media center sizing problems
- I'm using window 7 media center on my second monitor(1080I HDMI). When I use the 1080i as the resolution, media center controls(Maximize, minimize etc) do not fit on the screen. In order to get them on I have to set the resolution very low, so low that media center reverts back to the maximum when I leave.
Answers
- Hi gwt73, as luck would have it, I purchased the same TV (Sharp 42") yesterday at Walmart (on sale for $498). They only had 4 at my Walmart so good thing I arrived just before 5am for the 8-12am sale.
The "Stretch" setting is the one I used for my TV. It also has a setting for Automatic and Smart Stretch. You should check the refresh rate. For some reason it defaulted to 59hz and not 60hz which caused all sorts of problems. (right-click desktop>resolution>advance settings button>Monitor tab) check list modes.
That same panel should have a tab for your video card settings. I'm using ATI so I have a Cataylst tab. I can't help you much with your Nvida card, but look for "Scaling" options. Should have a Underscan <-> Overscan slider -- no idea what Nvida uses though. If you don't have a tab check Nvida's website for their control program for their video cards.
Hope this gets you in the right direction.
PS: the default audio was really set poorly. Use surround and adjust the equalizer so it's flat and raise the end ones so it looks like a smirk (small smile).- Marked As Answer bySean Zhu -MSFT, ModeratorWednesday, November 11, 2009 3:40 AM
All Replies
- It's hard to say with the information you provided -- Are you using it as main monitor or as extended desktop? Does you monitor show up correctly in your device manager under displays? Are you launching MCE7 using taskbar icon or with the media center remote control? Did you check your overscan? Some Monitors have it built-in and also it's on video cards (like ATI Cataylst).
- I'm using it as an extended desktop, the HDMI monitor does show up under device manager and I'm launching MCE7 using a taskbar icon. Not sure how to check overscan. I was able to change the resolution to 1024x768, using the MCE7 instead of using the control panel. With 1024x 768, the MC screens fit completely onto the monitor and I can use the mouse to click to control. It would be nice to be able to change the resolution higher though, my first post was wrong, I have a 1080p. Doing a google on overscan, I did see posts about NVIDA video cards sometimes not communicating with HD tvs.
1024x768 is very low for a 1080p resolution. You should be able to go much higher. What brand on Monitor/TVs are you using and what's the model number of your NVIDA card? Overscan probably isn't your problem right now since it just allows you to fit the image to the borders. I use all ATI cards with Cataylst software so I don't have much experience with Nvida cards.
Right-click your desktop in Windows 7 and select Screen resolution. You should be able to check both monitors and make changes like: extend desktop, orientation, and set resolutions for both displays.- thanks for your help Diane, I have a NVDIA Geforce 8600 GT video card and the tv is a Sharp LC-42SB45U. I've used the right click option on the screen to try and get a fit but no luck.
- Hi gwt73, have you tried 1080P on the TV? It seems that the TV supports 1080P native resolution. Meanwhile, you can try "auto adjust" option on the TV menu after you change screen resolution on the computer.
Sean Zhu - MSFT - Sean, thanks for your reply, your solution did get rid of part of the problem, the tv was set to stretch, when I set it to normal the MCe7 screen is displayed completley, most of the time. Other screens , such as if I move my one of my internet browsers to the tv screen are fit on the screen almost all of the way, its not unworkable tho, if I move my mouse offscreen to where I know a button is, I can click on it an get its function. The worst problem is still with the MEe7 screen on the tv, using the mouse to hit buttons there is totally unreliable, for example I hit the minimize button with mouse, the screen goes blank for a second and when it comes back the screen has not been minimized , sometimes the clicking the mouse will have no effect at all, I also cant drag the mouse from the tv monitor to the main monitor whenever MCE7 is in use, it is stuck on the tv monitor on, it's basically useless. I have tried a variety of mouses and they all behave the same when MCET is on the tv. If it is on the main monitor I don't have the problem withe mouse. I can still use MCE7 on the tv because Ican use the keyboard to do everything, it has built in MCE7 keys but it would be nice to know what is going on and have the full use of the mouse. thanks
- Hi gwt73, as luck would have it, I purchased the same TV (Sharp 42") yesterday at Walmart (on sale for $498). They only had 4 at my Walmart so good thing I arrived just before 5am for the 8-12am sale.
The "Stretch" setting is the one I used for my TV. It also has a setting for Automatic and Smart Stretch. You should check the refresh rate. For some reason it defaulted to 59hz and not 60hz which caused all sorts of problems. (right-click desktop>resolution>advance settings button>Monitor tab) check list modes.
That same panel should have a tab for your video card settings. I'm using ATI so I have a Cataylst tab. I can't help you much with your Nvida card, but look for "Scaling" options. Should have a Underscan <-> Overscan slider -- no idea what Nvida uses though. If you don't have a tab check Nvida's website for their control program for their video cards.
Hope this gets you in the right direction.
PS: the default audio was really set poorly. Use surround and adjust the equalizer so it's flat and raise the end ones so it looks like a smirk (small smile).- Marked As Answer bySean Zhu -MSFT, ModeratorWednesday, November 11, 2009 3:40 AM
