HP PCs - Advanced HDMI Display and Sound Troubleshooting (Windows)

Perform a hard reset on a desktop computer.

1. If Windows is open, click Start, and then click Shutdown.
   If Windows is not open and the computer is connected to a power outlet, press and hold the Power button on the computer until the computer turns off.
2. Disconnect all external connected peripheral devices such as USB storage devices, external displays, and printers.
3. With the power off, disconnect the power cord from the back of the computer.
4. With the power off and the power cord disconnected, press the Power button on the computer for 5 seconds. The power light indicator on or near the Power button might turn on briefly but then go out.
5. Reconnect the power cord and press the Power button to turn on the computer, but do not connect any of the peripheral devices.
6. If a Startup menu opens, use the arrow keys to select Start Windows Normally, then press Enter.
7. Reconnect each of the peripheral devices.

Perform a hard reset on a notebook with a removable battery.

1. Turn off the computer.
2. Remove the computer from any port replicator or docking station.
3. Disconnect all external connected peripheral devices such as USB storage devices, external displays, and printers.
4. Unplug the AC adapter from the computer.
5. Remove the battery from the battery compartment.
6. Press and hold down the Power button for 15 seconds to drain any residual electrical charge from the capacitors that protect the memory.
7. Insert the battery and plug the AC adapter back into the computer, but do not connect any of the peripheral devices.
8. Press the Power button to turn on the computer.
9. If a Startup menu opens, use the arrow keys to select Start Windows Normally, and then press Enter.
10. Reconnect each of the peripheral devices.

Perform a hard reset on a computer with a sealed or non-removable battery.

nota:

You should not attempt to remove a sealed battery as doing so can void your warranty.

1. Turn off the computer.
2. Remove the computer from any port replicator or docking station.
3. Disconnect all external connected peripheral devices such as USB storage devices, external displays, and printers.
4. Unplug the AC adapter from the computer.
5. For most notebooks, press and hold the Power button for 8-10 seconds.

   nota:

   The designated button combination varies by model and production date. If the previous step does not work, see the User Guide for your specific model, or check the table of models listed in HP Notebook PCs – How to Power Reset Your Laptop for the proper button combination.

6. Plug the AC adapter back into the computer, but do not connect any of the peripheral devices.
7. Press the Power button to turn on the computer.
8. If a startup menu opens, use the arrow keys to select Start Windows Normally, and then press Enter.
9. Reconnect each of the peripheral devices.

Test for sound. If the issue persists, continue to the next step.

HP recommends that you connect analog speakers to the computer Audio Line Out connector if you want to hear sound during the initial setup of the computer.

If you used a DVI-to-HDMI adapter to connect the display, DVI does not carry an audio signal. To hear sound through the display, you must connect the computer Audio Line Out connector to the DVI Audio In connector on the display and select DVI as the source. Do not select HDMI as the default audio device in Windows. See My display does not have an HDMI connector.

With HDMI, you can view all the actions on both your computer and on your high definition TV screen at the same time. The audio plays, but there is no video output from the DVD.

• Check that the display is connected to the computer and turned on.
• Select the correct source on the HDTV monitor or TV. If the display or TV has more than one HDMI input, make sure you select the HDMI port that the HDMI cable is connected to, for example HDMI 2. If you are using a DVI-to-HDMI adapter, select DVI as the source. Do not select HDMI as the default audio device in Windows
• If using multiple displays, check the specifications for the graphics card to ensure that it supports the display types and numbers to which you connected. Most cards do not support connecting more than two displays at a time.
• Update the BIOS and the video drivers to the latest version available for your computer.

Use an HDMI cable five meters (16 feet) or less in length. Longer distances can result in signal degradation and possible loss of audio and video quality. For longer distances, or for viewing 1080P or higher video definition, use a higher quality cable (Category 2) or a signal amplifier.

If you connected the monitor or TV after the graphics software was opened, close the software and open it again. Most software does not recognize a display added or attached after the software is opened.

While playing an HD DVD on your computer while it is connected to an LCD TV with an HDMI cable, you see the following error message:

The content is protected. The content is not allowed to be played in current mode.

This error sometimes occurs when single mode settings are selected. To resolve the issue, click to accept the message when prompted. The movie plays. For more information on this error, see Content Protection Messages Interrupt Viewing of High Definition Movies.

To confirm that the computer recognizes HDMI audio right-click the Volume icon in the Windows system tray, and then select Sounds or Playback Devices. If you do not see HDMI Output, make sure that the HDMI cable is connected between the computer and the device.

If the issue persists, reinstall or update your audio drivers and make sure the BIOS is up-to-date.

The HDMI port cannot receive audio if the HDMI icon disappears from the Sound properties in Control Panel.

1. Connect the HDMI cable to your computer and to your output device.
2. In Windows, search for and open Control Panel.
3. Click Sound, and then click the Playback tab.
4. The Sound window opens. On the Playback tab, select the output device connected with the HDMI cable, and then click Set Default.
   

The HDMI icon displays in the Sound properties in Control Panel and the HDMI port can now receive audio.

If the HDMI icon always displays Working status, the audio source is always directed to the HDMI port. To remove the constant Working status from the HDMI icon, select a different default audio device.

1. Connect the HDMI cable to your computer and to your output device.
2. In Windows, search for and open Control Panel.
3. Click Sound, and then click the Playback tab.
4. The Sound window opens. On the Playback tab, select another audio device, click Set Default, and then click OK.

The HDMI icon no longer constantly displays Working status and the audio source is no longer always directed to the HDMI port.

If the HDMI icon displays Not Plugged In, audio and video do not output to the HDMI port.

Remove Not Plugged In status from the HDMI icon.

1. Remove the HDMI cable from the HDMI port on the computer.
2. Reinsert the HDMI cable into the HDMI port on the computer.
3. In Windows, search for and open Control Panel.
4. Click Sound, and then click the Playback tab.
5. After 10 seconds, switch the audio source in the Sound properties. Right-click the Volume icon on the taskbar, and then select Sounds or Playback Devices.
   
6. The Sound window opens. On the Playback tab, select another audio device, click Set Default, and then click OK.

The HDMI icon no longer displays Not Plugged In status. Audio and video can now output to the HDMI port.

Change the Windows display settings to match the resolution of the display. By using the graphics card software, you can adjust the display and the HDMI signal to create a better viewing experience on your display.

nota:

Connect the display to the computer before you open the graphics card software.

1. To open the graphics card software, right-click an empty area of the computer desktop, and then click the graphics settings or control panel in the menu, such as Graphics Settings, Graphics Properties, NVIDIA Control Panel, or ATI Catalyst Control Center.
   
2. Use the graphics software to adjust resolution, color quality, refresh rate, and rotation as needed.

For more information, click Help in the graphics software toolbar.

You can use a DVI-to-HDMI adapter with a DVI cable (or an HDMI cable). However, DVI does not carry an audio signal.

To hear sound through the display, you must connect the computer Audio Line Out connector to the DVI Audio In connector on the monitor or TV, and then select DVI as the source. Do not select HDMI as the default audio device in Windows.

HDMI connector, DVI-to-HDMI adapter, and DVI connector

Analog audio cable to the computer Audio Line Out connector and the display DVI Audio In connector