Anytime I connect the HDMI cable to my laptop, the video freezes

[rhinebeck]

I am new here first off. But all I can seem to find is when connected to HDMI there is no audio

well thats not quite the problem, I have both audio/video when connecting my Toshiba Sattelite to my Phillips HDTV

BUT recently, anytime I connect the HDMI cable to my laptop, the video freezes (on just the player used) not the tv not the laptop just the player.

Generally using VLC Media player, but decided to try Windows Media Player as another option but same result, so its not media player specific.

It works again when I unplug the HDMI cable, and plays through my laptop.

Have audio/video on the hdmi cable through the TV - but it wont play when the HDMI is connected...

Any thoughts?

[DB83]

I guess you need to check your video card settings for external monitor, that it is enabled and that it is set for your TV's display capability.

But what you write does not make that much sense since it is not the player that freezes but the display.

[rhinebeck]

I guess you need to check your video card settings for external monitor, that it is enabled and that it is set for your TV's display capability.

But what you write does not make that much sense since it is not the player that freezes but the display.

No it's the player that freezes - rather the video/audio on said player but it's not player specific

[ndjamena]

Clarification

Define freeze. Does the player crash, or does it just pause? Can you exit the player and play the video on the TV AFTER you've plugged in the HDMI.

What happens to the laptops screen when you plug HDMI in?

[johns0]

rhinebeck-i changed your thread title to a more descriptive one so more people can help you.

[rhinebeck]

Clarification

Define freeze. Does the player crash, or does it just pause? Can you exit the player and play the video on the TV AFTER you've plugged in the HDMI.

What happens to the laptops screen when you plug HDMI in?

Player doesn't crash just refuses to play once hdmi is hooked up - if laptop is not connected to hdmi it will play

Laptops screen goes blank (black) for a second or two and returns to normal

Have tried connecting hdmi and then opening media player but same results it won't play

But again it's not a player issue - both vlc and windows media players do the same thing. I've tried previously "working" video files (ones I've watched via hdmi to tv before) with same results.

Edit to add: have setup to use tv as "expanded" monitor not duplicate so I can multi-task

[El Heggunte]

IMHO, 3 possibilities:

1) corrupted registry and/or drivers

2) malfunctioning hardware (HDMIwise)

3) both things

[rhinebeck]

IMHO, 3 possibilities:

1) corrupted registry and/or drivers

2) malfunctioning hardware (HDMIwise)

3) both things

Suggestions to figure out which? I know kind of what you are talking about as far as corrupted registry/drivers

But not sure how it would be?(not questioning) as the only thing that has caused errors is connecting the hdmi - possibly the cable itself? (It was a cheap cable)

[ndjamena]

In VLC try:

Tool | Preferences | Video | Output -> Windows GDI video output

and make sure spdif is disabled too.

[rhinebeck]

In VLC try:

Tool | Preferences | Video | Output -> Windows GDI video output

and make sure spdif is disabled too.

Will do so in morning and will let you know

[El Heggunte]

possibly the cable itself? (It was a cheap cable)

Nope, I meant (and I should have written) the HDMI port itself.
If changing the cable makes no difference, then take your laptop to a technician.

[rhinebeck]

possibly the cable itself? (It was a cheap cable)

Nope, I meant (and I should have written) the HDMI port itself.
If changing the cable makes no difference, then take your laptop to a technician.

to the bolded part..... if its that im not even going to bother, I plan on buying a new laptop around my birthday next year - this one is a few years old....

its a Toshiba Satelitte L755-S5355

I have had it at least 2 years, and within the last two months I have just started to use the HDMI output

So if its the port, I can live without it But yes clarifying that you didn't mean the cable did help.

[DB83]

This is still confusing. Have you EVER had video playing on the laptop when the hdmi cable is plugged in ?

Did you ever try the video setting as 'Duplicate' to quote your wording rather than as 'Extended' ?

My gut feeling, faulty hardware aside, remains that in the current setup certain video functions are being prevented. The normal setup is to use the tv as your monitor controlled through the laptop. The laptop's screen then shows exactly the same as the tv.

[rhinebeck]

This is still confusing. Have you EVER had video playing on the laptop when the hdmi cable is plugged in ?

Did you ever try the video setting as 'Duplicate' to quote your wording rather than as 'Extended' ?

My gut feeling, faulty hardware aside, remains that in the current setup certain video functions are being prevented. The normal setup is to use the tv as your monitor controlled through the laptop. The laptop's screen then shows exactly the same as the tv.

The TV screen does not show same as the monitor, only carries over the laptops background image (extended projection) these are the options I have when using HDMI - https://forum.videohelp.com/images/imgfiles/lDgYCfL.png I use "extend" not duplicate - it acts as a second screen so I can still use the laptop as it is and not inturrupt video if need be - EDIT TO ADD: when I took that screenshot HDMI is not connected,

Video before about 3 days ago on HDMI was working 100% fine, video/audio VLC was working, nothing changed no new installed software.

When I went to play a video 2-3 days ago, it was another downloaded episode of a tv show have been trying to catch up on - worked fine after download (no hdmi cable plugged in) so at night I set laptop on the stand I use for the laptop (about 10feet away from tv - 20' hdmi cable), plugged in HDMI cable and went to play the episode, and it would load with an image in VLC but would not allow me to play it. Unplugged the HDMI cable from laptop and the episode would play

I have used the hdmi cable to duplicate the monitor of my laptop for friends to watch me work in photoshop. Again everything was working fine until 2-3 days ago, without any reason. Have not changed any settings in VLC or laptop itself, I am the only one in the house who uses the laptop.

Laptop has not been moved around or on uneven surfaces when plugged in to HDMI, only ever on a flat surface and not moved until everything is unplugged. Not dropped/knocked over when attached to hdmi, HDMI cable not pulled on (run across the wall at floor level on top of floorboard not pinched/kinked twisted/tight)

One thing is, this is not media player specific, the problem is the same from VLC to Windows Media Player - so its not VLC just acting up, both players will play the video/audio off my laptop without HDMI connected, but once I connect HDMI it wont play (on either player) its like they just stop working?

[DB83]

So when it is on 'Extend' what appears on the tv ?

VLC does have a setting as to which display is active if you have more than one.

So, again, have you tried 'Duplicate' ? If not, try it and report back.

[rhinebeck]

Duplicate yielded the same results and problem

I don't see how it could be vlc when the problem lies within any meda program and is not player specific

[rhinebeck]

More diagnostic

Youtube wouldnt even play with hdmi connected
Uninstalled anything installed in the last 5 days (one thing apparently)
Uninstalled VLC
Restarted laptop

Youtube plays now

In process of re-downloading and installing VLC

[jagabo]

It sounds like something is interfering with the vsync signal in the graphics drivers.

[rhinebeck]

It sounds like something is interfering with the vsync signal in the graphics drivers.

Whatever I did fixed the initial problem

Thanks everyone for the help brainstorming

[Nelson37]

It would be useful to know what piece of software was installed which may very well have been the cause of the problem.

[rhinebeck]

If I remember correctly it was an update of some sort

Any way to look through logs of uninstalled software?

[andrewmtl]

The reason could be following:

1) You cable connector is not plug in properly
2) error with regedit as well as driver issue
3) your cable is dead

If you want a cheaper hdmi cable, you can check http://www.primecables.com/p-312903-cab-5499-20ft-premier-series-14inch-ts-or-mono-pho...ed-primecables