[M17x R3] HDMI not working properly

Question

Hi guys, I'm out of ideas and need some help. The story: When I first got my machine I mainly used the speaker of my home theatre (Pioneer VSX-520) wich was connected via HDMI. It worked well and I never had any problems. Later on I got myself a Logitech Lapdesk N700 so I used that as my primary speaker and I stopped using my home theatre as speaker only (I still use them when I'm watching videos on my TV of course). A while ago I left my Lapdesk in the other room an for convenience I just grabbed a HDMI cable and tried to play some music on my Pioneer. Windows detected hardware, played the sound und the music went silent, but it stayed silent. A quick look in Sound told me, that the device was detected correctly and the audio was going to it, but my AV-Reciever kept awaiting a stream. Wondering what was wrong I turned on my TV (Panasonic TX-P42GW20) and it worked! My music was playing over the AV-Reciever. Strange, I thought and turned off the TV. Again there was no sound, after Windows switched from HDMI to Internal to HDMI again. Again, Windows put through the sound to my Pioneer wich was again awaiting a stream. The search for the error: First I fired up my old Desktop (didn't done that in a while... and now I remember why) and checked if that worked. Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit, Nvidia GTX470 with driver 280.26. Works fine. After all updates it still works. While I done all updates for my desktop, I wrote down the sound-settings and configured my Alienware the same way. No change. Maybe it's the driver? 285.62 was already installed so I gave 290.26 Beta a try. Still no change. Maybe I need the Dell Driver? So I gone for it and while I was at it I also got the new A09 BIOS and the chipset-driver from Inter, just to be sure. Well, I can't setup 3D anymore and HDCP for the internal display has gone (thought BDs still work), but after I turn my TV on and off it works. Since no 3D is no option I gone back to Nvidia 285.62 (HDCP for internal still gone, but BDs still working). While switching the drivers I remembered that Windows is providing it's own driver for HDMI Audio so i tried that one. It detected even more modes for my AV-Reciever, but still not working. I also wanted to try the old Nvidia 280.26 (wich should work, because it did before) but it aborts because it can't find any compatible hardware. The cable is okay. Also HDMI in doesen't work anymore. It connects and switches to it. The display shows a picture for about a half second, then it's turning completely black. Audio works fine, the cable is good and I tried different devices. I'm pretty sure vbios 70.24.2B.00.06 is responsible for that, but what now? Any ideas? Thanks in anticipation.

curtis6556 · Answer

wish i could help man, as another alienware m17x owner i will go ahead and say you better settle down for the long haul... buying an alienware computer has been nothing but problems and a waste of my spare time. sorry man, hope you find your answer.

Napper198 · Answer

*facepalm* that was too easy...

I just saw, that 295.73 came out so I tried that one. While setup I also checked re-installation. I don't know why, but I just felt like it.

Setup done, rebooted, HDMI plugged in and... nothing.

With a bit of frustration I browsed through the settings (HDCP status for internal still missing) I stopped a moment at setup multiple Displays.

There were Laptop-Display and Pioneer Electronics listed, but only Laptop-Display was checked. Shouldn't the other one be checked, too? I gave it a try and it works!
Geez, so much trouble just because of a simple checkbox!

Well, switching to HDMI in still turns off the Display, but since I have no real use for it anyway, I'll just let it be.
But I'm still open for ideas for that. Already tried changing energy-profiles and using different input resolutions.

Have fun

XxrynoxX · Answer

I had the same problem and fixed it by doing this:

go to the registry editor by opening the "start" menu then going to "all programs" then "accessories" then "command prompt".

When instructed type in "regedit.exe"

then in the registry editor find where your nvidia drivers are, mine was located here HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Video\{C77F9D5F-C0A0-401E-ABE7-6975B03AAD0C}\0000

Yours should be located under the following, open "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE

then open SYSTEM

then CurrentControlSet

then Control

then Video

you will have to look through each of the locations under Video to find where your nvidia drivers are located

from there they will be under 0000

once you find it right click in the pan on the right of the registry, then click "new" and select "DWORD (32-bit) Value"

Rename the new key "DisableHPDFakeMonitor" after renaming double click on it and change the value to 1, press ok to save.

exit the registry editor and restart your laptop, your HDMI-in should now be working.

My driver was 296.10 at the time but I have heard from others that it will work on other drivers as well.

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