XPS M1530/WinXP/S-Video out issue

With the awesome help of the installation guide from this site I installed XP on my 1530.
Everything works great. Well for sake of full disclosure, I have paired my phone to the laptop via the Bluetooth, but haven't transferred anything. And I don't have an HDMI device to test the HDMI output.
Which brings me to my issue. I can't get video out of the s-video port for love nor money.

I tried the nVidia/Dell driver 174.31. In the nVidia Control Panel/Change the Signal/HD source, I only get one option - Component. I tried reverting the old nVidia Control Panel style based on this thread ( http://forums.nvidia.com/lofiversion/index.php?t52156.html). No joy.
Next, I upgraded to nVidia driver 177.66 from laptopvideo2go.com (with the modded .inf file). Nd change.
I tried both an s-video cable, and the Dell s-video to composite/s/pdif adapter. Nada.

Since I'm running XP and a non-Dell video driver, I really don't want to try Dell support. (I had a 3 hour conversation over the definition of 'overnight' when I ordered this 1530).

What else can I try, check, look for? I have read threads that suggest it might be a bad mainboard, which would suck big-time.

 

Go back to 169.25 and see if that helps...or you could always try Dell's.

I've had crappy experiences with 17x series drivers.

 

Thanx Meetloaf. I can't find a 169.25 version for XP. Only Vista versions.
Is there a 'golden' XP driver ?

 

As far as I understood, the 169.25 vista version is equivalent/similar to the 169.21 XP version, and they seem to be released at the same time....(I am not sure though!!!)

http://listentheworld.wordpress.com/2007/12/21/nvidia-forceware-16925-whql-windows-vistaxp/

http://www.gamershell.com/news_44317.html

http://www.incrysis.com/forums/viewtopic.php?id=16613&p=1

 

did u press Fn+F8 key after connecting to the S video display device ??

 

Yes. The Presentation Manager box shows, and I can select any of the 3 option (Laptop, TV, Both). The screen will flicker after making a choice, but no iamge appears on the TV screen.
BTW, I have tried it on both my TVs using the s-video/s-video cable, and the Dell s-video/composite splitter and composite cable.

 

many TVs will not support very high resolutions. did u try downgrading the resolution and connecting ??

i did some google and found out that you have to plug in cables first and then restart the laptop to get the display under older OS

 

I have installed 169.21. I notice 2 things.
1. Boy, it noticeably slower than 174.31 and 177.66
2. In the nVidia Control Panel/Change the signal or HD Format, I now have the 'auto detect' option.

However, selecting the 'auto' option doesn't resolve my issue. Is there a way to test the s-video output in another way? Is there something in the device manager that will tell me if the s-video port is good/bad ? (I don't have any yellow exclamation marks in Device Manager)

 

Good point. One TV is just standard definition (480i) and my other does 480i/480p/1080i. I have tried to set the TV output to 480i, since I want it to work with any TV. initially.
As yes, I have tried the plug-then-restart method. I also have selected the 'TV Detection' option, to no effect.

 

OK, thinking laterally here...
What options *should* I have in the nVidia Control Panel/Change the signal or HD format pull-down list?
I'd guess auto detect, component, s-video and maybe HDMI?

I'm still trying to determine if it's a software (driver) issue, or a hardware one.

 

That's a tough call. When I hooked my Vostro up to my Dad's HDTV via 7-pin S-video to Component, I didn't even touch the Nvidia control panel, just treated it as a separate monitor.

 

And it's possible that this scenario would work on mine too. I dunno.
But since my intention was to use a hotel's TV (when I'm on the road) to watch video, I need it to work as s-video to composite + audio.
The thing I'm working on now, is whether it's a hardware fault. I mean, how would I tell the driver to send video out the HDMI port to a TV or monitor? Or is that what the 'Component' option I see, really do? But shouldn't it also allow HDMI to HDMI/DVI? And surely it should allow regular 480i composite/audio output, since not everyone has an HDTV at there disposal. So far I've only seen HDTV + composite/component/s-video options in Hyatt Places.

BTW, I used Sweeper from guru3d.com to completely clear the various driver levels as I experimented with drivers, to ensure I wasn't getting any file conflicts. I'm now trying 178.15, with no change.

 

Did you previously have Vista, and were these ports working when you did?

 

Vista lasted 30 minutes
I then installed XP into the partition occupied by Vista by clearing the partition, installed XP. Reveled at ease until I accidentily pressed the Media Direct button.
I then repartitioned the drive, and re-installed XP...

Imaging the drive, and re-installing the stock Dell image would be my last resort. But I'm getting close, especially if I want to call Dell Support.

 

Yeah, I'd be interested to see if it was working under the Vista...it would at least provide more clues as to hardware/software...you don't have an extra 2.5 HD do you?

 

So I borrowed an 80Gb SATA internal drive and loaded the stock Dell image back onto it. Upgraded the Vista nVidia driver to the latest from Dell, applied the Windows Vista updates, and....the same problem.

So I'll call Dell support tomorrow. Good thing I got the 3 year at-home 24/7 warranty

 

Dang, what a stinky deal...yes at least you have the warranty! =)

Good luck, sorry we couldn't solve this one for you.

 

Problem solved. Simple fix ... a new motherboard.

Thanx for the help.