Graphics problem with Core i3 htpc

[Rio Rebel]

I have a recently builded htpc, based on a Core i3 (with the on-chip graphics only and the Intel driver), running Vista Ultimate 32 bit.

When I first built the htpc, I connected it to a 1080p plasma tv and it worked fine. Now I have moved it to the theater room and connected it to an hdmi switcher that eventually goes to a 720p projector.

What is happening:
The computer will boot up all the way into windows, but at a certain point (I believe when the Intel graphics driver loads), the signal drops off and I have no video signal to the projector. It consistently displays everything from boot to Windows, and at the same point a few seconds after the desktop appears, the signal drops and is gone.

What I have tried:
I tried booting into safe mode and it works fine when the Intel graphics driver isn't loaded (but I need the Intel driver to display above the basic 800x600 setting of the generic windows driver). I tried uninstalling and re-installing the Intel graphics driver. I tried updating the Intel graphics driver to the latest version - same result. I tried several things that might help if it is an hdmi handshake issue - skipping the hdmi switcher and connecting directly to the projector, using the dvi output with an hdmi adapter, unplugging and repluggging the hdmi cables at various points in the process.

At this point, it appears that once the Intel graphics driver kicks in, the computer will no longer handshake with the projector over hdmi.

Any other suggestions?

 

[Rio Rebel]

Well, I broke down and put in an old video card. It works fine, but part of the point of the i3 was to use its graphics capability.

Maybe a future driver release will fix my problem.

 

[Binky]

You should remotely-control the problem system from another computer so you can see what's going on. Something like Teamviewer or logmein will work fine. It's very hard to diagnose video output problems when you cant see the monitor output!