Televisions

[mcdonald52]

I purchased my new NS-24730EA12 primarily (but not exclusively) to serve as a computer monitor.  When I attach it to my laptop (running Windows 7 Home Premium Service Pack 1) via the VGA port, the laptop resets its resolution to 1920x1080 (using the TV as its sole display).  The TV also shows a small box in the upper right corner verifying its resolution and input source.  However, the left and right edges of the desktop (including the clock and several tray items on the right, and the first vertical row of icons and the Windows menu button on the left) exceed the display area for the monitor, and images are slightly stretched on the horizontal plane (vertical appearance seemed normal, accounting for the "stretched" effect).  When I used the display as an extension of my laptop's primary display, I had the same problem; there was a blind area between the two screens.  Even reducing the monitor's resolution down did not solve the problem (I had the expected black bars on the left and right, reflecting a "square" screen, but still had the blind area).

I found a solution by going into the TV's menu > Settings > Computer Settings and setting the "Clock" and "Phase" settings to zero, then using the "Auto Adjust" tool (simply using the Auto Adjust did nothing).  The computer would then adjust itself and utilize the entire space as expected (all icons/menus available, stretched appearance corrected), and resultion again reported as 1920x1080.  Unfortunately, this process must be repeated every time the screen resolution changes for any reason (setting change, turning the television off and back on, launching some programs, etc).  I have noticed that the Auto Adjust results in resetting the horizonal setting to 50, vertical setting to 34, clock setting to 50, but the phase setting is different every time the Auto Adjust is used (including when using the Auto Adjust immediately after correcting the overextension problem, which results in a change of the phase setting, but otherwise leaves the appearance in the correct view). 

As much as I like the model, I don't believe it's worth this effort several times a day, every time I use my computer.  I updated the firmware successfully, but that had no effect.  I could not find anything like a monitor driver for this model (in case the problem was with my computer and not the television).

Any help you can provide in remedying this problem will be greatly appreciated.

Model:  NS-24730EA12

Firmware version:  568MS0009A1007

Input port: VGA

Respectfully,

Mike {edited per Forum Guidelines}

[John-INSG]

Hello Mike,

Welcome to Community@Insignia™!

You provided a mulitude of details and I still have questions. Sorry about that:

• What is the brand and model number of your computer?
• You mention adjusting the TV settings, but have you manually adjusted your video card output settings? 
• Have you upgraded your video card software/firmware (if needed)?

In my experience -- and speaking generally, of course -- the TV will display the signal it receives, so adjustments to the signal source are most often required for success.

Regards,
John
Insignia™ Support

[mcdonald52]

John,

I appreciate your attention to this problem.  I am generally satisfied with the television, but this issue is extremely aggrevating.

1)  The computer in question is a Compaq CQ61-410US using an ATI Mobility Radeon HG 4200 graphics card.

2)  When I adjusted the computer settings, regardless of how I adjusted them, the problem of lost space on the left and right of the television screen (and the associated stretching) remained, even when in resolutions that left "black bar" dead space on the left and right side of the screen).

3)  My firmware and drivers are up to date; that was the first solution I tried, before I went and began fiddling with the television's settings.

The television IS displaying the image it is receiving, it just isn't doing so properly; it needs a little kick in the teeth for the auto-adjust to work its magic (which is what setting the clock and phase adjustments back to zero does, apparently).  Once the two settings are tweaked and the auto-adjust is used again, the television corrects itself and works fine (resetting the clock adjustment to 50 as normal, and the phase adjustment changing with every use of auto-adjust).

I hope this provides you with the information needed to address the issue.

Respectfully,

Mike

[Zac-INSG]

Hello mcdonald52,

Have you tried cycling through the aspect ratios of the TV? This can be done by repeatedly pressing the "Zoom" button on the remote. You may also try enabling/disabling the "Overscan" option in the "Advanced Video" section of the menu. Give these settings a try and let me know if your issue persists.

[mcdonald52]

Zac,

When I changed the aspect ratios, the black bars appeared to the left and right on "normal" and disappeared again on "wide," as expected; however, this still did not remove the lost pixels to the left and right edges of the screen (either in one of the settings, or in the forced redraw).  I cannot enable any other displace settings besides "normal" and "wide;" they are all greyed out.

The "Overscan" option is locked "off;" I cannot enable it.

Respectfully,

Mike

[Zac-INSG]

Hello mcdonald52,

Unfortunately there is no further troubleshooting I can provide as you have already thoroughly assessed the issue. However, I will forward this on to our engineering team and forward on any information that may be of assistance.