off topic , well kind of , computer media centres.

[robgil]

how about period computer media centres to stay on topic?
anyhow , i have an issue with my windows media centre , is anyone clued up about computers?
i run it through my lcd telly via hdmi connection , i have problems with it hand shaking and need to restart my computer but this i can deal with.
the annoying thing is when i close my lap top screen down it shows up as 1080i hd on my telly but its much smaller than normal with a large black border around the screen , when i open the lap top screen it reverts back to full screen and shows 720p hd.
i dont know the difference between 720p and 1080i but i would like my 1080i to be in full screen like my 720p.
any ideas on how to resolve this?

 

[JohnB]

how about period computer media centres to stay on topic?

You mean something like this?

More period inspiration here

 

[markt]

how about period computer media centres to stay on topic?
anyhow , i have an issue with my windows media centre , is anyone clued up about computers?
i run it through my lcd telly via hdmi connection , i have problems with it hand shaking and need to restart my computer but this i can deal with.
the annoying thing is when i close my lap top screen down it shows up as 1080i hd on my telly but its much smaller than normal with a large black border around the screen , when i open the lap top screen it reverts back to full screen and shows 720p hd.
i dont know the difference between 720p and 1080i but i would like my 1080i to be in full screen like my 720p.
any ideas on how to resolve this?

I also run a Media Center (Vista) and have had no end of troubles with hdml handshakes and sleep issues. My problem was that my telly is 720p (1360x768 native resolution), but the system kept forgetting that and was trying to display in 1280 x 1024 which the telly could display. This resulted in getting an 'out of range' error on the screen. I tried using VNC to connect to the media centre to change the resolution, but the required one was always missing, until a restart.

However, I did find a solution eventually. That was to create my own monitor .inf file as per these instuctions. (found via)

If you do something similar, and only make the single resolution you want available for the second screen (telly), it *might* fix the problem.

 

[robgil]

john that looks like a modern version of my pc.
thanks Markt , i shall give it a look , i am on to HP help to see if they can do anything and apparently my nvidia driver is way out of date.

 

[Penners]

i have problems with it hand shaking

That sounds like a problem of long-term alcohol abuse to me.

Rob, what are you using the Windows Media Centre for? And which version of Windows do you run?

I run Windows 7, and I never have any need to use the Media Center (as the Americans annoyingly spell it!). I can use my LCD TV very successfully as a monitor, via an HDMI cable - I do this sometimes to watch the BBC iPlayer.

I presume you know that you can choose how your image is displayed, in Control Panel>Display (the exact route to this function will depend on your version of Windows)? The characteristics are determined by the video card in your computer, but mine is set to show the display on both the computer's own screen and on an external monitor. This works very well when I use my TV as that monitor, and reverts happily to the computer screen when no external device is connected.

Just read your last post - do you know how to update your video driver?

 

[robgil]

ive sorted it now Penners , i had to close the lappy screen down then adjust the settings in nvidia control , worked a treat.

i use windows media centre to watch films , listen to music and view photos , all stored on a separate iomega screenplay hd hard drive.
the iomega can plug straight into the telly and has its own remote control but i like the interface that i get with windows media centre , ive also got a remote control for windows media centre so its all very easy.
i just need a wireless mouse now and one of these for internet use, i wont have to open my lap top screen up ever again..

http://www.google.co.uk/#hl=en&safe=off&&sa=X&ei=qTeTTNCWCIm6jAfkgNGYBQ&ved=0CBwQBSgA&q=laser+keyboard&spell=1&fp=6de065701fd08b2a

 

[Penners]

You've just reminded me that I also have a WMC remote control somewhere. I wonder where I put it... :?

 

[robgil]

You've just reminded me that I also have a WMC remote control somewhere. I wonder where I put it... :?

you might also need the little receiver as well Penners. i neglected my wmc for years but now im brushing the cobwebs out of it and ironing out the bumps its fab!
tagging music files is a bit of a pain for the library though , ive got 308 gig of music to properly tag.