Monitor flashing problem on computer wakeup.

I posted also in the HP support forum, Monitor and Video.

I have a new HP G60-243CL notebook from Costco and a new HP W2207h monitor. The monitor flashes on and off when the notebook wakes up from sleep mode with the HDMI cable attached. It works fine with the VGA cable. Any help on finding the cause would be much appreciated. Below are my hardware specs and detailed log of observations.

Thanks in advance,
Paul
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HP W2207h Monitor
680x1050 @60hz

Notebook:
HP G60-243CL
AMD Turion X2, RM-72 2.1 GHz
3 GB DDR2 RAM
320 GB, 5400 RPM, SATA HDD
NVIDIA GeForce 8200M G, with up to 1407 MB total graphics memory (shared).
16” 16:9 1366x768 display
LightScribe 8x DVD±RW drive with double layer support
HDMI

Here's my log.

1-25-09

1. Unpack monitor. Hookup cables with laptop on: HDMI, USB, power. Turn on monitor. It flashes. Black for about 2 seconds, then bright for a split second, repeat, ongoing. Turn off monitor, install W2207h monitor driver from CD, reboot. Monitor works normally.

HP w2207h monitor driver Readme says use Nvidia driver 10.65 or later.

From control panel on G60 notebook, NVIDIA GeForce 8200M G: Device driver 7.15.11.7614, 7/11/2008 (This is the latest driver from HP support page. See 1-27-08 below.)

Install W2207h Monitor driver from CD and reboot. Control panel, device manager, I see two monitors, both “Generic PNP monitor,” first one has Hardware ID “MONITOR\HWP26A8,” second one is “ MONITOR\SEC314C,” both with driver 6.0.6001.1840 (longhortn_rtm.080118-1840) I'm wondering if maybe the driver didn't take.

2. Put notebook into sleep mode. Wake notebook up and monitor flashes again as described in (1). Image displays normally while monitor is on for the split second intervals. If reboot notebook, monitor works properly.

Occasionally, flashing monitor will recover without reboot. Out of about 10-15 tries: Once monitor started working properly while the computer was shutting down. Once monitor was OK on notebook wakeup. Once while monitor flashing I removed the USB cable and monitor started working. None of this is repeatable.

3. Removed the HDMI cable and started using the VGA cable and sound cable. No more flashing on computer wakeup. Very repeatable. About 7 of 7 times.

1-26-09

Control panel, device manager, two monitors, both “Generic PNP monitor,” first one has Hardware ID “MONITOR\HWP26A8,” second one is “ MONITOR\SEC314C,” both with driver 6.0.6001.1840 (longhortn_rtm.080118-1840) I'm wondering if maybe the driver didn't take.

1-27-08

Nvidia drivers download

Downloaded from Nvidia support: Version 179.28, 2008-12-18, Beta 179.28_notebook_winvista_32bit_beta.exe (Caution: may not be supported by notebook manufacturer.)

Downloaded from HP support: Version 7.15.11.7614 A, 2008-09-08, sp40385.exe (same version as is installed.

Installed driver version is the same as that on HP support site, so did not update driver.

w2207h monitor driver download

Download and install 2.0 Rev. A, 4.0.100.1189, 2008-10-16
Now file version reads 6.0.6001.18000 (longhorn_rtm.080118-1840) I think that's the same as the previously installed driver.

Flashing problem is unchanged.
–
end

 

fisrt the simple stuff:
make sure the settings are within ops params for the unit:
i.e - 60hz vice 50 or some other number.
make sure the gpu can handle the rez you are attempting to use on the monitor.
is the secondary listed as primary (1) when connecting it to the laptop?
verify cables are not ruined in any way. (i know - sounds stupid)
you may want to try drivers from laptopvideotogo since they offer modded versions for laptops specifically.

let us know.

 

There is a common problem with vista and notebooks when using an external monitor that one or the other screen isn't getting signal. Maybe it has to do with that?


See my old thread and how i "solved" the problem by going around it. Though you can't use the "when closing lid"-option when you do this. So it's not a real fix. Just a work around. But you can however test it, put the notebook to sleep and see if it works. Then you would know if it has to do with that or not, and we're one way closer to solving the problem.
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=300472

 

I have the exact same laptop as AquaGeek (HP G60 243 CL purchased from Costco)....

I am having HDMI issues as well, although probably of a simpler-to-solve nature.

But now that you mention the Vista thing, perhaps that has something to do with it.

I am trying to hook the laptop to my HDMI TV, which is a Protron PLTV-3250.

I put the TV into HDMI mode

I plug the cable in, and into the laptop

I hit Fn + F4 to switch modes: nothing happens.

I have also tried Ctrl + Alt + Fn : nothing happens.

I have been told that it could be a faulty cable, but I bought the cable brand new from Best Buy, for the sole purpose of connecting my laptop to my TV. I am open to the idea of taking the cable back to Best Buy and exchanging it for another one, but I have a sneaky feeling that the cable probably isn't the issue.

Is there another key combination I can try which will switch my laptop into HDMI mode? Or is Ctrl + Alt + Fn the standard on HP Laptops?

Thanks.
Chris.

 

The standard thing is to go to nvidias control panel and set it there to display it on an external screen and not using any fn-buttons AFAIK.

And the cable can be faulty, new things aren't always working, some are DOA (dead on arrival), nothing to uncommon. But people always believe it's not that that is the problem as it's "new".

 

Thanks, ryujin

60hz, check
gpu memory 1407, check
inspect cable ends, check

Can't get there tomorrow but if not solved I will get over to Staples Thur where I bought the monitor to try the display monitor with my notebook, try it with another notebook if I can, and try another cable.

 

Michel.K, thanks. I think it probably is a driver problem. I'm booked through tomorrow but then will start checking updated or alternative drivers.

 

It was a defective monitor! I brought my notebook PC and HDMI cable to Staples where I bought the monitor, and tried it on the w2207h on the shelf. It worked fine. Took the notebook in and out of sleep mode several times. I'm within the 2 week store return policy so Stables will replace it. The sales person was very accommodating about letting me try various monitors with my notebook and HDMI and VGA cables while I was there. I even brought in a big piece of cardboard to shield the overhead lights : ).

As an aside, the Acer P241 had the sharpest text, even in VGA. HP W2207h next. The Samsung was last, in VGA. I don't have a DVI output. This is with Vista Clear Type text smoothing on.

The HP was best picture image, by a long ways.

Anyway, problem solved.

Paul

 

Nice to hear that you solved the problem!

Could never have thought that it was the monitor that was the problem