Now that I'm connected 100% component, is it as simple as making the HDMI to DVI connection from the 990 to the DVD or are there other connections needed?

The front OSD of the 990 isn't flashing like before so atleast some handshaking is taking place. I've recycled the projector several times and still no picture. I've made sure the 990 is set to DVI 1. Should I recycle both the 990 and projector? Do I still need a component connection tween the 990 and DVD?

Sorry for firing off 1000 questions but I'm right there...I know it.

Sorry, I am a little confused. This statement
seems to contradict this question
What type of connection do you have between your DVD and the 990? If you are connected via component, you should change the video input for the DVD via the 990's OSD menu from DVI to the appropriate component input.

I have an Oppo DVD player with HDMI output and all I did was use a HDMI/DVI adapter to connect it to the 990, if that's what you were asking. It works fine, you just need to connect audio separately using an optical cable and ensure to assign the proper video and audio settings thru the 990's OSD menu.

The front "digital" indicator on the 990 relates to audio only, not video. When you say "100% component" does that mean you've gone to component video across the board or am I misunderstanding? It sounds like you've connected the DVD player to the 990's DVI1 input, in which case you need to have the 990's DVI out connected to your projector's HDMI input and have the projector set to that input. If you have component run to the projector, then you need to run component from the DVD to the 990 and set the 990's DVD input to that component input (probably "Comp-DVD").

Sorry for the confusion....yes I'm connected component video across the board but I want to change the DVD to 990 connection to HDMI to DVI. I actually made the change but I'm only getting audio.

The 990 cannot output digital video sources (DVI) through the component video output. When using the component output from the 990, you need to provide an analog video input of some sort - and in the case of a DVD player, that analog video input should be component.

While we can expect future surround processors to transcode analog video inputs (composite, s-video, and component) to digital video outputs (HDMI) - something that the 990 does not support - copy protection issues will prevent manufacturers from ever offering the ability to steer digital video inputs to analog video outputs.

Gonk, because of the HDCP problem between the projector (HDMI) and the 990, I had to go component across the board. But I figured at the least I could go HDMI Out of the DVD to the 990 DVI In....but are you saying the only way for the 990 to output this information is to make a DVI Out (990) connection back to the projector? If so, there's where I'm dead in the water because my projector won't establish the handshake with the 990.

Am I finally getting it? :-(

I've also noticed with the component connection from the DVD to the 990; when watching movies or concerts I do not have the option of selecting Dolby Digital EX, Pro Logic IIx, DTS-ES or Neo:6. Are these features not applicable through a component connection. I noticed they were available when connected with the HDMI to DVI cable.

Not only is it the 990 limiting you, it is the copy protection inherent in the HDMI standard holding you back - a receiver or surround processor can't take a DVI or HDMI input and output an analog video signal. To use the 990's component switching, you must run component from the DVD player to the 990.

Now, you could run HDMI from the DVD player to the projector and also have component from the 990 to the projector for the other sources. You'd just need to change the projector's input when you watch DVD's.

The audio formats you mention (Dolby EX, PLIIx, DTS ES, and NEO:6) are completely unrelated to the video connection you make. The digital audio cable (coaxial or optical, doesn't matter which) passes the data from DVD to 990, and the surround modes available to you depend on the audio format being played. For example, Dolby Digital 5.1 (what most movies use) would offer the choices Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital + Pro Logic IIx (either Music or Movie), and Dolby Digital EX. A Dolby EX source that includes the EX flag will force the processor to use Dolby EX, and if you change the mode manually to Dolby Digital or Dolby + Pro Logic IIx it will change back if you do anything to interrupt the bitstream (skip chapters, go into and back out of the menu, ...). With a DTS 5.1 track, you can use DTS, DTS+NEO:6, or DTS+Pro Logic IIx (again, Movie or Music). I've got a lot of information on this both here and here (with a lot of repetition between the two). All of this assumes that you are delivering the raw bitstream from the DVD, which you probably are. It is possible to have your player set to convert everything to PCM, though, which is not what you want to do.

WOW! Man that helps a bunch! Thanks.

Well, off to make a few changes before I watch LOTR's, The Two Towers (for the first time)....what...I've been busy. :-)

Thanks again Gonk...Outlaw needs to send you a check!