The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    M17xR3 HDMI-In Dim Screen

    Discussion in 'Alienware 17 and M17x' started by Zodack, Oct 30, 2011.

  1. Zodack

    Zodack Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    1
    Messages:
    30
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    I recently purchased an HDMI cable to connect my Xbox360 to my M17xR3.

    When I do so, I see the Xbox display for a split second, and then the screen goes black and stays that way. I can angle my view a bit and see that the display is still working but is incredibly dim (so dim that staring at the laptop screen head-on makes it appear black).

    Is there some technical issue I'm missing here or am I doing this wrong?

    My laptop is on, my 360 is on, and all I do is stick the cable in the 360 and then into the laptop. I know it's working because I can hear the audio coming out of my laptop, but the screen doesn't want to display.
     
    Zodack, Oct 30, 2011
    #1
  2. Zodack

    Zodack Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    1
    Messages:
    30
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    I guess it's also worth saying that the Xbox is set to 1080p, which is the resolution of my screen. I tried setting it to 720p and got the same result. The HDMI Out works fine on my laptop to the TV as well.
     
    Zodack, Oct 30, 2011
    #2
  3. Zodack

    Zodack Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    1
    Messages:
    30
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Still no luck. If anyone has any suggestions I'd love to hear them.

    If all else fails I'll just call customer support.
     
    Zodack, Oct 30, 2011
    #3
  4. DanXbix

    DanXbix Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    434
    Messages:
    827
    Likes Received:
    6
    Trophy Points:
    31
    just an idea but try a different HDMI lead. Your display will handle 1080p
     
    DanXbix, Oct 31, 2011
    #4
  5. Zodack

    Zodack Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    1
    Messages:
    30
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    A different lead? So far I've tried both 1080p and 720p to the same effect.
     
    Zodack, Oct 31, 2011
    #5
  6. DanXbix

    DanXbix Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    434
    Messages:
    827
    Likes Received:
    6
    Trophy Points:
    31
    a different HDMI cable some have compatibility problems.
     
    DanXbix, Oct 31, 2011
    #6
  7. Zodack

    Zodack Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    1
    Messages:
    30
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Ah, alright. This one is fairly new and nice, and lets my laptop connect to my TV fine, though.
     
    Zodack, Oct 31, 2011
    #7
  8. Zodack

    Zodack Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    1
    Messages:
    30
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Still no luck. I don't think it's the cable, seeing as the output works fine and it's brand new.
     
    Zodack, Nov 1, 2011
    #8
  9. Zodack

    Zodack Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    1
    Messages:
    30
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Does anyone else have any advice?
     
    Zodack, Nov 2, 2011
    #9
  10. i has m11x

    i has m11x Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    173
    Messages:
    489
    Likes Received:
    5
    Trophy Points:
    31
    The screen still uses the brightness settings that you have set in Windows. I don't know if you tried adjusting them but it might help.
     
    i has m11x, Nov 2, 2011
    #10
  11. eleven

    eleven Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    77
    Messages:
    234
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Same boat with OP.
    Gave up and used an LCD instead.
     
    eleven, Nov 2, 2011
    #11
  12. Zodack

    Zodack Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    1
    Messages:
    30
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    I considered that that might be the case, but my brightness is on full. It's not so much a dim screen as it is that I can't see a thing but can still hear audio.
     
    Zodack, Nov 2, 2011
    #12
  13. Zodack

    Zodack Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    1
    Messages:
    30
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    I just don't want to end up spending even more money to play my 360 at college. I may end up calling Alienware customer service but I feel like I'd be sitting on the phone for a long while.

    Would it be helpful to mention that my hard drive is recently installed and may be missing some obscure drivers? I swear I got them all, but there may be one that's causing this. I don't know.
     
    Zodack, Nov 2, 2011
    #13
  14. Zodack

    Zodack Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    1
    Messages:
    30
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    It's been suggested on other forums that I might have driver issues or conflicts. I don't think I'm missing any drivers, but is there one for the HDMI input or something similar?
     
    Zodack, Nov 5, 2011
    #14
  15. inzelux

    inzelux Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    244
    Messages:
    319
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Sorry for going off-topic;
    Is it possible to connect an HDMI device into the M17x R1 aswell and use it as an screen?

    Thank you!
    - Scott.
     
    inzelux, Nov 5, 2011
    #15