[SOLVED] Error message on second monitor when using HDMI cable

relztrah · Sep 13, 2019

I'm using Windows 10 on an HP ProBook laptop. I am able to connect a second monitor to my HP ProBook using an old-fashioned 15-pin video cable. But when I connect using an HDMI cable I get the message check signal cable. There are two separate HDMI inputs on the monitor, but it doesn't make any difference which one I use. The cable is securely connected to both the laptop and the monitor. I'm pretty sure my cable is good because I've used it with other devices. Before I go out and purchase another HDMI cable, is there a setting I should look at?

Digerati · Sep 13, 2019

I would still see if you can try a different cable - just to make sure that one is not damaged and/or is able to support the resolutions you are trying to achieve. If possible, see if you can use that monitor via HDMI on a different computer.

You might also see if anything here helps: My laptop stopped detecting my second monitor

Sysnative Windows Update · Sep 13, 2019

Just to add a bit of info to what @Digerati said, I have had good experience with the so-called Gold HDMI cables. If that's an option for you, I'd try one of these.

relztrah · Sep 19, 2019

Actually it was a setting on the monitor itself. I played with the buttons and there's one for input to change from TV to PC.

Sysnative Windows Update · Sep 19, 2019

Thanks for letting us know.

relztrah · Sep 20, 2019

The only problem, and it isn't really a big issue, is that I can't see the whole taskbar.

This is a screen resolution issue that I tried to fix in the Windows Control Panel, but when I change the screen resolution, it changes both on my laptop and on the external monitor despite the fact that I select device #2 which is the monitor. There are settings on the monitor itself, but the buttons on the monitor don't correspond to the user manual. Apparently this monitor is primarily to be used with a TV, and has a remote control which I don't have. (This monitor was given to me be a friend who couldn't sell it at his garage sale.) If I had that remote control it would be much easier to change the settings on the monitor.

Since I use this external monitor so infrequently, I'll probably just leave it as it. Thanks again for your help.

Tekno Venus · Sep 20, 2019

As this monitor is normally used with a TV, it looks like it's applying overscan correction. In TV signals, it is (or at least used to be) common practice to leave a black edge around the signal, which the TV would then cut off. Since the signal from your PC doesn't have any black edge, the TV is simply cropping the edge of the screen off.

This can normally be turned off in the TV's menus, but there are ways to work around it in Windows. The exact steps will differ depending on the graphics card you have in the system, but there are some general instructions here. For an Intel GPU, the settings would be under the Intel HD Graphics Control Panel - Fix Resolution When Using Your HDTV as a Monitor

Regarding resolution, if the screens are set to Mirror, the the resolution must be the same on each monitor (which is why when you change the resolution it changes on both the laptop and external monitor). If you set the screens to Extend, then you can adjust the resolution of each separately.

-Stephen

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[SOLVED] Error message on second monitor when using HDMI cable

relztrah

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Digerati

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Hardware Expert
Microsoft MVP (Ret.)

Sysnative Windows Update

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relztrah

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Sysnative Windows Update

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relztrah

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Tekno Venus

Senior Administrator, Developer

[SOLVED] Error message on second monitor when using HDMI cable

relztrah

Contributor

Attachments

Digerati

ModeratorHardware ExpertMicrosoft MVP (Ret.)

Sysnative Windows Update

Inactive

relztrah

Contributor

Sysnative Windows Update

Inactive

relztrah

Contributor

Tekno Venus

Senior Administrator, Developer

Moderator
Hardware Expert
Microsoft MVP (Ret.)