How do you make it (17R 2nd Gen) work via HDMI with an HDTV?

[Pamster]

You hook it up using the HDMI cable and then press F1 plus the FN key? Right? I don't think mine worked somehow. I have the Nvidia Geoforce 525 discreet graphics card, it should work right? TIA for the validation or directions on what I need to do to make this function.

[Tsunade_Hime]

Hrm yes that should be it. Did you change your TV's source to the corresponding HDMI port?

[Pamster]

Yes, we did. I have a feeling it might not work for me. I wish I had discovered it sooner. Oh well, not like I need that functionality. Thanks for the answer Tsunade Hime!

[MoInSTL]

Pamster, did you hook up the HDMI cable then boot your laptop, then turn on the TV? Make sure your power plan is set to High performance and plugged in too. HDMI on laptop is out only, so make sure your TV HDMI in set to in.
Make sure you connect the cable to the TV before turning on the computer because sometimes it may fail to recognize the external display.

[smashly]

Hi,
I own a 15R 2nd gen with Intel / Nvidia 525 graphics.
For me I plugged the HDMI cable in and windows loaded a driver (ding dong sound and balloon tip saying my hardware is ready use)
From there I just right clicked the desktop and selected "Screen Resolution".
In the settings I used the dropdown box and my cheapo 42" LCD tv was listed so I selected it as the primary monitor and hit apply.
Getting the nvidia HDMI audio to work was another story though...lol

Tips that may or may not help:
Be sure to install the latest Nvidia driver from Nvidia web sight (as Dell's site hasn't updated their Nvidia driver since the release date of your laptop)
HDMI on your laptop uses Nvidia graphics and audio.

Check your HDMI cable with another device with your TV..
eg: Game console/Bluray player -> TV.
It eliminates that your not fighting a faulty HDMI cable.

Have your computer turned off and TV turned on, then plug up the HDMI cable, power on the pc.
This will help ensure windows loads the driver for HDMI output.
(It's not always needed to do, but when your having problems getting HDMI to work then it may help)

Have a look under Start Menu -> Devices and Printers.
Hopefully your TV shows up there if so right click it and you can access display settings. (same as right click desktop Screen Resolution)

Once you establish your TV is connected you then want start optimizing your display with Nvidia control panel.

Good luck

[Pamster]

Thank you both for posting, I'll try this and report back, we did it while it was already booted up and nothing, so we'll see if this helps it to load a driver from Win 7 for our TV. It's funny, hubby's new 11z (1121) works as plug and play jut fine! Seems kinda of lame the R series has to go through such steps to get it working, but if that's what it takes to get it working I'll do it! Thanks again MoInSTL & smashly! I will post again when I have tried this.

*crosses fingers*

[Pamster]

Thanks everyone! It needed to be off and then booted up while connected with the HDMI cable to the HDTV on the proper channel. So relieved that was what it needed to install the driver. So now that it did the driver install does it need to be off and connected each time I want to use this feature? Or is it now able to be plugged in after it's been booted and is up and running then hit F1 to enable the external monitor? I am So HAPPY it's not a dead HDMI port!

[Tsunade_Hime]

Hrm that's odd, almost all the new Dell's should just be Fn + F1 to output to the external monitor. Perhaps it is the Optimus technology that is giving you the grief..

[Pamster]

That's what I think it was exactly Tsunade Hime, the 1121 was just plug and play, but this 17R of mine had to be OFF, connected to the HDTV and then booted up, and after the boot up sequence Fn + F1 engaged the system and it installed some driver and even said something about Optimum Screen resolution so I think it was something to do with my video card. Just glad it's not a dead HDMI port!