This time, it’s Fop’s turn to be the idiot.
Last Thursday, I finally got myself a PS3 Slim after months of pondering and eager anticipation (I was torn between a PS3 or a Wii). I also managed to grab a copy of KOF XII, so I could practise Power Geysers in peace without stupid people to annoy me.
I had done some research on the Internet, and bought all the necessary RCA converters to output PS3 audio to my computer speakers/headphones. The HDMI cable came bundled with the PS3 Slim.
Once again, hope is the first step to disappointment.
For some reason, I was unable to get my computer’s HDMI monitor to output any video from the Slim. Welcome to Fop’s troubleshooting hell.
Step 1: ensure PS3 Slim isn’t faulty
Yup, I already tested the Slim at the shop before I brought it home. I could hear audio being successfully outputted to my computer speakers. There was just no damn video.
Step 2: ensure HDMI cable is plugged properly
I switched ends and jiggled the male connector into the monitor’s HDMI port vigorously (that sounds kinda wrong). Still nothing.
I had read online about how some low-quality, cheap HDMI cables could affect video output. Or fail to output any kind of image at all. Could this be the reason?
Step 3: check PS3 manual for troubleshooting FAQs
There was a paragraph in the manual that read something like this:
“Press and hold the power button on the PS3 Slim for five seconds without releasing the button. This will reset all settings to default, and the PS3 Slim will auto-detect a new set of configurations.”
Nope. Fail.
Step 4: try connecting PS3 to (crappy non-HD, ancient CRT) living room TV
Success! There was an image at last. But I didn’t spend close to 500 bucks just to play PS3 games on my crappy 4:3 aspect-ratio television.
At least, I’ve finally narrowed down the problem. Either the HDMI cable or my HDMI monitor were at fault.
I went into the video settings, and tried to force the PS3 Slim to output HDMI on my television. Then I quickly shut off the Slim and plugged it back to my HDMI monitor, hoping the HDMI settings could somehow be “saved” from its previous TV connection.
Fail.
Step 5: ponder other possible alternatives
I might need to head down to Challenger and grab a HDMI-DVI connector. But what the hell, my monitor already has a freaking HDMI port. It should be working.
Something is very wrong somewhere, or I must have missed a very important step.
Step 6: retrace my steps and try again
Still no luck.
Step 7: curse, swear, and despair
My name is Tina, I’m a ballerina.
Step 8: look up at the clock, and realise you’ve spent more than three hours troubleshooting
Gah, it’s already 1.30am. I had no choice but to go to sleep, because I had a school project meeting the next day at 10am.
To distract my mind and speed up the transition to dreamland, I kept thinking of all the possible alternative definitions to the “HDMI” abbreviation: Head Damage Maximum Impact. Hey Dumbass, Monkey Island. Hexa-Decimal Megatron Insecticons…
Step 9: wake up and complain to the first online friend you see on Steam chat
sunburnedcrow: Are you sure that your monitor is HDCP compatible?
Me: Yes, I’m damn sure.
sunburnedcrow: Did you change the video settings on your monitor to enable HDMI mode?
Me: …..
Uh. What?
Me: My monitor doesn’t even have any buttons to press other than the power switch! How to change video settings?
sunburnedcrow: WTF. Then how to configure monitor brightness and stuff? Go check properly.
The saddest part of this whole debacle? I’ve had the HDMI monitor for more than seven months (bought it at March ’09 PC Show), and I never realised there were buttons underneath the monitor screen for configuration purposes.
Yes, under the screen. A little bit out of sight. But WTF man, seven months without knowing about their existence?
I clicked one of the buttons. Up came the standard configuration menu that all monitors had. I pressed the next adjacent button.
VIDEO MODE: DVI
Uh oh. I pressed the button two more times.
VIDEO MODE: HDMI
Within a few seconds, a familiar PlayStation interface appeared on screen.
Me: YEAAAAA!!
sunburnedcrow: You farking noob
sunburnedcrow (in A4D chat): FOP IS NOOB
It was 9am. Screw project meeting. I called-in sick to my group members, plugged my HRAP3 joystick and proceeded to happily perform 65% damage CC-combos until the afternoon.
So, what’s the moral of the story? If something doesn’t work properly when it should, you probably missed an important step.
Or, Glimmerous.Fop is just plain fucking Moron McStupid.
I’ll try posting images of my PS3 Slim set-up (and the freaking monitor button that saved the day) in this GameSync forum thread. Yay for RCA converters.
Got any pseudo-nightmare troubleshooting stories to share? Or am I the only bloody dumbass here? ;X
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