Stupid Xenarc! It won't turn on when laptop is on or display correct!!

**strohmrs** · 01-17-2005, 12:36 PM

It's in the laptop for sure because the same happens no matter what display is hooked up. Could be a BIOS setting or hardware but BIOS updates come out to address issues like that. Sounds like all the settings available have been addressed already. I wouldn't even worry about your checking things in you display settings anymore because it's NOT a windows issue.

Just to clear things up, would it be accurate to say that your laptop is outputting a 800x600 resolution INSIDE of a 1024x768 window and that when you enable Video Expand in the BIOS the 800x600 is streched to fill the 1024x768? This is starting to make sense to me now. If this is the case and a BIOS update doesn't change anything then your VGA output on the laptop must be hard coded to ONLY output at 1024x768. At that point you will have to live with the streched look or run 1024x768 in windows and enlarge your font/icon/menu sizes to something more readable.

Sorry I couldn't be of more help but you didn't say yet what model laptop you have. Good luck with the BIOS.

**PDiddy** · 01-17-2005, 12:44 PM

I have a Pavilion N5430 notebook. I haven't gotten a chance to look for an updated Bios. I dont even know where to begin to find that. You are right in assuming the computer is producing the 800 x 600 in a 1024 x 768 screen and when I do the Video expand it does fit the screen properly but the fonts are stretched and can't be read properly.

But also I'm not sure if I understand what you mean abotu the laptop hardcoding that resolution. After all, if I hadn't changed that setting in the Bios for it to be "Both" the external and internal displays, if my CRT is hooked up it displays the 800 x 600 resolution just fine when that setting was to be "Auto". When that was, it would also be shown fine on the Xenarc by me doing the fn + f5 trick to get it to that proper display. By me putting it to "both" it does make the Xenarc turn on automatically but now just the display resolution wont work. Let me search around on the Net for an updated bios and see what I can come up with.

**strohmrs** · 01-17-2005, 01:03 PM

Are AUTO and BOTH your only options? No CRT or VGA option? Having it on BOTH is locking the vga output to the native resolution of the LCD which is 1024x768. You can put it back to AUTO but then you'll have to FN+F5 everytime you boot up because the Xenarc isn't automatically detected by the vga port.

**strohmrs** · 01-17-2005, 01:11 PM

Probably won't help but here it is. I'll see if I can find a workaround that will help with detecting the Xenarc automatically.

1.08 BIOS

**strohmrs** · 01-17-2005, 02:13 PM

Have you tried changing your monitor .inf driver in windows? Maybe it will force the driver to switch the video card output when windows loads up. Go to Control panel, Device Manager, Monitors, and change the driver to Super VGA 800x600. Worth a shot.

**PDiddy** · 01-17-2005, 02:58 PM

Hi Rick. Thanks for your replies. I'll have to see if I have version 1.08. I think I already have that Bios. As for "Auto" and "Both" - yes, those are my only 2 options. Weird I know.

First thing when I get back home is check the Bios version as well as do the .inf driver option you mentioned. Thanks again for all your help.

**PDiddy** · 01-17-2005, 06:11 PM

Well, I updated to Bios version 1.8 - Still the same thing. Thought it actually worked when I installed it but then I realized that the Display setting was to "Auto" and not "Both" - Also still those are the same 2 options. Now I'm thinking I should update my video driver.

And I went ahead and did that. Its the Trident Video Accelerator CyberBlade-XP. Still no luck. I'll continue to look around for solutions.

**PDiddy** · 01-17-2005, 06:33 PM

I also did change the mode to be 800 x 600 16 bit but still no luck. RIght now my mode is set to 800 x 600 32 bit at 60 hz. I tried the 256 VGA and still the same thing.

**PDiddy** · 01-17-2005, 08:53 PM

Well here's the latest in problems. It seems like when I updated the video drivers, I seem to have gotten some new menu items. Here's what I do now and maybe you can help me on this one. I go to Control Panel > Display > Settings tab and then click on the Advanced button. From there I have some new tabs than before. Under the "Display Device" though there is a button to "Enable Different Refresh Rate" - If I check that, it displays properly in 800 x 600 and everything is good. However when I restart the machine it goes back to the native resolution. For whatever reason it doesnt seem to keep this resolution.

Also there's an option to "Video Output on LCD" - If I check that, nothing happens and in 15 seconds reverts back to the old settings (This is probably happening because I have it hooked up to an external CRT right now) - I don't know if the Xenarc will act different but I'll have to try that out. Also under the Multi-Monitor Devices there's 2 options: LCD/CRT and LCD/TV - The LCD/CRT is clicked and I can't change it to the LCD/TV option. I guess when I have a chance I'll put it back in my car and then check the "Video Output on LCD" however I have a feeling whatever changes I make, when I restart it goes back to loading up the native resolution... I have no idea why though.