windows 7 - How do I switch the input for my monitor from DVI to HDMI from my PC?

I have a PC monitor which has two ports, one for DVI and one for HDMI.

My PC is currently connected to the monitor through a DVI cable.

I have a Cable Tv Digibox which is also connected to the same monitor through an HDMI cable.

With both the PC and the Digibox turned on and connected to the monitor, I am only able to view the Cable Tv Digibox input on my monitor, if I remove the DVI cable connected to my PC. Or possibly, if my pc sleeps the monitor (not sure though).

Is there a way to control the monitor from my Windows 7 pc so that I can easily switch between the DVI input from my PC and the Cable Tv Digibox input from the HDMI?

It seems possible to connect the Digibox to my PC, instead of directly to the monitor, using the HDMI connector, since the PC also has an HDMI port.

The Sky Cable Digibox does not have a DVI port only HDMI.

Details:

• ACER P235H monitor (Two ports, DVI and HDMI)


• ACER Aspire AX5900 desktop pc (Two ports, DVI and HDMI)


• NVIDIA Geforce 210 graphic card


• Windows 7 Home Premium


• SKY Cable Tv Digbox (HDMI port only and VGA I think)

Notes: The PC is connected to the monitor using the DVI cable The Digibox is connected to the same monitor using the HDMI cable.

Answer

Unfortunately your model of monitor (Acer P235H) doesn't implement any control protocol - such as an IR remote or HDMI CEC, so you won't be able to influence it's behavior with both inputs connected. That said, it's sometimes possible to trigger a change of input when a source is disconnected. That is - if you were to disconnect your laptop you may find the monitor will automatically fallback to the other input.

Connecting the Digibox to your PC won't work either. Most graphics cards (including your Geforce 210) are only designed to output images over the ports they provide, rather than take input data. This means if you do connect the Digibox to the Geforce's HDMI port, you'll be connecting two outputs together which won't work the way you expect.

A solution to your problem would be to purchase an HDMI Switcher. You could then connect a single display (your monitor) and each of your inputs (PC and Digibox) and have the ability to switch between them with the push of a button, or with a remote - depending on the switcher you purchased.

Further to this, you could get a USB Infrared Transmitter which you could install on your PC to programmatically send commands to the HDMI switcher, provided it came with an IR remote.