Hi, folks. So, I recently moved and, now that we're settled back into the new place and everything is hooked back up again, my Wii decided to start giving me problems.

The issue: My Wii is hooked up to an HDTV via component cables. The Wii will now only display picture in black-and-white and, in the "Screen" options, it is set to Standard Definition TV (480i) and will not allow me to change it to HDTV (480p) because the box is grayed out and will not interact.

The hardware: This is the same Wii, same TV and same cables that were configured together before the move, so none of the hardware has changed. It is any "early-version" Wii (i.e. the Gamecube-compatible version). The TV is an LG 32-inch LCD. Using the same set-up previously, everything worked fine in-color and set to 480p.

The troubleshooting: I feel I've eliminated the TV as an issue. It has 2 component inputs. Other devices hooked up via component to either input work fine. The Wii gives the same issues regardless of which input it is connected to. I also feel I've mostly eliminated the cable as the problem. It is a MadCatz multi-cable (Wii/PS2/360) and the PS2 displays properly and in progressive scan using the same cable connected to either input on the TV. I've tried hard and soft rebooting of the Wii. I've disconnected and reconnected power to the Wii. I've plugged and unplugged the component cable at both ends while the Wii was off and while it was on. Just for kicks, I tried to run a system update for the Wii but it confirmed that I have the latest version installed.

The question: So, given all of this, does anyone have any other suggestions of things I should try before I throw in the towel and declare this Wii dead? If it is just a malfunction of the Wii, does anyone know if it's fixable by someone as non-talented as I? Do you think there's any chance to save this Wii, or do I just go buy another one? Obviously, buying a Wii isn't the end of the world but I'm still not looking forward the spending the time combing around for another Gamecube-compatible one.

Thoughts? Suggestions? Sympathies?

Thanks for stopping by!

It's like the Wii thinks you have composite cables in instead of component? Not sure why that would be. I doubt it's broken though... hmmm...

If you know anyone else with a Wii, try theirs just to rule everything out. You checked the inputs, but are they in the correct ports (i.e. you didn't get the Pb mixed with the Y or used Pr as the right audio/vice versa?)

Also, some TVs will look for a S-Video feed instead of component etc.

It sounds like you already did all this, but double check the inputs of the wires and then manually go through every input feed on your TV. I don't think anything is wrong with any equipment, just the TV and Wii are not communicating properly, likely due to settings being reset on either the TV or Wii while moving.

All else fails, I do have a Wii-specific component to HDMI converter. Not sure what all that can do to help, but just throwing that option out there.

I know you said you feel you eliminated the cable as the culprit...but the cable is the culprit. You're getting a B&W image only in 480i, so the HDTV is not getting a signal through the Red/Blue lines. The break is probably on or near the Wii connector since you said the PS2 connector works fine.

I had a similar issue with my Wii way back when and troubleshot it down (as far as I was able/willing) to the Wii being unwilling to share ports with any other console. I had everything plugged up via component through a component equipped system selector and everything else worked fine. However, when the Wii came up, it would only display in black and white (as you described) but would also have a very poor picture quality, as if the signal were coming in over a pair of rabbit ear antennas.

You don't say one way or the other in your original post, but if you're plugging the Wii into the TV via any sort of extension or system selector, try connecting it directly. If it is connected directly, try doing so in either/both set of ports, but making sure that the Wii is the only system hooked up to the TV at that time. I found that my Wii would work just fine via the component cables, but only if it was connected directly to the TV; as that set only had a single component input, that was a deal breaker and I switched it over to composite which worked just fine (but still not through the system selector).

Hope you get his worked out!

Problem solved!

Thank you for pointing this out as it ultimately led me to the solution.

And as another demonstration that sometimes it takes a half-dozen monkeys to screw in a light bulb...you guys will probably be amused at how simple the solution was.

Turns out, there's a tiny switch on the input splitter casing with "HDTV/TV" settings. It must have nudged out of place during the move. I switched it back to HDTV and now it works fine.

*Rubs hands together and cackles* Now, let's see if there's any other idiotically simple problems I can create! Mwah ha ha ha!

Seriously though, thanks all for lending me the extra brain-power to realize that I'm a moron.

Cheers!

Don't feel bad, you don't know how many times this has happened to me as well. lol

Glad it's something simple where you didn't have to put any money into it!  


 

Nice... I did the exact same thing with my Xbox 360 a while back (although it just didn't work instead of giving black and white). Glad you got it working.