EW Presentation Issues

[Truthbetold]

About a month ago, the computer started acting weird. Randomly, the projected screen would flicker. Sometimes it would even change settings, e.g. the EW screen is projected and the projected screen is on the computer.

Btw, I"m using an archaic version of EW, 2004 (Version 2.3).

I've been using it on a Windows Vista computer, and I have been uploading all the Windows Updates each week.

A friend suggested that (1) Windows Updates could be messing with EW, (2) the cord that connects the computer to the projecter isn't working (the name of the cord escapes me), or (3) EW is old and need to be upgraded.

As of now, I'm using a Windows XP on a relic of a computer with no problems as of 1 hour ago. No flickering; no random setting changes; nothing.

I'm beginning to believe suggestion (1).

Any thoughts?

Thanks!

[shane2943]

Could be. I'm a firm believer in "if it works, leave it alone." For PCs like this, I generally don't apply updates other than security patches.

For the projector flickering issue, how far away from the projector is the computer? if it is connected with a VGA cable, that cable should not be any longer than 50ft or so (75ft if using a REALLY good, thick cable). If the projector is further away than that, the a VGA amplifier should be used near the PC to push that signal all the way to the projector. Most VGA amps can broadcast the VGA signal about 200ft. It's hard to find a dedicated VGA amplifier but most VGA splitters have amps built in.

If EW was working before and is no longer, I doubt option 3 is the culprit.

[DaveJ]

Upgrade Easy Worship to at least 2007. Vista and Win7 sometimes require some codex updates. Contact Easy Worship support and they will assist you.

[Truthbetold]

I'd guess 150 feet.

EW 2007 trial version did work without flickering for the 15 minutes that I tested it. I want to work with it longer before I buy that though.

The Restore CDs are missing right now. If I can find them, I'll restore the computer to factory condition. The computer is dedicated to this one function, so no one has any problems restarting it.

[EWSupportGuy]

Do you have an laptop with an ATI graphics card. If so, this is a known problem with ATI graphics cards in laptops. Usually the 3000 series. Seen mostly in the Toshiba laptops.

[dovprst]

I also think it is the video card, not Easy Worship.

[shane2943]

Originally Posted by Truthbetold

I'd guess 150 feet.

EW 2007 trial version did work without flickering for the 15 minutes that I tested it. I want to work with it longer before I buy that though.

The Restore CDs are missing right now. If I can find them, I'll restore the computer to factory condition. The computer is dedicated to this one function, so no one has any problems restarting it.

Much too far for a graphics card to be transmitting without an amplifier. I've seen the flickering issue with VGA cable that's too long.

Look into something like this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-065-_-Product

Without an amplifier, you're going to see problems no matter what PC you use, what video card you use or what version of EW you use.

[EWSupportGuy]

Yup, I agree Shane2943. That's probably the best place to start.

[Truthbetold]

First: Video card is NVIDIA GeForce Go 7300

Second: I don't think it's the amplifier. The cable is really good quality, and the problem only wants with the Vista Computer. There are no problems with the XP; I've done further testing and no flickering occurs with the XP.

Also, the guess about the cable length could be too high. I don't know how they set up the place, and the cord goes through walls and/or floors. The length could be 75 ft.

Edit: I'm going to restore the Vista to factory condition this weekend and see if that solves the problem.

Edit 2x: I'm using 2009 EW as the trial upgrade, not 2007.

[shane2943]

Good way to find out for sure is to hook the PC up to the projector directly, bypassing the long cable, and see if the flickering continues under Vista. If it does, then you're right. If it doesn't, then the cable really is a problem, requiring an amp to fix it.

At the District Office of my company, they have a projector hanging from the ceiling in one of their conference rooms. That projector has a 75ft cable running from it across the ceiling, down the wall and to the front desk where a presenter can connect a laptop to it and lead meetings and such. The cable is a heavy gauge cable; good and thick. Some of the manager's laptops work, some of them flicker, and some of them won't even sync at all to it. The cable was unamplified until about a month ago. Since adding an amp to the laptop end of the cable, everyone's laptops work every time.

[Truthbetold]

Shane,
Interesting. I'll keep that in mind.

Setting the computer back to Factory Condition solved the problem.
I will keep an out for the flickering of other computers, however.

Thanks everyone for your help!

[shane2943]

Glad you got 'er fixed up!