Help With PC2Telly Hook up?

[Ghettorapboy7]

Hello mates I have a bit of a problem. I'm trying to hook up my computer to my telly. I got all the hook ups right and it does work for a while. It will work up untill the desktop appears. The computer is a Old Sony Vaio purple in color. Not to sure on the model or anything. Another bad thing is that is running off of Windows 98. The graphics card is a ATI. I look in the Advanced Settings and see All-In-Wonder Direct Draw 1.00 Software Version 4.02. I know I need a driver for the computer. I see this ATI 3D Xpression+PC2TV (DirectDraw) and wonder if that would work but I can't really find it? Does anyone know how to make this work please I Thank You Very Much.

Cheers

[Nelson37]

WOW, now there's a Blast from the Past.

5-6 years ago, I had that card on Win98. My first ATI capture card. Why in God's name are you using it on such a new PC?

Couple different modes IIRC, sounds like you have TV-out for Video Only. Try playing a movie in the ATI player and/or turning on the ATI TV program, you should see the video window on the TV.

Basically, you have to try different modes, reboot, force detection of secondary display, yadda, yadda, yadda. That you see the boot screens but no desktop means you have got most of what you need, basically you seem to be in overlay mode.

Getting it to work right is not like turning on a light switch, it's more like starting an old lawnmower. It won't necessarily work the first time, in fact hardly ever. 2nd or 3rd, after reboot, maybe driver update, TV turned on before boot, once you get it working don't mess with it and it should stay stable.

[Ghettorapboy7]

So I'm kinda confused will it work when I figure out how after going threw a hit and miss situation? I'm not really sure how to alter the options your talking about and I'm sry I didn't mean movies I ment games my apoliges.

[Nelson37]

Yes, it should work once you find the right setting. That software and hardware is so old I don't recall what exactly it was. And I go back a long way, SFAIK no one else has ever mentioned having such a card, most have never heard of it. It's the one that popped my capture cherry.

You see the BIOS, it is functional. What happens is that when Windows loads, it or ATI does not detect the TV, or secondary monitor, or it is just not enabled.

The setting will be somewhere in the card setup, look for it. Find something dealing with the second monitor, that's the one. Many cards, many PC, driver, MMC, TV, it almost never works easily like it should. You have to mess with it. Example on current card - Secondary display (TV) detected, could not enable. Could not swap. Tried several times. Zilch. Tried again one day, no other changes, swap worked. Don't know why. Change modes, reboot, swap back, clone display, TV as secondary works fine and has been fine for months.

The point here is don't decide it can't be done or you are on the wrong page just because it doesn't work the first time. Check also refresh rate, resolution, connection type, etc.

[Ghettorapboy7]

hey uhhh I have a question mate I have the Windows XP disk and I was wondering what I should do should I install it and if I do will I lose some of the options and will my ati card still be reconized? Then can I get some of the required drivers?

Cheers

[Richard_G]

Set your desktop to 640 x 480, it should then work. That is the default on most older graphics cards until windows desktop loads when it resizes to whatever setting you have. Make it the same and it should work.

[Nelson37]

I would NOT install XP, cards newer than yours have issues with drivers and MMC on XP, that antique most likely would not run.

640x480 may well be the solution, older TV's can't go to 800x600 or higher, this would cause the situation you have.