Cannot connect to an external monitor using USB-C to Displayport connection - Envy 13 ad060

[jeanrothen]

Envy 13 ad060

8GB RAM

no HDMI ports

2 USB-C ports

I'm trying to connect to a single monitor/TV (tried several brands) using a USB-C to Displayport + Displayport to HDMI connectors but without success.

There's no HDMI port on my laptop and I've also tried different brands of connectors without success. Both TV and monitor show there's no signal and the laptop cannot identify them.

Is there any suggested / supported by HP?

Best regards

Jean

[David_J_W]

The information I'm seeing on this system is unclear. The specification makes no mention of DisplayPort alternate mode support on the USB-C ports, which often means this support is missing. However, the Maintenance and Service Guide states both USB-C ports have DisplayPort support. It would be unusual for a notebook to have no means of connecting an external monitor, so the support most likely exists.

The issue might be that the external monitor is not enabled. With the monitor connected and turned on, try the action key (on the function keys at the top of the keyboard) that looks like a rectangle with a line either side - it looks like it might be F4 from your User Guide. If that doesn't work, try Fn and that key.

If things still are not working or the system is not operating as you would wish, try Windows+P, then choose either Extend (if you want two separate displays) or Duplicate (if you want the same picture on both displays).

Does any of this help?

[jeanrothen]

 Hi David,

Thanks for trying. Actually, I've done all of these tests before with 2 different monitors and TVs. They always behave as the notebook was not connected at all.

Both usb-c ports are working 'cause I can connect my mobile and even charge.

The cables are working on different devices and I even tried to sneak the Bios but there was nothing related to enable/disable DisplayPort functionality.

It's strange to consider a notebook without that out of the box and now even with the cables, something is missing.

[David_J_W · Accepted solution]

There wouldn't be anything to enable for DisplayPort alternate mode - it happens via some fairly low level functionality that isn't in your control. There is a way of reading out the capabilities of the USB-C ports, but it's really rather awkward as it involve using a rather obscure Microsoft UCSI debugging tool and decoding the output manually using a pile of specification documents. If you want to try this, follow the instructions here (click) and execute the command:

ucsicontrol Send 100 0100000c

then post the result.

What this command does is execute a UCSI command to fetch the alternate mode capabilities of connector (port) 1.

The fact your mobile will charge is testing the wrong capabilities of the USB-C ports - power delivery and perhaps also data.

[jeanrothen]

It may sound a little stupid but, I just went to the store I purchased the laptop and tested all available cables and connectors there. The Sandstrom USB-c to HDMI worked like a charm  - just like the others should IMHO. 

Maybe I should have done that since the first 2 or 3 frustrated tests.

David, thanks a lot for the advice. Your suggestion gave me the light to find the solution.

Best regards!

Jean

[Paul1234567]

Hi David, I would like to run the fetch alt mode command on my  HP Pavilion 13-an0031wm.  I suspect HP's specifications page is incorrect and my computer does not have usb-c with displayport. 

Do I have to change the ucsicontrol send command at all? 

I am trying to understand the command but I cannot figure out how you determined the hex parameters (CommandHighPart, CommandLowPart) to be 100 and 0100000c.