GA-MA78GM-US2H HDMI does not work after windows 7 Update

[Lowporkwa]

Quite frankly, I give up. I've never ever ran into a computer issue I could not figure out and fix myself (or with a little bit of online searching). Now i'm completely 100% stumped. So incredibly frustrated i'm about to smash my computer into a million tiny bits. So PLEASE someone, any help would be so greatly appreciated you have no idea.

So, let me give you a quick rundown of my issue.

My computers pertinent specs:

Motherboard: Gagabyte GA-MA78GM-US2H (rev 1.0)
Graphics: ATI Radeon HD 3200
Chipset Model: 780G
Southbridge Model: SB700
Southbridge Revision: 00

Under device manager
ATI Radeon HD 3200 Graphics Driver: 8.753.0.0
CCC Version: 2010.0706.2128.36662

Windows 7 professional x64

So, when I originally purchased the components of this computer and had it up and running it was installed with Vista x64 OS and was my HTPC. As I got more and more sick of Vista, and more happy with 7 as an OS, I decided to make a project out of upgrading the OS this past weekend. Everything went smoothly (or so I thought), got 7 up and running no problem. System is 100% fine, I got all my HTPC software all installed and optimized with my media library. I was ecstatic, this system was going to be great! Then, I decided heck lets test it out on the big screen! (I have a small flat screen monitor hooked up through VGA on my desk I use to work with the setup). So I went to plug in the HDMI the way I always did previously (which I never had a problem with), and low and behold, absolutely no picture shows up on the TV. Originally, I thought nothing of it, as I normally had to unplug and replug in the HDMI cable from the TV to get picture to show up, but to no avail, no picture would ever show.

So I restarted the computer hoping for a fix. I notice on the TV with the HDMI plugged in (and the VGA monitor plugged as well) that upon initial startup the TV actually displays the bootup of the system! The first screen where you can get into the BIOS if the correct button is pressed, etc. Once windows begins loading though, black screen again, no video, no input. I made sure all the drivers were correctly installed. CCC does not show another monitor present, nothing on my system wherever I look detects a second display! I reinstalled the drivers, did a driversweep, everything. No avail. The TV will display the picture up until windows starts loading.

Next I tried booting the system without the VGA monitor on my desk connected. Same exact thing, once windows starts loading black screen. As soon as I plug the VGA back in it instantly comes on, no problems. No detection of the HDTV.

Reminder, this system WAS setup and worked JUST FINE previously, with vista x64 installed, so this SHOULD be working fine with windows 7 as well!

Then I got frustrated, so I went into the device manager and just uninstalled the display adapters driver. Restart the computer with NO DRIVER for the HD 3200, and once windows starts to load I GET A PICTURE ON THE TV!!. So weird, I thought. I then reinstalled the correct chipset drivers, CCC, everything the way it SHOULD be, reboot the system, and the picture is gone! No detection of second display, nothing. This seals the deal to me that it's a driver related issue, but I just cannot figure out what I could possibly do next to help this!

Please please please please someone, any help would be appreciated!! I feel like i'm taking crazy pills!

[Dark Mantis]

My initial thoughts are did you update the BIOS first? If so did you clear the CMOS and start with an optimised BIOS setup? 
Next was it a fresh install of Win7 64bit on a formatted hard drive not just an update from Vista?
Have you installed the HD drivers for the graphics card? Have you enabled the digital outputs?
Try using an older driver for the graphics if there is one that is compatible.

[Lowporkwa]

yes, BIOS was flashed and clearing the CMOS was the first thing I tried. I see the bootscreen on my HDTV through the HDMI port, its only when windows starts to load that everything disappears.

Windows 7 was fresh install, formatted hard drive, not an update.

I've tried installing several different drivers including old ones, ones for vista, everything.

It MUST be driver related though. I just find it so incredibly strange that HDMI output works fine if I uninstall the graphics driver from the device manager. Once a new graphics driver is installed, even old ones, picture is immediately gone, and no second display is detected, even after restarts, unplugging replugging the cables, everything.

[Dark Mantis]

Logic dictates that it must be a driver issue from your testing but how is another matter. Have you installed all the latest motherboard drivers for Win7 64bit?

[Lowporkwa]

Yes, all motherboard drivers for 7 x64 from gigabytes website have been installed. Im actually kicking myself for losing the CD that came with the motherboard, as I was curious as to see if the old drivers would make this thing work. (Stupid cross-country moves make hanging on to every CD hard!)

Do you know of any place I could obtain an image of the original driver install CD, or the original drivers themselves?

[Dark Mantis]

I am afraid not. I would suggest going cap in hand to the manufacturer but I don't know how accomodating they will be now. You could try PMing runn3R, he's the moderator of this forum and the only one paid by Gigabyte. The only trouble is he is going on holiday after today for a fortnight so I wouldn't expect any results there for a while.

[Lowporkwa]

I may try that.

In the meantime, I still have my vista install disc, so this weekend I may do a fresh install of Vista just to see if works for some reason on that. Perhaps the older MOBO isn't liking windows 7 for some unknown reason...I guess having a working HTPC running Vista > an HTPC on 7 that doesnt work...

going to be a fun weekend...

Thanks for your help.

[Dark Mantis]

Sorry that I couldn't give you an answer but you seem to have done all the sensible things.

[Lowporkwa]

Hey, just wanted to give you a quick update in case you were interested.

I reinstalled vista x64, installed the EXACT same drivers I tried previously, and everything works like a freakin charm!!

I have NO idea what the issue with Windows 7 vs Vista is, but oh well, guess i'm sticking with Vista until I decide to upgrade my HTPC hardware.

Thanks for your help though I appreciate it.

[smasymo]

I have same problem with my mb us2h hdmi not working on 2 hdtv Panasonic and jac i have also windows 7 32 bit