[Otto]

Hi there, Mike P and anyone else who might be able to help!

Still using the XFXForce 7600 GS card with HDMI output. Every once in a while, the video output will just disappear, and then I have to reinstall the drivers before it will work again. Tonight, in an effort to ensure that it's not "something else," I reinstalled Windows XP Media Center and then installed the drivers. I didn't install any other drivers or software. As soon as I switched to "Dish" on my Monoprice switch and then switched back to "PC" the video output no longer worked. The DELL and Windows "splash screens" show up (so I know the switch and cables are working) but once it comes to the time to get a mouse cursor and XP logon, I get nothing.

At this point, I will have to reinstall the drivers again for it to work. Lame.

I have also taken the switch out of the equation, plugging the HDMI cable directly from the video card to the TV.

Now, imagine that I have everything working (drivers installed, display OK, etc.) and the video card is connected directly to the TV (i.e., no Monoprice HDMI switch). If I simply unplug the HDMI connection while the PC is on, it will cause this situation apparently 100% of the time. Yep, if the PC is on and working and I pull the HDMI cable it will cause me to have to reinstall the nVidia drivers before things work again at all.

Also note that once this occurs, I cannot use the DVI or VGA (via DVI to VGA adapter) output of the card. I can't view anything on a regular old VGA CRT. It's like the video card isn't there.

Has anyone ever seen anything like this? It's driving me nuts and really precluding use of my HTPC. I have to reinstall drivers almost every day. Since I just did a fresh install and I didn't enable Remote Desktop, I can't quickly reinstall drivers and reboot from another PC. Think I'll reinstall Windows again rather than drag up an old CRT monitor, enable on-board video, etc.

I will say that XFXForce support has been pretty good, and the last thing that they suggested was a clean install of XP. I've submitted my results (as above) and will see what they say tomorrow...

AHHHHHHHHRRRRHGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Please just work!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!