Anyone else have any updates on this issue? I know this used to exist with the older driver for XP/MCE2k5 and they did manage to fix it. I am using 7.9 and am experiencing this. Wondering if it was fixed in something in between 7.3 and 7.9?

I'm running 7.10 and still experiencing this.  ATI seems to be of no help.  I even did a fresh install of Vista both x86 and x64 and the issue is still there even with the default Vista drivers.  I tried an Nvidia card and it works fine.  I hope they fix this soon.

I am also having this issue and have been battling it for months with my 9600 Pro.  I found setting a different resolution for MCE and Windows, then using ALT+TAB to switch between them allowed me to make this somewhat usable.  I never had this issue with my Geforce FX 5200 PCI, but it is slower than the 9600 and has no video output until Vista loads.

Argh!!!  I JUST got a new TV, a Samsung LN-T5271 and  am trying to hook up my Vista MC to it using a DVI->HDMI cable, and suddenly I'm finding that I have the exact same problem described.  Ugh.

Basically, everything works great if I boot the PC while the TV is on.  If I turn the TV off and then back on, I get a blank screen and a "Weak or no signal" error.  Everything is fine I then unplug and re-plug the DVI from the back of the PC.

ATI Radeon 9500 Pro, Vista Home Premium, Newest (v7.10) Catalyst drivers.

Couldn't seem to find any solution or settings in either the graphic card drivers or the TV that help it out, and started searching the web, ran across this post.

Might be time for a full-blown HTPC upgrade, maybe go the pre-built cablecard route.

Even after a new driver iteration, 8.12, this is still an issue with my Radeon 9800 Pro and Sony Bravia E-Series 50-inch. This issue clearly isn't a priority for them, so I found another workaround.

I found that initiating sleep mode, then deactivating it often blew my Direct3D driver. Unfortunate, as I often play Guild Wars on my giant TV. However, using CCC's Hotkey Manager, I set the combination of CTRL+ALT+SHIFT+P to swap between Inverted and Landscape display modes. This refreshes the monitor between each mode, therefore reinstating picture on my TV. Granted, the upside-down-ness makes my eyes wonky for a second, but it's only a minor and very temporary inconvenience. And Vista doesn't even need to re-find my Bluetooth keyboard and mouse!

I have the same issue here as well, using an LG 42 inch 1080 LCD conected to my HTPC via a DVI-HDMI on my Nvidia 8600 GT. I found the easiest solution is to simply cycle through my TV inputs until I get bak to HDMI 1, then everything seems to be ok.

It's still happening with ATI cards using the latest driver as of 1/22/2009.  There is a little free program available that solves the problem by requesting the display be turned off and then on again -- forcing the ati card to reinitialize and getting the information needed from the hdtv hdmi or dvi port to reconnect to it.  Take a look at the following link:
http://thydzik.com/hdmion-a-solution-to-loss-of-dvi-video-epid-signal-on-hd-tvs/

I set it up to be executed via a hotkey -- you can use any of a number of free hotkey programs -- in my case I used the keyboard driver for my cordless keyboard to assign the hotkey (logitech itouch keyboard).

Another method is to purchase a hardware device called "dvi detective", that retains the information so the card thinks the tv's port is still on -- but why spend the 60 bucks and have to buy another cable to hook it up (it goes between your video card and the hdtv) if you don't have to?

Cheers

I've had this problem a long time. Once I started upgrading drivers. I saved the old driver program that worked. I have the 9.3 driver. I quit usign CCC because it would make my pc slow to boot and amek MC slow to open. I may go back to the old driver since I'm not gaming with my pc. I experience my issues after returning from hibernation. I may set my pc to sleep and then hibernate. I've not been using screen savers and I my montitor stays on.

Have the same problem for a few weeks now, however only if MCE is on top. If my screen is black I can restore as follows:
- press Alt-F4 (closing MCE)
- switch to other input device (e.g TV)
- switch back to HDMI
OR
- press Alt-TAB (Taskbar on top)
- switch to other input device (e.g TV)
- switch back to HDMI

So if MCE is not running, I can swich off my TV and when switching on again (also after more than 1 hour) my screen is back.

Does this also work for you?

I've had this problem as well, and the solution was really easy (when I finally found out). On the back of my ATI Radeon HD 3870 there're 2 DVI connectors. When I've connected my DVI to HDMI cable to one of the DVI connectors, I get a black screen when I 1) start my pc before my tv is switched on or 2) switch to another HDMI input channel. In case I switch to another HDMI input I actually have to reset my pc to get a picture again, in the other case I "only" had to unplug the HDMI cable and put it back in again. Today I read some older release notes from ATI for one of their 8.x drivers. Here it said that the 'recover function'-issue (I believe that's what they called it) for HDMI 2 still was an open issue. On the back of my pc I can't tell if my cable is connected to HDMI 1 or 2, but I just gave it a try. I plugged my cable into the other port... since then everything is working as it should do! Give it a try. Windows Vista Ultimate - Dell XPS420 - ATI Radeon HD 3870 - Sony 52W5500

Here is the fix for the video going on black when changing input and such. DOwnload and install file, follow directions. Very easy. http://gettingoutalive.spaces.live.com/default.aspx?sa=266904317 You Welcome!!

Hey, it has nothing to do with the settings you have messed around with. Apparently, once the input is switched, the ATI card looses signal. It should fire up the signal again when you switch the input back to your PC, but it doesn't because the guys at ATI are morons! Luckily, some guy developed a small app that you install and when you switch back to the PC's input and have a black screen, you press some "hot Key" (combination of 2 keys on your keyboard) and it reactivates the signal and you're good to go. The site that had the app is down, but if you send me your email address I'd be more than happy to email it to you. That is the only fix i've been able to find thus far. Peace- Herb