Need help with laptop and tv display

[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 ?