Can't solve, have searched, going crazy! (MII VGA Drivers)

**Febs** · 03-22-2005, 08:54 AM

Hi guys.

Hoping someone here might be able to help me, as this problem's got me stumped.

I put my CarPC in last week, and all went pretty smoothly. Power (from my 90w Opus) is working fine, and audio works fine (despite the pesky ground feedback loop thingy which I'll have to investigate). The only thing that doesn't work is video, in Windows.

Before I go any further, the setup is:
MII 120000
512mb RAM
40gb 2.5" HDD
USB mouse, USB KB
7" Composite VGA plugged into video-out on the MII via an RCA cable.

Basically, the LCD works fine in the BIOS and boot screen (you can even read text in the BIOS!

), but as soon as Windows brings up the desktop, the screen goes blue (as if there's no input). I have tried setting the BIOS to CRT+TV and just TV. No luck. At first I thought it was a resolution issue, so I plugged in a VGA screen, set the res to a few different ones (640x480, 800x600, 848x400 etc..) and tried it again. Funnily enough, the composite 7" LCD worked fine when there was a VGA screen plugged in (mirroring), but not by itself, no matter what res I set.

I also noticed that the screen worked fine in safe mode...so I figured it must be a driver issue. I uninstalled the drivers and restarted. The screen worked. I then reinstalled the latest ones from VIA's website and restarted - again, the screen no longer worked in Windows.

Given that it works in safe mode, I'm thinking it's a driver issue...but I've uninstalled/reinstalld and tried the drivers from the CD and the website...no luck!

I also tried my carPC in my mate's car (with his 5.6" composite LCD) and it worked fine there, so now I'm very confused.

This is the LCD I bought. Just a cheapie (I got it for a lot less than that price) composite screen to tide me over until I decide to go VGA.

I haven't re-installed Windows yet (waiting on a new HDD to arrive soon), so I'll give that a go, but can anyone think of anything else to try? I've read about VGA terminators, and adding a 75ohm resistor to the RCA cable...but will that help me if the video's already working in the BIOS, just not Windows? I'm also going to try a VGA-RCA converter, but that's hardly a solution...

Basically the screen works:
- In the BIOS and right up until the Windows XP desktop loads
- When there's a VGA screen plugged in as well (mirroring)
- In safe mode / when there's no VGA drivers installed

I'd greatly appreciate any help.

Cheers,
- A confused Febs.

**IntellaWorks** · 03-22-2005, 09:14 AM

with the M series boards you must update to the latest BIOS if your going to use the newest VGA drivers from via's website.

**Febs** · 03-22-2005, 09:57 AM

Originally Posted by IntellaWorks

with the M series boards you must update to the latest BIOS if your going to use the newest VGA drivers from via's website.

Thought that might be an issue, but when I was able to check the VIA site (away from the CarPC), I noticed the latest 1.35 BIOS is from Jan 2004 (http://www.viaembedded.com/product/D...erboardId=202). I bought my MII about 4 weeks ago so I assumed it'd have the latest.

I'll check what BIOS I'm running and give it a go tomorrow.

Cheers,
- Febs.

**LagunaICE** · 03-29-2005, 04:01 AM

By a design, current VIA CLE266 driver defaults to VGA output. If there is something connected to VGA, then it checks TV out and if it finds 75 ohm impedance on this port, it also clones display to it. Now if there is no VESA compliant device connected to VGA port, no other detection is performed. This is behaviour of current CLE266 driver, which could be considered as bug. Now I believe there is a way to force this driver to set TV out "always on". Of course, VGA LCD/CRT has to be used to boot the system. By default, CLE266 driver install copule of utilities that can be reached from advanced display property page. One of them is called "S3 display" and should enable you to activate and set "TV out" option. Thus I believe you will force TV out to remain "always on".

**OdysseyPC** · 03-29-2005, 07:54 AM

Originally Posted by LagunaICE

By a design, current VIA CLE266 driver defaults to VGA output. If there is something connected to VGA, then it checks TV out and if it finds 75 ohm impedance on this port, it also clones display to it. Now if there is no VESA compliant device connected to VGA port, no other detection is performed. This is behaviour of current CLE266 driver, which could be considered as bug. Now I believe there is a way to force this driver to set TV out "always on". Of course, VGA LCD/CRT has to be used to boot the system. By default, CLE266 driver install copule of utilities that can be reached from advanced display property page. One of them is called "S3 display" and should enable you to activate and set "TV out" option. Thus I believe you will force TV out to remain "always on".

If this is the case, then an alternative to the software solution, is a hardware one. You could achieve a similar result with a vga dummy load. The mobo will think vga is connected (but really not), see that a TV is also connected and bob's your aunty.

Off the top of my head, don't quote me, all that's required is:
1. 3 x 75ohm resistors
2. 1 x male vga connector (jaycar)
3. solder (sodder for our us companions) a resistor between pins 1-6 (R), 2-7 (G), 3-8 (B).
4. connect and enjoy

**Febs** · 03-30-2005, 08:01 PM

Originally Posted by LagunaICE

By a design, current VIA CLE266 driver defaults to VGA output. If there is something connected to VGA, then it checks TV out and if it finds 75 ohm impedance on this port, it also clones display to it. Now if there is no VESA compliant device connected to VGA port, no other detection is performed. This is behaviour of current CLE266 driver, which could be considered as bug. Now I believe there is a way to force this driver to set TV out "always on". Of course, VGA LCD/CRT has to be used to boot the system. By default, CLE266 driver install copule of utilities that can be reached from advanced display property page. One of them is called "S3 display" and should enable you to activate and set "TV out" option. Thus I believe you will force TV out to remain "always on".

See the thing is - TV out works perfectly right up until the Windows desktop loads. I can access the BIOS and bootscreen using just TV out (with nothing plugged into the VGA port), but once Windows loads the drivers - bye bye display.

I've found a quick workaround (plugging a VGA-RCA converter into the VGA port, but not using it. This fools the board into thinking I've got a VGA monitor plugged in, and lets me use TV OUT), but that's not ideal.

When I get my new HDD (current one is dying very quickly), I'll flash the BIOS to the latest version. If that doesn't work, I'm pretty sure a VGA terminator/dummy will solve my problem.

Thanks guys.
- Febs.

**LagunaICE** · 04-01-2005, 05:22 AM

Originally Posted by Febs

See the thing is - TV out works perfectly right up until the Windows desktop loads. I can access the BIOS and bootscreen using just TV out (with nothing plugged into the VGA port), but once Windows loads the drivers - bye bye display.

Right... thats because untill that moment, BIOS is controlling the behaviour. After that, WinXP initializes video subsystem on its own with "help" of (buggy in this case) drivers.