HP EliteBook 860 G11 type-c not sending video to external monitor

[Vinx_Carbone]

Hi all,

got a new HP EliteBook 860 G11 since few days and I sadly discovered that the USB TYPE-C does NOT work to send video to a type-c external monitor.

This monitor (Arzopa A1) works perfectly with other HP (an Envy), Acer (Travelmate) and even Samsung mobile phones! But with my EliteBook 860 G11 it does just get powered up but nothing else. If I power the Arzopa A1 with an external charger, the NB does recognize there is an external monitor but does NOT send video.

I've tried to use a docking station connected to the TYPE-C (I tried them all!) and then connect the Arzopa A1 monitor to the docking station (using an HDMI cable) and this works fine, as well as if I connect the Arzopa A1 with HDMI (but I use TWO external monitors so I DO NEED the type-c).

Funny thing: the HP EliteBook at first windows start upgraded the firmware bios of the notebook and I've now 01.04.01 ... which is NOT THE LASTEST seeing in HP driver portal, as the lastest is the 01.04.00 .... I did NOT try to downgrade yet. In the while I contacted many times the HP support which asked me to do tons of trials which were useless:

- restore bios factory default settings

- press 15-30sec the power button while NB is off

- tried to press Windows+V with power button and then keeping it but nothing happened

Do you have any mistic solution to suggest? 

I'm again with HP on the phone...

Thanks

[ShowStopper63]

I am having the same issue with my new HP Elitebook 640 14 inch g11 Notebook PC. For me, when I first connect it shows the desktop as expected, then it simply says no signal and goes to power save mode. I have the Arzopa Z1FC. The monitor works with my older HP Elitebook (Win 10) and my iPad Air. It seems like a handshake issue, where it sends the signal, but stops after a very brief moment. Did HP support give you any advice that worked?

[blomb]

My company purchased HP Elitebook 860 G11's for our push to Windows 11. But every single one of them does not share display via USB-C out-of-the-box. Is there an update to fix this? 

[Vinx_Carbone]

Hi all, I'm in touch with HP since 10+ days. We tried almost everything but nothing.

Here the details:

- tried to upgrade bios to 01.04.01 (got automatically first time the NB was online) and then rolled back to 01.04.00 (got from official HP website)

- tried to change type-c port in both notebook and Arzpopa A1 and cable

- tried to update Intel video driver

- tried to uninstall video card and reinstall from scratch video driver from Microsoft and then updated again 

- tried to change external monitor frequency and resolution (with only type-c cable I don't even see it, I've to power it on on its own to see in devices and manage this)

Last thing I'll try is with an HP tech guy today, but I'm more than sure that it's a HP EliteBook limit/bug.

Consider that this external monitor has been user with other devices: Acer, Asus and even my Samsung mobile. All fine 100% with type-c cable only. Right now I'm using it with a port-converter type-c=>hdmi but I've to power it on its own. For a heavy-mobility-guy like me it's a disaster having multiple stuff to bring rather that 1 cable only...

I've tried with OTHER NB from HP, both EliteBook, a G4 and a G11, and even those two DO NOT WORK.

What else can I try, aside shouting out loud against HP ?
Support is great, I've to honestly say they are not leaving me alone, but solution is yet to come...

[Vinx_Carbone]

Talked yesterday with an HP Tech guy, tried to update again all drivers for USB-C (4-5 of them, reinstalling on top and rebooting) but nothing changed.

The more I investigate, the more I can confirm that is an HP BUG on the EliteBook series (new as well as older ones!) having continuous feedback of identical issues from friends, customers we sold or suggested HP EliteBook to or people on the socials in which I've asked if anybody got this issue.

I can only look forward for an intervention at driver level from HP 3rd+ tech support level

[rasauce]

Our organization is experiencing the same problem. We just purchased 150 of these units and do desk setups w/o docks, so big issue for us and preventing us from rolling out this investment and getting refreshes completed for the move to Windows 11.

[Blakec123]

All,

I may have a solution to some peoples problems with Video over USB C on the G11 series laptops. 

I have a KD-E20 AV Access KVM that is absolutely great.  It works with a single USB C or Thunderbolt cable to give me a huge number of ports (audio / Video / USB)  plus charging.  It switches near flawlessly.  

It works with my Lenovo L13 G5 (Win 11) and my 6 year old Elitebook 830 G6 (Win 10) out of the box plug and play.  However, when I tried my brand new Elitebook 830 G11 (Win 11) it won't switch video.  Everything else seems to work great (Audio / USB).  I am using an HP 2K HDMI monitor or an ACER 2K HDMI Monitor and both exhibit the loss of video.  So Kevin at AV Access did some good troubleshooting and it turns out the G11 / KVM combo appears to be susceptible to the USB C PD switching noise. 

The KD-E20 is somewhat unique in that you connect two laptop USB C cables and 2 USB C PD chargers and it routes the PD through to the computer to charge on the same cable that is doing the data / video transfer.  So unplugging the USB C PD charger from the KVM and plugging it into the second USB C / Thunderbolt port solved the problem and the KVM magically switches video beautifully.  I have tried 6 different USB C chargers and none fix the issue.  I am going to try different cables, Ferrite beads and different USB C chargers and if I find a magic bullet I'll post it on here. 

Beware - this may not be a problem a driver can fix.  I spent 8 solid hours methodically swapping one thing at a time poking around in the registry and swapping endless cables, monitors etc. 

Kevin put me onto the fix - and now I have a workaround in the short term although I hate having to plug in two cables.

For those of you running a single port expander / dock that supplies power over the USB C cable - not sure how easy a fix you are going to have unless ferrite beads around the cable or a different cable magically fix the issue.  I'm working on it but if you have a line into HP's tech support you might want to point out this post to them as I was convinced it was a cable or driver issue but turns out it is switching noise of some sort from the USB PD!  (my current working theory anyway).

Best Regards, 

Blake

[Vinx_Carbone]

Thanks Blake,

I can confirm that eventually a dockingstation or external charger solved to me as well. The matter is that the USB TYPE C in the Elitebook is NOT WORKING PROPERLY. 

Consider that having extra hardware means:

- I needed to spend more money to get a docking station (or as an alternative, a charger with its cable)

- moreover, I need to bring much more stuff with me and being a remote worker any extra is a pain... I used with my previous notebook to go around with just NB+MONITOR+1 CABLE USB TYPE C+NB CHARGER... it's not flawless.

It's a GREAT PITY, seriously. And I don't understand WHY it doesn't get fixed by HP.

Thanks for sharing

Vinx

[Blakec123]

Hi Vinx, 

Agreed!  I am mobile too and one more bulky box is the last think I want to add to my bag.

It is probably a hardware change necessary to the motherboard adding some filtering components or perhaps add a buffer/driver.  The components are very low cost, however making the change to the motherboard isn't.  Perhaps a running change will be instituted - but it doesn't help us.  I am going to try a product from iFi meant for audio filtering.  Turns out the pro audio guys want to keep USB noise out of their amplifiers and have built some pretty sweet active filtering tech into their unit.  The question is have they put it on the EDID lines for the monitor communication or just the power and data lines.  The other question is where the noise is coming from (data / power / ground / EDID) and did iFi choose to filter that.

I also have some better / shorter cables coming - but I am afraid that will only be more efficient at transporting the noise without some type of filtering.  I will also try sliding a large ferrite bead around the cable like they used to do in the old days.  I can't wait to get to my lab to grab some parts to try.  I'll report back at the end of the week.

I'll email iFi and see what they think of our use case.  It is 89$ but it is relatively small and light.

Best Regards, 

Blake

[Vinx_Carbone]

Interesting question: where does the noise come from and how to solve it... 

No idea, however I've tried many converters/cables/docking station in betwen EliteBook and the Arzopa monitor (to have something filtering the USB Type C, like a man-in-the-middle) and the issue keeps showing...

Afaik and ... as far as I can guess, it might be even a DRIVER issue notebook-side as weird things happens sometimes (monitor recognized but nothing showing).