Bios freezing up with DVI

J

JZK

Geek Trainee
I’ve got a problem with my computer when using DVI. I have a Geforce 8400 GS video card which has a VGA and DVI output. I’ve been using the VGA output with my LED TV for a while with no problems. The computer boots fine and everything works OK.
I just bought a cable the converts DVI to HDMI which I want to use with TV, instead of the VGA. I plug everything in and boot the computer. The TV detects the computer and I see that the computer starts to go into the BIOS. The problem is, even before it gets to the bios setup screen, the computer freezes. It seems like it is freezing on the video card (checking the memory?). This happens every time I try.
I managed one time to actually boot the computer by disconnecting the cable from the TV, boot until I think that the computer is in Windows already, and then plug in the HDMI. I didn’t try working with the computer this way (it may or may not freeze in the middle) but it booted and showed up on the TV. I didn’t want to try this again because I wasn’t sure if it was good for the video card and TV (electrical surge?)
I would really like to get this working in a normal way. Does anyone have any idea why this would happen? I was thinking that maybe the power supply in the computer was not big enough. Does DVI take more power than VGA? Does that sound logical at all? I wouldn’t want to buy a new power supply without being reasonably sure that this is the problem. Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks
 
Try the following:
1. Plug the DVI to HDMI converter on the dvi output of the card. Boot your computer and use the VGA cable output first on any monitor (might as well try it on the led tv and don't plug any cable to the DVI/HDMI output. Next see if it boots and is working properly. Then remove the vga cable from the monitor then remove the cable from the card. Insert/Plug in the HDMI connector on the card since it is now on HDMI because of the converter, insert the HDMI cable to the monitor. See if it works.
2. Try an HDMI to DVI converter on the HDMI output of the monitor and not the DVI to HDMI converter on the card.
Tell us what happens.
 
Jan Benedict said:
Try the following:
1. Plug the DVI to HDMI converter on the dvi output of the card. Boot your computer and use the VGA cable output first on any monitor (might as well try it on the led tv and don't plug any cable to the DVI/HDMI output. Next see if it boots and is working properly. Then remove the vga cable from the monitor then remove the cable from the card. Insert/Plug in the HDMI connector on the card since it is now on HDMI because of the converter, insert the HDMI cable to the monitor. See if it works.
2. Try an HDMI to DVI converter on the HDMI output of the monitor and not the DVI to HDMI converter on the card.
Tell us what happens.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply. Thank you for your suggestion, but I see no reason to do the whole VGA/DVI twist. Like I mentioned before, I managed to boot without any monitor attached to the computer and then plugging the HDMI end into the TV. It seemed to work, although I didn't actually work with it. I also don't know how healthy it is for the computer and TV when plugging the DVI and HDMI in after the computer is on. Either way, even if this does work, it is not how I would like to work with the computer/TV combo. I would rather like to figure out why this happens and possibly fix it.
I suppose I could go out and buy a DVI to DVI cable along with a HDMI converter to DVI, but for me that would be an expense that I would not want to have unless I knew it would surely solve the problem. To be frank, I don't understand what the difference would be between what you suggest and what I already have. The cable itself is a converter, and the TV is getting the signal nice and clear. The problem is that the computer jams. It can't be the video card because I tried other cards as well, and it's the same story with them all.
 
how could you know that you have booted unto windows without a monitor attached? you have an pretty old card which does not support HDMI output so using a dvi to hdmi converter on the card has a 50/50 chance to work, don't know if it could even work properly. If you're thinking about expenses in buying and testing an hdmi to dvi converter for the tv, then I suggest you buy a new card that supports HDMI and will run in your system, buying a new card that supports hdmi is the surest way.
Edited: By other cards, what model are these cards that you tested? do they support native hdmi display?
 
Jan Benedict said:
how could you know that you have booted unto windows without a monitor attached? you have an pretty old card which does not support HDMI output so using a dvi to hdmi converter on the card has a 50/50 chance to work, don't know if it could even work properly. If you're thinking about expenses in buying and testing an hdmi to dvi converter for the tv, then I suggest you buy a new card that supports HDMI and will run in your system, buying a new card that supports hdmi is the surest way.
Edited: By other cards, what model are these cards that you tested? do they support native hdmi display?
Click to expand...

I can tell from the hd leds, when they stop blinking for a while, Windows has finished booting and I plug in the TV.
You could be right as far as buying a new video card is concerned, but I would not want to put out money on another card and cable unless I can be pretty sure that is the problem. The reason I bought the DVI-HDMI cable to begin with was because I was reading that the way DVI and HDMI work are similar (with the exception of audio and HDCP which DVI do not support). I have used such cables in the past and they have always worked for me. Another thing that baffles me is that the signal to the TV is nice and clear - (it actually works). I can see on the TV clearly how the computer starts to boot and freezes when the bios is recognizing the video card. It freezes but does not go blank or anything. That is what I do not understand.
The other cards I tried also had only VGA and DVI output.
 
If you have any spare monitor that has an HDMI port, try your system on another monitor, if you can find one to test. My remaining ideas are to clear CMOS then try to boot.
 
OK. I was home for a couple of hours today, so I had time to check things out a little better. One of the first things I did when I noticed the problem way back then was to clear the CMOS, but unfortunately it didn't work. I took your advice and hooked up a couple of different monitors (not TVs) using the same setup, and they worked. Then I took the video card out and put it in an old P4 computer that I had, the computer booted up with no problem (HDMI) . So I am convinced that there is something wrong with the bios. I have already upgraded the Bios as much as I could, but it doesn't seem to help (motherboard Intel DG31PR with a dual core). Although I have gone through every setting in the bios, and even played around with them a bit, I can't see anything that would affect the boot. I don't know if you have any other ideas, but I have reached a dead end. The only other idea that I have is to contact Intel and see if someone there can possibly help me. Thank you for your help.
 
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