Monitor Black Out Using HDMI port (Studio 540/540s, Studio XPS 435MT)

Dell came out and replaced the MOBO but I had already bought a video card.  I need the MOBO diagram for the SPDIF pins bad.

I just bought a studio XPS 435mt and I'm also having the black screen with 0033 error code.  This is what I have figured out so far...

When my TV (Sony LCD) is connected to the computer via HDMI the computer will not boot up...only black scree with 0033 code

If I disconnect the HDMI cable the computer boots up fine

If I connect the HDMI cable after boot up the tv works.

I have worked with tech reps for hours and nothing.  Dell sent me a new card and still the same problem.  I've updated the video driver and still nothing.  I've updated the BIOS to 1.1.2 and nothing. 

Now the tech rep from Dell is telling me that I must have a TV Tuner card installed for the TV to work.  Can this be right????  I don't understand why a tuner card would affect my ATI Radeon HD4350 graphics card's ability to work with my TV.  Can anyone tell me if they have a tv tuner card and also have this problem?  I have ordered a TV tuner card anway and I'll see if that works but this is really annoying.  Anyone out there have any ideas??? 

DELL-Chris M:

For Studio 540/540s, downgrade the bios to 1.0.9.

For Studio XPS 435MT, update the bios to 1.1.2 or try 1.0.2.

I am having the same problem as described in the other posts.  I have a Dell Studio XPS 435MT, which I received less than a month ago.  I upgraded the bios to 1.1.2, and have the same problem.

My problem is with the Panasonic 58" plasma TV.  If I boot  (or reboot from Windows) while the DVI to HDMI cable is plugged into both the computer and TV, it does not boot up - I get an error message 0033 almost immediately.  If I unplug the HDMI cable from the TV prior to booting, it will display correctly.

Apparently this problem has been known since June; it is now September.

When will a bio update be available to correct the problem?

OK this is an update to my earlier post.  The Dell tech that I was dealing with said "your TV screen will not work without a TV tuner card.  You must buy a tuner card and that will fix this issue".  I voiced my concern that I didn't see how a TV tuner card had anything to do with the boot-up black out issue I was having but she insisted that this was the problem.  Sooo, I purchased a TV tuner card (ASUS ehd3-100) and installed it.  Big surprise, no change to the problem I'm still having!  I have spent many hours on the phone and now over $100 more on a card that didn't help.  This is not what I expected from a Dell computer.   Is there anyone at Dell working on this?  Everything I've seen/read so far has pointed to a BIOS update for this issue. 

P.S.  I've seen where studio 540 users have a new BIOS that fixes their problem http://en.community.dell.com/forums/t/19272741.aspx?PageIndex=5   Any idea when a new BIOS will be available for the 435mt users?

I toggled  " Musthaq" again at Dell support since it's been a month, and received a reply back from "Bhavani."

Surprisingly (at least to me) they actually referred and commented on some of the things I've found.  To recap, I'm getting "0033" error when I connect a HP video projector to the *VGA* port - not HDMI.  For this specific problem I've found work-a-rounds by using a VGA splitter.

He also suggested the 1.0.2 BIOS (which I haven't tried); but suggested reinstalling the video driver for Windows.  (??)  Unless the *Windows* video driver does something funky with the firmware on the video card (which I very seriously doubt), this is like changing light bulbs in your house to fix a lawnmower that won't start.

And, of course, no technical details.  I've never heard an explanation of just what "0033" means despite asking directly.

to be continued.

Since the problem happens even before the Dell logo shows on the screen, I am also convinced that the problem is the bios.  I didn't write down which version of the bios I had before, but I now have the most recent version (1.1.2). 

I found a workaround that works for my TV, but still isn't ideal. 

Looking at the computer from the back, the left video plug appears to be the default when the computer boots, and looks like it is the only one that is checked at initial startup when two video devices are connected.  What I did was hook up a monitor to the left plug, then hook up the TV to the right plug.  When the computer boots, it sees a monitor that it recognized, so boots up correctly.  Within windows, when both the monitor and TV are plugged in, I set the display properties to 1920x1080, and set the second monitor (ie, the TV) to be a clone of the first monitor.  After saving these changes, I was able to boot up with the TV connected.  If I unplug the monitor from the video card, or if I switch the connections so that the TV is connected to the left video plug, I will get the 0033 error. 

Apparently there is some sort of memory involved in the video detection.  I am able to unplug the power to the monitor and the computer boots up normally.  However, if I lose power to the computer (due to a blackout or the computer gets unplugged), the next time I turn on the computer the monitor must be plugged in or I will get the 0033 error.

I'm using the 24" monitor that came with the Dell.  I don't know if this method would work for monitors that don't support the resolution (I don't have a spare that I can use at the moment).  If using a lower resolution monitor, you might be able to do the steps above, then after turning off the low-res monitor adjust the resoltion higher (if the video setup allows you to do that). 

The big problem with this solution is that I now have a 24" hi-def monitor sitting next to my TV I can't use anywhere else.

My situation is very similar.  I just purchased an XPS 435MT with the Radeon 4850 video card.  I hooked my monitor to the left DVI port and then later while the machine was running I attached my NEC XGA DLP projector to the other (via DVI to VGA converter) and everything worked great.  The next day when I booted the machine all I got was a black screen with 0033 at the bottom right when attempting to boot.  I went on chat with Tech support and in the end the tech then said that my projector was "too old" and that I shouldn't connect it as I could damage the video card, and that I should also buy a Dell display for better compatibility.  He did have me take a newer display from another computer that I have and connect it in place of the projector and we were able to get the computer to boot with both displays connected.  My current monitor and projector setup worked perfectly with my previous computer with a dual display ATI Radeon card.  I haven't reconnected the projector, but I bet that if I connect it after booting the computer like I did the first time it will work perfectly, but I am a bit concerned about damaging the video card.  I don't understand at all what tech support was telling you about getting a TV tuner card.  My MT435 came with a TV tuner card, but I don't see how this could make a bit of difference anyway.  I'm not trying to knock the tech support, but my experience with them on an issue with the optical output of the sound card was a bit disappointing.  The tech asked what brand of speakers I was using!  I don't want to damage my video card and would really like to know if hooking up the projector afterwards to avoid the 0033 error could damage the card.

OK, so here is another update.  Dell decided to send me another computer for lack of anything else to try.  I have received the new computer and guess what?  Yes I'm still having the same problem (arrrhhhhh).  I still believe that the BIOS needs looked at but I can't seem to get any of the tech reps to say or do anything about that.  This computer is great in all other areas and I don't want to have to return it but I may have no choice since no one at Dell seems to know what to do.  I'll keep posting until I get some type of resolution for all of the other people out there in the same situation as me.

DELL-Chris M:

For Studio 540/540s, downgrade the bios to 1.0.9.

For Studio XPS 435MT, update the bios to 1.1.2 or try 1.0.2.

so i've tried your solutions and neither worked for me.  i also made sure i had ati's most recent drivers (8.650.0.0) for my 4350 card.  apparently the only way to use my plasma as a monitor is to get a different video car? some people on other forums are reporting succes when switching to Nvidia products???  i sure hope i don't have to do that already considering i just received my studio xps 435mt two days ago.  any other possible fixes anybody or the folks at dell might come up with?  i'm stumped after switching everything except purchasing a video card my computer and tv are still not getting along.

We are working on a bios release that will have an updated HDMI table which should fix this issue. No ETA on release date.

Great news!!  Thanks Chris.

Do you need the television make and model that we're having problems with to add to the HDMI table?

Thank you Chris for keeping up with this issue!  Just to let everyone know my current status I have a new graphics card coming (NVIDIA 9800GT)  and I will post with the results.