Developer Forum

Have Got a Barebone PC with onboard Video-card (ATI). Installed all necessary
drivers, and get Media Center working in windows, but when I go for
full-screen I only get a black screen with a mouse pointer. Can use the
mouse, but can't see anything. Can apperently use all the functions of the
Media Center but just don't see anything. Can anytime return to a minimized
window and get a picture.

Any Idea?

Tried turning down the hardware accelaration until I got a picture in
Full-screen. Unfortunately I then get the message that the hardware is not
compatible with MCE.

Most likely your video isn't adequate, you probably need a video card
(FX5200's are a minimal board for around $40). Here's the list to check
your components:
http://www.yqcomputer.com/

BTW, you also will need to purchase a DVD decoder to use Live TV functions.
--
James
Orlando (Goofy says "Hey!"), Florida

I've actually experienced this problem myself - with both an ATI onboard
video system and a system with a Radeon 9550. It first occurred on XP Media
Centre - the work around there was to create a new user profile and that
solved the problem. On Vista, this hasn't worked. It looks like a fault with
ATI drivers. Will let you know if I find a solution

Not true. I've had this fault with both an ATI Onboard system and a Radeon
9550 system. With XP Media Centre, the solution was to create a new user
profile. With Vista, that hasn't worked. ATI drivers are probably at fault,
will let you know if I find a solution.

I've had success.

I installed the driver I was using for XP Media Centre which is Catalyst
version 8.221.0.0 released in Jan this year. I didn't run the setup that
comes with the drivers but pointed windows to the driver file. Installed OK
and now no more blank screen problems when media centre has the focus - full
screen.

I also installed the old control panel from ATI (not catalyst control
centre) and that works well and I can switch between displays etc just like
on XP.

I've played around and built three MCE boxes this year, and all three had the
same problem -- black screen with full MCE window -- with TV out at one time
or another. One also had problems with a DVI-connected DLP projector.

The problem is NOT specific to ATI drivers, as I have found it with the
latest on-board Intel Extreme Graphics 945 chipsets and drivers, and others
see it with Nvidia product.

I'm not sure what makes it go away, but if I throw everything at it,
eventually it does...

-- use the latest drivers
-- switch between full screen and windowed (Alt - Enter) with MC goes black
-- change resolutions within Media Center... for some reason INCREASING
resolution helped me.
-- tell Media Center that the monitor is connected via VGA cable, even if
you're using S-video or composite
-- Burnt offerings to the computer gods seem to help too, old power
supplies and mechanical mice produce lots of smoke and are no great loss.
-- Harass the Microsofties.... I see quite a few similar messages going back
years and yet the problem remains.

Regards,
Brian