Black and White DVD playback on LCD when TV is 2nd Display

[noetus]

I had this problem with black and white playback of DVDs (and also RealPlayer streaming) so I uninstalled and completely reinstalled the video drivers. I found that this fixed the problem, UNTIL I connected a TV to the S-Video port as my second display... now the DVD playback is in black and white only on the LCD again, although it plays in colour fine on the TV as 2nd display. (The behaviour is slightly different with WinDVD as opposed to other DVD players - it goes pink on the LCD display, though still showing colour OK on the TV.) Unplugging the TV and switching off the 2nd display in the display settings doesn't help - it seems that if I use the TV just ONCE then I get this behaviour and I can't revert back without reinstalling the ATI drivers... Is this a problem with ATI video drivers? I've tried different (older, newer) driver versions, with no luck. On a different posting someone said this might be a problem with codecs, but I've pretty much investigated that problem and I don't think it's codecs - it seems specifically related to the video driver.

[gg3761]

Make sure that you don't have a bad S-Video cord. 1 bad pin and you'll get a b&w picture.

[GomJabbar]

I've never had this problem and I often use the S-Video connector with my TV to watch DVD movies. I have the ATI Radeon 9000, and am using the latest driver available from IBM/Lenovo. One possibility - make sure Presentation Director is not causing your problem.

When I hook up my TV, I have to go to display properties, click on the Displays tab and enable the TV. Once the TV is enabled, there are some other settings you can make by clicking on the tab next to the 1 tab. Also, Theater Mode (or Same on all) has to be enabled on the Overlay tab in display properties.

[noetus]

I think both the recent posters misunderstood my problem, for not reading my post carefully! The black and white video problem is on the LCD, NOT, I repeat, NOT, the TV !!!! However, the problem only begins ONCE I connect the TV to the S-Video - when I get PERFECT colour on the TV!! I repeat, PERFECT COLOUR on the TV!!!!!

Again, I repeat, the problem is with black and white video (a blank PINK screen in the case of WinDVD) when playing DVDs on the laptop LCD AFTER hooking up a TV to the S-video out - whether or not the TV is actually connected at the time or not!

NOW do you understand?

I reinstalled, or rather, updated the video drivers from the ones on IBM's site to version 8.18.0.0 direct from ATI (dated 9/14/2005 - the latest drivers supplied by IBM are version 6.14.10.6546 from august 2005). At first I thought the problem was fixed, as I was able to watch DVDs in COLOUR again on the laptop, from any DVD player. Hooray! But then I hooked up my TV, and guess what, black and white on the laptop only again. But COLOUR, I repeat, nice COLOUR on the TV!!!!!

So I was stumped. Then I decided to update to the latest Windows Service Pack. Now guess what? That HAS fixed the problem, sort of. WinDVD is still a blank PINK screen when I play a DVD on the laptop, but all other players play COLOUR on BOTH the laptop LCD AND the TV.

If anyone has any insights at all as to what is going on that would be really helpful. I spent about half an hour talking to an ATI techinical support guy who was very helpful (and amazingly supplied his services for free) and he was completely stumped. (It was only after that conversation that I decided to update to the latest service pack by the way - and for unrelated reasons.)

[noetus]

I should add - the previous posters not only misread the post, they misread the TITLE of the post - the problem with black and white on the LCD, NOT the TV, is clearly stated there! And this was after reading posts about the importance of clear TITLES to posts! *Sigh*

[GomJabbar]

I did not misread your post. I understood your problem. I was merely relating the settings I use - in case that made any difference.

[noetus]

I see - thank you, and sorry for the accusation.