PrintThis document pertains to HP or Compaq Notebook PCs with Windows 7 or Vista and a High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) connector.
When connecting your computer to a high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) device, such as your LCD TV and/or surround sound speakers, you might encounter certain display or sound issues. Use the information in this document to check your settings and to troubleshoot specific problems.
Setting HDMI sound output
Windows outputs sound to only one device at a time. Select the desired output device by setting the default device and then the sound changes to the correct devices as cables are connected or disconnected. When switching between the sound on the computer and the sound on an external monitor or TV, open the sound devices to ensure the correct output device is selected.
If the device has not been previously configured, when checking the sound properties, the ATI HDMI output does not display unless an HDMI cable is connected between an HDMI device and the HDMI port on the computer.
NOTE:Depending on the Operating System installed and the type of sound chip being used, the images displayed in this document might differ from what you observe when following these instructions on your computer.
Use the steps below to configure the audio output when an HDMI cable is connected:
- Connect the HDMI cable to your computer and to your output device.
- Click the Start button, type sound in the Search field, and then select Sound from the list.The Sound window opens.
- On the Playback tab, select Speakers and Headphones , and then click the Set Default button.
- Select ATI HDMI Output to make HDMI the default sound playback device, and then click the Set Default button.
- Right-click the ATI HDMI Output , and then select Show Disconnected Devices option. The HDMI cable must be connected when it is configured.
To view all the available sound devices, right-click any device shown in the Sound window and select the Show Disabled Device
and Show Disconnected Devices
options.
Using correct HDMI cable for your HDMI device
There are three types of HDMI connectors: 19-pin (normal head), 19-pin (small head), and 29-pin. If your computer and HDMI device use different cable types, you can purchase adapters. Single Mode settings are used with the 19-pin connectors and Dual Mode is used with the 29-pin connector. See
Overview of HDMI and DVI Connections for PCs
for more information.
Most HDTV devices have more than one HDMI input port, therefore it is very important that the TV's input source is set to the same HDMI port that is connected to your computer (i.e., HDMI2 to HDMI2).
Troubleshooting specific HDMI issues
The following describes some troubleshooting tips you can use when encountering HDMI issues.
If you are playing an HD DVD on your computer while it is connected to an LCD TV with an HDMI cable, you see the following error message:
The content is protected. The content is not allowed to be played in current mode.
This error sometimes occurs when single mode settings are selected. To resolve the issue, click to accept the message when prompted. The movie will play.
When the computer is in HDMI mode, images are sometimes distorted or do not display at all. To resolve this issue, use the HP Support Assistant to test your computer and install any updated drivers, or download and install the latest video drivers for your model from the
HP Software & Driver downloads page
.
For more information about downloading and installing drivers and software for your HP computer, please see the
Obtaining Software and Drivers
support document.
With HDMI, you can view all the actions on both your computer and on your high definition TV screen at the same time. However, if you are using HP MediaSmart, when you start the movie the screen may go black. The audio may play but there may be no video output from the DVD. To correct this issue, make sure you are using the latest version of MediaSmart. Update the BIOS and the video drivers to the latest version available for your model.
For more information about downloading and installing drivers and software for your HP computer, please see the
Obtaining Software and Drivers
support document.
First, confirm that the computer recognizes HDMI audio by right-clicking the Volume
icon in the Windows system tray and selecting Playback Devices
. If you do not see the HDMI Output
, reinstall or update your audio drivers. Also, make sure the BIOS is up-to-date.
When using WinDVD to play a movie after selecting HDMI as the default audio output, the surround sound option may be unavailable. To resolve this issue, update to WinDVD version 9.0 or later at the
HP Software & Driver downloads page
.
If you are using the MediaSmart program, make sure you are using the latest version.
For more information about downloading and installing drivers and software for your HP computer, please see the
Obtaining Software and Drivers
support document.
The HDMI port cannot receive audio if the HDMI icon disappears from the sound properties in the Control Panel.
To restore the HDMI icon, follow the steps below.
- Reinsert the HDMI cable into the HDMI port on the computer.
- After approximately 10 seconds, switch the audio source in the Control Panel.
- Click the Start button, type sound in the Search field, and select Sound from the list.
- On the Playback tab, select the HDMI audio device , click Set Default , and then click OK .
The HDMI icon reappears in the sound properties in the Control Panel and the HDMI port can now receive audio.
If the HDMI icon always displays Working
status, the audio source is always directed to the HDMI port.
To remove the constant Working
status from the HDMI icon, follow the steps below.
- Reinsert the HDMI cable into the HDMI port on the computer.
- After approximately 10 seconds, switch the audio source in the Control Panel.
- Click the Start button, type sound in the Search field, and select Sound from the list.
- Select another audio device, click Set Default , and then OK .
The HDMI icon no longer constantly displays Working
status and the audio source is no longer always directed to the HDMI port.
If the HDMI icon displays Not Plugged in
, audio and video cannot be output to the HDMI port.
To remove Not Plugged in
status from the HDMI icon, follow these steps:
- Remove the HDMI cable from the HDMI port on the computer.
- Reinsert the HDMI cable into the HDMI port on the computer.
- After approximately ten seconds, switch the audio source in the Control Panel.
- Click the Start button, type sound in the Search field, and select Sound from the list.
- Select another audio device, click Set Default , and then OK .
The HDMI icon no longer displays Not Plugged-in
status. Audio and video can now output to the HDMI port.
Contacting HP service and support
Individual countries and regions have their own procedures
for providing product support and customer service. For your country or
region, go to the
Hewlett Packard
Technical Support
page, select a country or region, and then click
Contact HP
.
Alternately, click the Contact
HP
link near the upper left corner of this web
page
