Windows 8

[karaoke1]

I've used 3ft, 6ft, 10ft and 50ft HDMI cables. Same result. I just ordered 2 HDMI splitters online so I always carry a spare and all is good. I just mentioned it in case someone else experiences the same issue. It took a lot of trial and error to figure it out and hopefully I can save someone else the effort.

[RIKKI TIKKI]

Here is the splitter I currently use... http://www.monoprice.com/products/pr...seq=1&format=2

Curious which product you use, so we can see if the specs will tell us why the extra connection improves the stuttering, and drop out issue? Thanks!

[karaoke1]

I'm not sure what you mean by "audio dropouts". When I say it shut down I mean screen goes white and "Hoster shutdown unexpectedly. Windows is looking for a solution" pop up. Everything stops. I have to open task manager and end process then reopen Hoster. When it happened, I called a friend who is running windows 7 and an older version of hoster. She recommended I uninstall Media Monkey (I prefer it for background music). She had terrible problems running it with Hoster. Not only did that not help the problem, but that's how I discovered playing background music through Hoster caused it to skip and stutter. Karaoke songs play fine and are in sync. They just occasionally caused Hoster to shutdown completely. The fist sign of a problem was the lyric screen on my display not refreshing. Since the singer's display was fine I didn't worry about it. After stumbling across the HDMI splitter solution I noticed my screen cleared up and everything else works fine. I reinstalled Media monkey. I ran a busy 4 hour show using my splitter. I ran hoster, media monkey and a bingo caller program. I played karaoke, videos, background music through hoster, constantly scrolling marquee and media monkey and everything worked perfectly. So far I haven't had a single problem while using the splitter.

[karaoke1]

Here's the splitter I'm using.
http://www.monoprice.com/products/pr...seq=1&format=2

[karaoke1]

This may help.

Link to my computer specs. http://kjheather.com/computerspecs.jpg

HDMI splitter I'm using. http://www.monoprice.com/products/pr...seq=1&format=2

Bingo program. http://wagesplace.com/BingoCaller.htm

The only other programs I've added are the newest Media Monkey, AVG free and Google Chrome. I only use that laptop for work so nothing else has been added and I rarely even connect it to the internet.

Thanks!

[Roy Dennis]

The only explanation I can come up with as to why karaoke1's splitter corrects the problem is it is a powered by a 5v adapter.
This leads to my next conclusion that perhaps there is a fault in the graphics hardware not supplying enough voltage to correctly run the external monitor.
Also I note from the computer spec that it is intell only graphics chip and no mention of dedicated graphics memory.

Whether it's a fault with your particular computer or a problem with that model I don't know, perhaps searching google for feedback on that model will reveal a problem.

[karaoke1]

Doesn't matter to me why it works. Just glad it does! Hope it helps someone else. Thanks for all the input. It's all trial and error for me. I'm greatful everyone on here is so helpful! Thanks!