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I have a 4K monitor that supports HDR, how do i avoid the screen from becoming gray when viewing HDR videos?

Anonymous
2022-12-08T05:45:17+00:00

I have tried the Windows HDR setting and i must say i am impressed when it works, which happens rarely. My intentions with HDR is to enjoy movies in brighter and more amazing colors, but there is a weird problem that ruins that fun.

The problem is as following: my 4K screen when viewing a HDR video on VLC player or Kodi will only stay in HDR mode if i play the video in windowed mode or hover my button over a clickable link in Google while the movie is in fullscreen. Why do i not use the included media players? They don't work with my videos which are MKV. I know for sure that the problem isn't within VLC or Kodi, especially not after trying all the available HDR options. This specific problem needs professional help.

Here is the "fix" to "enable" the HDR.

Before:

After:

The difference is little, mainly because i cannot capture the problem with a phone or camera. But compare the two and you can see how the image without the file explorer is more gray/dim than the image with the file explorer on it. Movies are way more gray/dim than what you see, it is far away from enjoyable.

Another weird "fix" is to watch a movie on one screen, click into google chrome and hover the mouse on a clickable link.

I feel like the HDR doesn't stay on unless i am actively moving my cursor on the media player tab or drag a file explorer on it. Whatever the real problem is, there must be a fix to this. If HDR are an option then it should work properly.

I hope you can help.

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Display and graphics

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  1. Anonymous
    2022-12-09T02:55:02+00:00

    Victor -

    Your drivers are here: https://www.acer.com/us-en/support?search=DG.E2...

    Acer is getting worse with making the drivers accessible. Clicking from the Model page here to Support: https://www.acer.com/us-en/predator/desktops-an..., if you then choose Drivers/Manuals it goes to Search page instead of delivering the drivers like every other manufacturer would. If I put the model number in the Search box, it doesn't find it. But the model launch page has a part number that returned the drivers in the top link. Bad, bad support.

    Most of the drivers are 2020-21 so I would install them all unless the device manager has a newer version. Then I would compare the display driver using the steps I gave you in my first post.

    Until these manufacturer's drivers are installed we haven't even begun to do the due diligence required to pronounce anyone responsible for this yet. The most basic thing we need to learn to maintain a PC is how to keep the latest manufacturer's drivers current. Windows drivers are rarely enough.

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  1. Anonymous
    2022-12-08T23:50:57+00:00

    What i have tested is multiple media players that have been said to support 4K HDR. I have checked Nvidia for any options to change, updated my PC to the current versions, including the Acer system. What i cannot do however, is finding drivers for my Acer Predator Orion 3000-620. I have searched on their official forum but there is no download for any drivers. And i do not feel safe trying to change codec or critical system or BIOS/UEFI firmware that might break my PC.

    I read all of your tips and i completed most of the ones in the links. Some were unneccesary as they explained what i had tried earlier. As of now, the only useful option is 1. Not use HDR at all or 2. Use HDR but limited by having to use the weird workaround. I am also certain that my PC has everything where it should be in terms of drivers and system as it is new since summer of 2021. I also upgraded to Windows 11 home sometime this year. And if it may help, the monitor i use for HDR is Acer ProDesigner PE270K 27". A very high end and expensive display, although it was released around 2018, it still performs rather well, which makes me think that it can't be the monitor.

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  2. Anonymous
    2022-12-08T20:18:50+00:00

    I understood the problem and gave you the only fixes available for exactly what you reported, not that HDR doesn't work which was not reported or addressed.

    I am not Microsoft, this is a peer forums where other users try to help you with your problems. Microsoft will not even see this here. If you'd like to address Microsoft you can file feedback in the Feedback Hub in the Windows Start menu.

    What about the fixes I gave which most relate to the problem you described, did you try them just to be sure? Did you assure you have the best drivers which I showed you how to do - why no feedback on any of the steps I wrote out for you?

    The workaround you described to make it work correctly sounds like there is corruption in the install. To try to find and fix this corruption, you can go over Windows 11 with this Performance Checklist:

    https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/for...

    Based on the results you post back I may have other suggestions if necessary.

    ______________________________________________

    Standard Disclaimer: There are links to non-Microsoft websites. The pages appear to be providing accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the sites that may advertise products frequently classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the sites before you decide to download and install it.

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  3. Anonymous
    2022-12-08T17:54:17+00:00

    My problem is not linked to HDR not working or being enabled, it's the fact that it works, but only if i do stupid workarounds. As shown in the photos, HDR will initiate when dragging the file explorer on the screen. It also works if i watch a video in full screen but hover my cursor over a clickeable link in google chrome. Why Microsoft never fix such problems but stand so proud having these non-functioning options are beyond me.

    No, the steps did not fix the problem. I have been trough multiple websites and tips, but to no avail. Changing settings in Nvidia and Windows did nothing, changing SDR and HDR brightnes did nothing, driver change did nothing and some more worthless tweaking of options that i reverted back because they had no impact at all.

    As stated in the post, HDR mode will somehow work if i don't enter fullscreen, or if i drag file explorer close to the screen with HDR. I can also make it work if i move my mouse actively on the screen in VLC media player, but that does not work with Kodi. Again, it feels like HDR will work, but the system doesn't keep it running unless it is in windowed mode or if the user is active on the HDR screen while viewing HDR content. I tested with other videos that doesn't have HDR, those worked without dim/gray screen, the colors stay normal. But it will not work with HDR content at all.

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  4. Anonymous
    2022-12-08T06:48:04+00:00

    Hi Victor -

    1. Try these fixes for grey or washed out HDR in Windows 11:

    https://computerinfobits.com/hdr-washed-out-win...

    https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support...

    https://www.reddit.com/r/htpc/comments/6re0f2/t...

    https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/hdr...

    1. The Display driver is so important here that merely updating it is sometimes not enough. So let's try everything possible to get it working correctly:

    First make sure you have updated the Display driver from the PC or Display adapter maker's Support Downloads web page for your exact model number, HP Serial Number or Dell Service Tag - from the sticker on the PC.

    While there check also for newer chipset, BIOS/UEFI firmware (very important), network, sound, USB3 and other drivers, comparing to the ones presently installed in Device Manager reached by right clicking the Start Menu.

    Remove the old driver using DDU https://www.wagnardsoft.com/content/ddu-guide-t... if necessary installing in Safe Mode with Networking (so you have internet), or Safe Mode, accessed by one of these methods: https://winaero.com/how-to-boot-windows-11-in-s...

    If this doesn't give you the latest or ideal driver for what you need, compare it to the driver offered by the Intel driver update Utility here: https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support...

    or the Nvidia GeForce scanner here: http://www.nvidia.com/Download/Scan.aspx?lang=e...

    or the AMD autodect utility here: http://support.amd.com/us/gpudownload/windows/P...

    For Display issues one fix that is working is to Roll back or Uninstall the Driver on the Display Device > Driver tab, restart PC to reinstall driver. You can also try older drivers in Device Manager > Display device > Driver tab > Update Driver > Browse > Let Me Pick.

    Then you will know you've tried everything in addition to Windows Update drivers.

    Adjust the screen resolution until it fits and looks best at Settings > System > Display.

    Then expedite all WIndows Updates including Optional to see if it pushes Monitor or other enabling drivers.

    Check for a monitor driver by expediting Windows Updates (including Optional Updates) in Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > Check for Updates to install all Updates until no more are offered.

    Feel free to ask back any questions. If you'll post back detailed results then I may know what to suggest next, if necessary.

    ______________________________________________

    Standard Disclaimer: There are links to non-Microsoft websites. The pages appear to be providing accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the sites that may advertise products frequently classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the sites before you decide to download and install it.

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