Need help with laptop and tv display

[Ernie]

I have XP and Hoster 507.05. I have a dedicated laptop for Hoster, Microstudio and Keyrite. I was having a lot of trouble with Hoster, so I put the laptop back to the way it was when I bought it. After that, Hoster was running fantastic. This evening I took my laptop downstairs to set it up for Saturdays party. Before I start, I made all the changes to the laptop before installing Hoster. Now, when I turned on the laptop, the desktop is smaller then the screen. About 1 inch of space on each end and about 2 and a half inches of space on the top and bottom. When I open Hoster, it's the same size!?? When I double click the black screen in the upper right, the whole laptop screen and the tv screen are black. When I double click the black screen on the laptop, it goes back to Hoster and the screen is still small. I've found, the way to play a song is to start it in Hoster, then very quickly double click the small upper right black screen. When I do this, the tv looks all black with the karaoke words playing as they should....But, The whole screen on the laptop looks the same as the tv. Again, I did setup everything on the laptop before installing Hoster. Any Ideas???

Thanks, Ernie

[Roy Dennis]

If you have nvidea graphics it sounds like you have altered some settings there, try this:
Right click the blank area of screen, select properties, then settings tab, then the advanced button probably near the bottom. then select the GeForce tab at the top, a dialog should pop out to one side, click the + sign next to Geforce to expand it, then select flat panel settings, the main dialog should now show some radio buttons, if it is set to centered output that is your problem change it to "Display adapter scaling, then press apply and OK. Now check to see if your desktop fills the screen, you may have to reboot to finish this.
Let us know if that solves that part first, if it does but you are seeing the same picture on both screens let us know and I'll try and guide you on that.

If you don't have nvidea graphics it would be different.

[Ernie]

Roy,
I brought the laptop back upstairs and everything is running normally. Okay, In settings, it shows two screens. Number 1 screen under Display: 1. (Multiple Monitors) on ATI MOBILITY RADEON Xpress 200 Series, In ADVANCED, it has several tabs, which are... Color, OpenGL, Direct3D, Options, Overlay, POWERPLAY(tm), VPU Recover, General, Adapter, Monitor, Troubleshoot, Color Management, Displays. I hope one of these tabs do the same thing.

Thanks Roy,
Ernie

[Roy Dennis]

I have ATI on my Windows 7 computer but it is different to that.
What I don't understand is you say it works alright upstairs but not downstairs

All I can think of is something to do with the upstairs extended monitor must be different to the downstairs one, is one and old style TV or a computer monitor and the other a flat panel LCD with high definition or plasma ?

Are you connecting them both with the same type of connection lead ?
What sort of connection are you using ? (HDMI, Video RCA, S-Video or Converter box of some type).

It may be to do with the resolution setting on monitor 2.
when your in the dialog where you see the 2 screens side by side select the second monitor and try changing the resolution for that monitor, it should show the resolution with a drop down box for selecting alternatives, also make sure it is set to extend these displays.

Then when you select monitor 1 check the resolution showing for that and if it shows a black border on your laptop try altering the resolution.

I'm off to bed now so can't answer any more till tomorrow.

[Ernie]

Roy,
Sorry, but I didn't explain the situation well enough. Downstairs we have a finished basement where my karaoke equipment and tv for karaoke is. In the basement I hook up my laptop with Hoster to my equipment and tv. Upstairs on the first floor I have a study. I don't have a tv in the study. Basically, when I hook up my laptop or Hoster to a tv I have trouble. When I open Hoster with just the laptop and no tv connection, I get a full screen on my laptop and Hoster works fine. Hope this explains it.

Thanks,
Ernie

[Roy Dennis]

Right, I think I know the problem now. It is to do with your laptop screen resolution settings. I set my laptop to 800 x 600 and it displays as you describe with a black border on laptop but only when connected to extended laptop.
So you must increase your laptops screen resolution settings. As you are on XP you may have to do this different to me as I am doing it on windows 7. In my case I click on blank area of desktop and select screen resolution from pop up window, you may have to choose properties then settings or something else but you need to come to the screen as shown here or simalar: http://forum.mtu.com/attachment.php?...8&d=1350471268

And change the resolution to a higher setting.
I demonstrate it in this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmPXO...ature=youtu.be

If you want to view video on setting up the show display watch this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGbavLnNdGc

[Ernie]

Roy,
The screen resolution is a problem. When I set the resolution for screen number 1, it stays there, but when I set the resolution for screen 2, every time I open it up again , it goes back to .the lowest setting. The other thing I'm going to do is see if I need driver updates. The laptop is still fine until I hook it up to the TV. When I hook it to the TV Hoster goes down to about half it's size on the laptop screen. I'll let you know what happens with the drivers.

Thanks,
Ernie

[Roy Dennis]

Sorry I did not answer you earlier but was doing my own show last night.
Just an after thought, could it be to do with the settings on the TV itself, you usually have somewhere on the TV to adjust for wide screen, 4.3 zoom or show black bars top bottom and sides, my own TV allows for 4.3 or 16.9 while connected to laptop or do you have PIP selected (Picture in Picture) ?
Perhaps having the wrong aspect selected on TV is causing this to alter your laptop display.

You never did tell us how you were connecting to your laptop to the external, is it via s-video, rca video, HDMI, VGA lead or through some converter box ?
I should think connecting through an RCA video connection less likely to change your laptop picture when attaching it.

[Ernie]

Roy,
I have s-video. I have tried new drivers.. that didn't help. I have Hoster Prior on my desktop. I don't know if it will do anything, but couldn't find it in add,remove program. I just reinstalled Hoster and will try again. I'm beginning to think my video card might be going on the blink. I think I'll be using disc's tonight.

Thanks,
Ernie

[Roy Dennis]

The Hoster prior can't be uninstalled seperately, it's part of that install. It would not cause the problem you are having with the video.
You can delete the prior shortcut from your desktop if you like that won't have any adverse effect on the main Hoster working.

Sorry I can't think of anything else to suggest.
Maybe put in a support ticket after your party.

[Ernie]

Roy,
Saturday's party went, just okay with the karaoke. I found if I started a song, as soon as it started in the upper right black box, I would double click the black box, and it would fill my laptop screen. Then when the person was finished with the song I would hurry back up and double click the screen to open the Hoster screen. The worst part was not having bigger letters on the screen. I'll send an attachment so you can see what I'm saying. The Hoster screen in the attachment was actually full screen. My video card is on my motherboard. Do you know of any software that will check my software and components? I searched the web today and couldn't find anything. I've had the computer for awhile, and I think it's just getting old. I'd like to get a new laptop, but I think MTU would tell me to get lost if I asked for another download. This has been a bad year for me and computers!?!? I wish I was 25 instead of 65, and knew what those 25 year olds know about computers. As always, thanks for all you did to help, and believe me, I never take your help for granted!!

Thanks again Roy,
Ernie

[RIKKI TIKKI]

Ernie,
Have you tried dragging the black box ( singers window ) over to the tv and extending the corners to cover the tv screen? Sounds simple, but sometime back, all of us used or tried that method to re-size the 2nd monitor for Hoster.

[Ernie]

That's usually what I do. I appreciate your help though.

Thanks Rick

[RIKKI TIKKI]

Anytime...
Roy & Admin will get you going... keep the steps precise, and return to the defaults when necessary... darn computers are finicky, and sometimes hide what should be easy to navigate... unless the process is modified or changed with a bad download, or like you report maybe the computer has issues with the video card... note everything, and I'll keep watching this thread to see what the solution was! Good Luck!

Rick

[Roy Dennis]

Originally Posted by Ernie

Roy,
I've had the computer for awhile, and I think it's just getting old. I'd like to get a new laptop, but I think MTU would tell me to get lost if I asked for another download. This has been a bad year for me and computers!?!? I wish I was 25 instead of 65, and knew what those 25 year olds know about computers. As always, thanks for all you did to help, and believe me, I never take your help for granted!!

Thanks again Roy,
Ernie

When you downloaded Hoster you should use the "Save" option, not the "Run" option then download the file. Then you can save a copy of that file for future use on a CD,memory stick or spare hard drive just in case your computer fails and need to install on another computer.
When you download the file you are asked where to download it to so just remember where you saved it and make a copy.
Unless you have a computer failure always remember to uninstall while on line first to free up your registration to move to another computer that way MTU does not need to reset your install or download count.

Now getting back to your display problem, I'm not aware of any software that will check your graphics card myself perhaps other members can help there.

I thought of one other thing you can try. As you have ATI graphics, on a lot of these cards is a setting named "Theater Mode" if yours has this option make sure you have it off and set to standard mode. I say this because I tried some settings in thearter mode and you get all sorts of weird things happen.
Now as yours is older than mine the view you see might not be like I show and the following instructions may not be the same for you but is how I get to the setting on my own computer.
I think on XP you get to the screen by right click desktop then properties/settings this gets you to the view where you see the 2 screens side by side providing you are connected to your extended screen at the time, or you may see the extended one greyed out. Select "Advanced" in the next screen there should be a tab for your graphics card something like "ATI catalyst control centre" or perhaps just your card #, select this, then in mine there is another dialog with a button in the centre for "ATI Catalyst Control Centre" click this and you come to another screen showing with a Graphics dropdown and an options drop down at the top. The Options dropdown shows a preferences option clicking this shows a "Restore to factory default" which might be worth trying.
Clicking the Graphics dropdown shows a "Avivo Video" choice, select this, in the next dialog are a number of other tabs at the top select Presets and in the dropdown there make sure it is showing "Standard" (Shown in Attachment ATI) then on the top tabs do you see a thearter view ? Clicking this brings up another dialog make sure the window for select Thearter mode is set to "In standard mode" and the radio button for video aspect ratio is set to "Match the source video" as shown in thearter mode attachment.

Another question have you tried this with other external monitors and if so do you get the same problem ?

[Ernie]

Roy,
I took a day off yesterday. When I turned on the computer today, I had a new surprise, the sound button won't turn on the sound. I went in to the control panel/sounds and audio devices, and it said no audio device........Time for a new computer! When installing Hoster and other mtu products, I have always saved the program on both computers. I want to know EXACTLY how to delete these programs, so I don't mess up. I have Hoster, Microstudio and keyrite. Okay, I open Internet Explorer. Do I need to go to MTU and open it? Yes or no on that. Then go to Control Panel and open, Install or Remove Programs. Do I need to do this each time for each program, separately? Now I have a question on laptops. Mine has an s-video connection, but the ones I've been looking at don't have s-video. What's the best or next type of connection to use between a laptop and tv?

Thanks Roy for all the help,
Ernie

[RIKKI TIKKI]

Ernie,

I'm going to preface this answer with " Please Read The Applicable Section Of the Hoster Manual," Starting with Introduction/ How to move Hoster to another/new computer! The steps are well phrased and the Manual for each program has been updated continually with each new Upgrade!

Roy is one of the "sharpest crayons in this box", but his time is volunteered, and when there is an answer as close as the program manual, you should not take up his valuable time... right? He is also a beta tester, Karaoke Host, and does more than his share, Moderating this forum, helping each and every Hoster user, try to fix the problems they incur using the program, by using his experience, and expertise... I know each of us on this forum has benefitted from his answers and assistance... Just don't fill his plate any more than you have too!

What connections does your Karaoke TV allow ( RCA, S-Video, Component, HDMI, Etc.? ) Your going to have to adapt the computer to the tv, so I would guess that an older tv, and a newer computer will be a VGA to RCA converter, and a newer tv (flatscreen), and a newer computer would allow an HDMI Cable directly from Computer to TV... HDMI cable is very expensive, so most of us mobile KJ's weigh the cost of our connections, with the length of the cable run between the computer, and the TV's (Monitors). Personally I use HDMI to a Single Large (50" to 60") flatscreen TV in a couple of my gigs, and a VGA to RCA converter in almost all other situations, if multiple monitors, and long runs of cable (longer than 25') are required...

Here is the Converter that I use for VGA to RCA (note that it outputs s-video also!) from Monoprice.com http://www.monoprice.com/products/pr...seq=1&format=2

Monoprice is also where I buy my cables, connectors, adaptors, etc. Good prices and good customer service... they have a new HDMI cable with Redmere Technology that allows for longer runs ( Up to 60') and is thin, so a mobile KJ can have a longer HDMI cable, when needed to make that long run!
http://www.monoprice.com/products/se...+&keyword=hdmi

Hope this helps a little!

Rick

[Roy Dennis]

You need to copy your original installation files to something like a memory stick, CD or spare hard drive so that you can copy them to a new computer.

While they are on your existing computer you start the executable programs as if you were going to install them.
So in the case of Hoster you find the Hoster507setup.exe file start it and you will come to the page showing 2 choices, upgrade or Remove, choose the remove option and make sure you are on line at the time and follow the rest of the screen instructions, this will automatically inform MTU that it has been removed from that particular computer and allow it to be installed on another computer. Do the same procedure for the other MTU programs.
Depending how old your other programs are they may not auto deregister in which case you would have to inform MTU to move them.

The new computers as you say don't have the old s-video out, most have an HDMI out and some have a VGA out as well. The simplest hook up is the HDMI as most new flat panel monitors now use this type of connection so you just need a standard HDMI lead to connect the two. This type of connection gives excellent picture quality.

Having said that most of us who do actual shows connect to external TV via the ordinary RCA video connection but this requires purchasing an inexpensive converter box from either the VGA or HDMI out of the computer.
Now you may ask why we don't use the HDMI lead as that gives the best picture quality
I can only answer for myself but I have a video mixer that still outputs via standard video so I need to connect through that but another reason is when you go to various bars they all have different set ups and all the older TV have a standard video input and if they don't you can use a scart connector with video RCA video in. Also generally you can find the RCA video inputs on the side or bottom of the TV rather than struggling round the back. Another point is HDMI cables are expensive if you need long runs.
So if your using it at home with a modern TV then go for the HDMI.
But if you need info on the adapter boxes we can advise you on that.

[Roy Dennis]

Rikki Tikki must have answered you while I was still typing, I see he answered you well.

[RIKKI TIKKI]

Sorry Roy... didn't mean to hyjack your thunder!

Ernie,

Take Roys advice, and look at the products I mentioned, and please keep asking questions... I didn't mean to come off sounding like you hadn't consulted the manual before, but most everybody's questions are answered there if you dig into it a little before quizzing Roy!

Rick