeware to change the resolution. This program is auto-started when windows starts and lies in background waiting for resolution change to 800x600.

However, SageTV, upon turning on the TV is still clipped at 800x600. Hence, you have to map a key on your remote to the FULLSCREEN command. Switching FullScreen Off and then On, will revert SageTV to it's normal operation. You also have to disable "Fullscreen exclusive mode" for this to work.

Not the most elegant of solution... but it suits the poor boy.

[bretm]

I'm another P5E-VM user who's having resolution issues. There's a thread at AVSForum about it, but I don't think anyone has found a solution. I suspect it's an Intel G35 driver issue. Also, my resolution resets to 1024x768 (not 800x600). Not sure if this is because I'm using WinXP, or perhaps it has to do with the display device (Intel seems a bit overzealous when it comes to EDID).

Unfortunately, SageTV goes into all kinds of convulsions when you change the resolution on it -- esp. if it's running in FSE mode. I get black screens, crashes, and other unpredictable behavior. Good thing the service still ran like a champ and recorded American Idol last night, or I would have been in huge trouble with the girlfriend!

[meep]

Same thing here - P35-VM HDMI out to Sony Bravia. The problem occurs even when switching inouts and returning back to the pc input. Grrrr.

Peter

[bretm]

Originally Posted by meep

Same thing here - P35-VM HDMI out to Sony Bravia. The problem occurs even when switching inouts and returning back to the pc input. Grrrr.

Yup, same thing here -- changing inputs or toggling power on the TV resets the HTPC resolution back down. This is my first HDMI/HTPC setup, but I'm assuming this is an Intel G35 issue, because I haven't seen any NVidia / ATI users report anything like this.

[asp]

I hacked up a solution to this by creating a small application. I fully expected Intel or Asus to have this fixed in the latest update but apparently that wasn't the case. You can download the application here. It's fairly small and all it really does is that it monitors for a change in resolution, fixes the change and forces SageTV to redraw itself. Works well enough for me and as a temporary fix until Intel or Asus fix the issue.

Has anyone tried flashing with the newest BIOS for the P5E-VM motherboard?

[bryonrw]

If anyone is still looking for a solution. I went directly to the individual onboard video and sound manufactures to download the latest drivers, which worked great!