[bosstone75]

So, I'm trying to make this old computer limp along and serve as a home theater PC. Having a problem I hope you can help with.

I've tried viewing videos on the internet in full screen mode and it's not working. I've tried it with YouTube videos, Xfinity videos and the live stream of the Eagle's Nest from Decorah Iowa. No online videos seem to work in full screen. They work just fine with the regular view, but as soon as I hit that full screen button, the screen goes blank and I can just hear the video.

I've also tried it with Firefox (what I prefer to use), Internet Explorer and Chrome. No browser works.

I've connected the PC to my TV using S-Video.

Here's the specs I THINK you'll need, let me know if you need more.

Windows XP Home Edition with Service Pack 3
NVIDIA GeForce MX 420 video card
S-Video Connection
Firefox version 3.6.13
The only "add-ons" to the Firefox currently are the extension Norton IPS and Norton Toolbar

It's all a fresh install of Windows for the most part. Installed a few thing here or there after the fresh install. The only thing I installed that I think might have an effect on this is VLC.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. I work 8-5 Central time, so I won't have access to my computer then, but any other time, I'll be checking up to see if there's any new help ideas.

Please help me! My wife has mocked my HTPC idea from the get go and I need to get it up and running!

 

[Daifne]

Re: Full Screen Not Working from any Browser

First, I would upgrade your Firefox. You are quite out of date. If you don't want version 4 yet, update to 3.6.16 (I think that's the latest). It probably won't help this problem but there have been bug fixes and security patches. It's always a good idea to keep your browser as up to date as possible.

I'll leave the rest to someone else, but if you could give us all of the specs on your system that would help. Also, is this a desktop or a laptop?

 

[bosstone75]

Re: Full Screen Not Working from any Browser

Firefox is updating. Its a desktop. Plugged into my analog TV using S-Video.

Operating System
Windows XP Home Edition Service Pack 3 (build 2600)
Install Language: English (United States)
System Locale: English (United States)

System Model
No details available

Processor
1.67 gigahertz AMD Athlon XP
128 kilobyte primary memory cache
256 kilobyte secondary memory cache
Not hyper-threaded

Main Circuit Board
Board: MS-6380E 1.0
Bus Clock: 133 megahertz
BIOS: American Megatrends Inc. 07.00T 04/02/01

Drives
60.01 Gigabytes Usable Hard Drive Capacity
46.11 Gigabytes Hard Drive Free Space

ATAPI DVD-ROM 16X [Optical drive]

WDC WD600BB-00CAA0 [Hard drive] (60.02 GB) -- drive 0, s/n WD-WMA8C1170081, rev 16.06V16, SMART Status: Healthy

Memory Module
512 Megabytes Usable Installed Memory

Slot '0' is Empty
Slot '1' has 512 MB
Slot '2' is Empty

Controllers
Standard floppy disk controller
Primary IDE Channel [Controller]
Secondary IDE Channel [Controller]
VIA Bus Master IDE Controller

Display
NVIDIA GeForce4 MX 420 [Display adapter]
Default Monitor

Multimedia
MPU-401 Compatible MIDI Device
Standard Game Port
VIA AC'97 Enhanced Audio Controller (WDM)

Other Devices
HID-compliant consumer control device
HID-compliant device (3x)
USB Human Interface Device (2x)
HID Keyboard Device
HID-compliant mouse
USB 2.0 Root Hub
USB Composite Device
USB Root Hub (3x)

 

[spunk.funk]

Re: Full Screen Not Working from any Browser

Open the nVidia Control Panel and make sure your display is changed to TV. Try reducing the resolution. The Full Screen mode is probably too much for your analog TV at the resolution you have it set on.

 

[TheGift73]

Re: Full Screen Not Working from any Browser

Try as spunk.funk asked above first.

The TV-out function on the GeForce MX 420 only supports resolutions up to 1024 by 768. That is why when you try to play the videos at full screen it won't be able to.
What size TV are you trying to play the videos on?
I'd upgrade the video card (not that expensive for what you need)
Your motherboard can take 1GB of RAM in each slot (max) so a RAM upgrade would help the system in general (you currently are only using 1 slot and only have 512MB stick), but you will still need to upgrade your GFX card in order to play video on your TV at full resolution.

 

[TheGift73]

Re: Full Screen Not Working from any Browser

Sorry for the double post, ran out of editing time.

This link may also help.

 

[bosstone75]

Re: Full Screen Not Working from any Browser

I should have mentioned too... Full Screen works when viewing something using the VLC player. It's just web based full screen that doesn't work.

My TV is a 36 inch (non wide screen) - yes, we're limping along when it comes to technology here!

Here's what I've done from your suggestion...

Control Panel -> Display -> Settings
Screen Resolution is set to 800 X 600
Color Quality is set to Highest (32 bit)

Clicked on Advanced
General Tab -> DPI setting is set to Normal Size (96 DPI)
Monitor Tab -> Screen refresh rate is 60 Hertz (the only option I have)
nView Tab -> nView Modes is set to Standard (nView disabled) and the Display is set to the only option I have of nView Display 1:TVNTSC-M

This is pretty much what it was already set at although I did try to bump up the Screen Resolution to see if that would help.

WAIT! As I was typing this, I decided to drop the Color Quality down to 16 bit. Things are working just fine now!

I get what you were saying about adding more RAM for the overall performance. You had also said that if I got a new video card it might solve the problem. Would a bigger badder video card make things even harder for my poor analog TV? It seems like the limiting factor is the TV set in this case. But you think a newer video card would help performance?

Thanks for all your help!

 

[spunk.funk]

Re: Full Screen Not Working from any Browser

If you use the nVidia control panel, you will have a few more options then just the Windows Screen Resolution settings. You probably have the best settings for your hardware setup. It's probably the best you can do with what you got, Upgrading the video card might help, but your Analog TV is what's probably holding your back.
If you are satisfied, you can mark this thread solved in the Thread Tools at the top.

 

[bosstone75]

Thanks all for your help!