hdmi - My display is blank when I turn on my HDTV connected to Media Center

When I turn on my TV, it's often the case that the screen is blank and I have to unplug / plug the HDMI cable connected from the Windows Media Center to a Samsung LED TV.

This problem only occurs when the Media Center has played content that contains HDCP data (which is the case if you are using an ATI Digital Cable Tuner or OCUR device).

The card is an ATI HD4550 and the OS is Windows 7.

Answer

Ok, here is a solution that works 100% of the time for me.

1) Buy an HDMI Detective Plus

This gadget basically gets programmed with your TV's EDID and then fakes your Media Center into thinking the TV is on 24/7. Genius

2) Go the software route

Prerequisites

1. Harmony Remote (Logitech)


2. HDMIOn.exe

First, you need to ensure that you get the latest Media Center remote configuration file for your Harmony Remote. You can find this device under

Device type: Computer -> Media Center 
PC Manufacturer: Microsoft 
Model: Windows Media Center SE

and includes the ability to send Media Center keyboard commands such as Win+1, ALT+1 etc

Then you need to configure the Activity for your Media Center "Watch TV" action to include an additional remote command, which is to send Media Center a custom keyboard shortcut. Since I am using Windows 7 I selected Win+1 to launch the first item in my taskbar

Now you need to download HDMIOn.exe and place it somewhere on your Hard Drive and then pin in to the TaskBar in the corresponding location that you are using for the shorcut.

Alternativley you can create a shortcut for HDMIOn.exe and assign a shortcut key like ALT+1 to that shortcut.

Now when you press the Watch TV Activity on your Harmony remote, the HDMIOn.exe app will launch causing your HDMI handshake to get resent.