No video until Windows start

PiKVM PiKVM V4 Plus
1

Hi,

I have run into a challenge today. The laptop is connected to PiKVM and works fine in Windows. I had to reboot it to access the BIOS and there is no video until Windows start. What could be the problem?

2

Hi AxelD,

The problem can be in several places, so let’s eliminate them one-by-one.

  1. Make sure there is a direct HDMI connection between the laptop and PiKVM, no adapters, extension cords, etc.
  2. Try to connect an external monitor to the laptop, to the same port that PiKVM is connected. Reboot the laptop and see if the monitor stays blank until Windows start. If that’s the case, it’s the laptop settings/firmware/drivers.

Try that and report back.

3

One of the challenges with laptops is they tend to prefer their internal screen vs external displays UNLESS the laptop is closed. So if you power on the laptop and close the lid you should be able to see the boot screens on the HDMI output (sometimes this requires a reboot from the OS with the lid closed). If you still aren’t seeing the output in the BIOS screens with the lid closed it could be trying to send an incompatible signal (resolution too high/low) or it could be that the system has a integrated and discrete graphics the BIOS settings aren’t picking the one that outputs to the HDMI port.

4

Not on this laptop. With the lid closed, it immediately goes to sleep, which results in < NO SIGNAL DETECTED >. This is another problem I’ll have to solve, waking the damn thing up requires somebody on the remote end to open the lid and press the power button.

5

Yes, the PiKVM is connected directly, there are no adapters or anything in between.

Can’t do that. The only monitor I have over here does not have an HDMI input. There’s DisplayPort, DVI, USB, even the old VGA connector, but no HDMI.

6

You can change this behaviour in Windows from the Control Panel. Open the Start menu and search for “lid.” Select the Change what closing the lid does entry. A Control panel window will open. From there, you can see options for when you press the power button, sleep button, and closing the lid. Select When I close the lid → Do nothing at least for Plugged in (optionally, for On battery as well).

7

Wow, this did the trick – now I can work remotely with the lid closed, and access the BIOS settings. Thank you both so much!