HOW TO: Connect your Xbox 360 to the VGA port on your HDTV
5:00 PM, December 4, 2006
For all I know, I'm the only person in the world who's ever had this problem, but this past weekend I was trying connect my 360 to the VGA port on my new Samsung LCD television.
Connecting over component worked fine, but every time I plugged in the VGA cable, I'd get a black screen and my TV would display a "Mode Not Supported" error message.
Occasionally, a jagged, garbled image would pop up on the screen of the Xbox dashboard, but mostly it was just nothing. I called Samsung, and the tech suggested I plug the component cables back in, reset the resolution to 480p, turn off the console and plug it back in with the VGA cable.
No dice.
While I was on hold waiting for the "level two" tech, I decided to fiddle around with the system some more.
With the VGA cable plugged in (but still no image), I turned on the console. Once it was booted up and I could hear the beeps and swooshes as I toggled through the menu options, I pushed the joystick to the right to get to the console settings tab. Once the swooshes stopped, I knew I was at the right-most tab.
Then I hit the X button, since I knew that the display settings button was the top option on the console settings page, then hit X again to change the display resolution.
I then scrolled all the way to the bottom of the list (again with no image on the screen, just going from memory and sound effects), highlighted what I hoped was the 1920x1080 resolution setting and hit X.
Presto! The screen turns on and everything is perfect!
It sounds like the problem is that the 360 couldn't detect that it was connected to a VGA input and automatically adjust its resolution. The resolution had to be set manually, even though you can't see anything on the screen until you adjust the resolution.
I know Microsoft just released an update for the 360 that's supposed to improve connectivity via the VGA port, but I've been without Internet access the last few weeks (another story), so I don't know if that update solves this issue.
So if anyone else out there runs into this problem, just make sure you memorize the buttons presses to change the display resolution so you can do it literally with your eyes closed.
Doug note: It's about as difficult to switch from Component inputs to HDMI on the PS3.
Victor note: Looks like I wasn't the only one (see comments). Glad to help, Georgios!
Comments
I had the same problem with my Samsung LCD, I will try your tip!
Posted by: Georgios Zochios | December 15, 2006 2:04 PM
It worked fine!! thank you very much for the tip!!
Posted by: Georgios Zochios | December 15, 2006 2:41 PM
I love you, you are the lord of x-box, man, I would even be willing to bear your children. Thanks Jess Irving
Posted by: Jess Irving | December 31, 2006 7:30 AM
Well, Jess, I've got two already, so I don't think that will be necessary. :)
Congrats on getting your display to work. It sounds like several people are having this problem. I'm surprised Microsoft hasn't come up with an official fix yet.
Posted by: Victor Godinez | December 31, 2006 11:17 AM
I had the same problem and here is the video resolution reset process from XBox
1. turn off the 360
2.Once the power is off,hold down the Y button and squeeze the right trigger while turning on the system by way of the console power button on the joystick. Continue holding down the Y and the right trigger for 2 minutes. During this time the system will not seem to do anything but all of a sudden the unit will reset and reboot (while stil holding down the Y and trigger buttons)and you will get a message that your graphic settings have been reset. This should help.
You can ask the tech that you need to reset your VGA graphic seetings on the 360.
Posted by: Jim Kahl | June 25, 2007 8:20 AM
In the event you are not having sound either (my problem) hook the xbox up as if it was a regular tv. Basically use only the plain red, white and yellow wires on a video slot. Remember to sitch the litte button on the cable attached to the xbox to "TV" from "HDTV" then go and increase the resolution. thank you o the original poster.
Posted by: Steve | October 19, 2007 5:11 PM
hey I had that exact same thing happen to me with that vga cable. I found that if I switch off the TV before the xbox and then switch on the XBOX before the TV i will get the picture straight away 90% of the time. However if I were to turn the tv on before the xbox or turn the xbox off before the tv I would get the big bad black screen where I can't get a picture :(
Posted by: Dr DoLittle Talks To The Animals | February 10, 2008 4:09 AM