Dead monitor?

The friendliest place on the web for anyone with an RV or an interest in RVing!
If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.

RedT

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 12, 2008
Posts
563
Location
Glendale, AZ
PC monitor problem - I think. Please read the entire problem statement before responding.
When I turn on the PC in the morning, I can hear it go through the POST, and hear the Windows 7 "tune" as Windows boots. BUT the monitor screen is blank - it never shows an image during the boot process. After a wait period of 5 - 10 minutes, I turn the PC off, wait for a 5 minute period and turn back on. Now, the monitor displays as normal! 
(On boot-up, it displays the Microsoft message that the PC was shut down improperly, and displays the option to boot with command prompt, Safe Mode or Normal. I select normal, and Windows boots normal.) This tells me that the computer did initially boot, but the monitor just doesn't display anything.

Thinking an update may have caused the problem, I have selected a restore date 4 months back, but that did not resolve the problem. Updating drivers has not fixed the problem.

I have connected another smaller monitor to the PC and all operates as normal. I have connected the monitor to the laptop and it responds the same as with the PC which makes me think that the problem is monitor-not PC.

This monitor is 4 years old, worked for 3 years without a glitch on a Windows XP computer, and has operated flawlessly on my new Dell PC for approximately one year. It has just now started to "act up". Specifics:
Dell XPS 8300 PC
i7-2600 processor
16 GB RAM
Win 7 Home Premium
AMD RADEON HD6450 Display Adapter
ViewSonic VX2235WM Monitor

It appears to be an intermittent problem, but I don't know if I should just replace the monitor or....?


 
RedT said:
I have connected another smaller monitor to the PC and all operates as normal. I have connected the monitor to the laptop and it responds the same as with the PC which makes me think that the problem is monitor-not PC.

Other than using a different cable and checking out the brightness/contrast adjustments, it appears the nearest dumpster may be in order.  :(

Had the same thing happen last night with an older monitor. Doing the same thing, a second monitor also failed. So I changed the video board, and it has been working OK since. Nice that a decent board can be had for around $25. Also, nice flat screen monitors are not that expensive these days either.
 
If there are no errors in the event log, I suspect the power supply is not sufficient for the graphics card.  The ATI site recommends a 400w minimum power supply for that card (500w if in crossfire mode).  I "assume" the card was added as an optional purchase to the computer or later?  The computer comes with on board video as well and that is why I am assuming the card was added later.

If the graphics adapter is specifying a 400w power supply, there isn't much left for the i7 CPU, system board, fans, and hard drive(s) since the stock power supply in your model Dell is 430w.

I also suspect the power supply since you have not been able to isolate the issue by changing drivers and I "assume" you have already examined the application and system event logs through administrative tools in the control panel.  Frequently a weak power supply leaves no trail of errors unless you are running UPS software to log such events.

The above noted, it is also possible the fan on your graphics adapter (assuming it has a fan), may not be turning?

The only way to really know would be to put the questionable monitor on a different computer and see if the problem follows the display.

There may also be a resolution setting that is causing this behavior.  Have you tried safe mode?

You might alo want to check the Dell site for a system board update (BIOS) or system board drivers (not video), because there are many different details of the system board that can cause inconsistencies on boot.  You could also remove the graphics card and use the on board video port to isolate the card from the diagnostic equation.
 
tnthub said:
The only way to really know would be to put the questionable monitor on a different computer and see if the problem follows the display.

The OP wrote: I have connected another smaller monitor to the PC and all operates as normal. I have connected the monitor to the laptop and it responds the same as with the PC which makes me think that the problem is monitor-not PC.

 
Bob Buchanan said:

The OP wrote: I have connected another smaller monitor to the PC and all operates as normal. I have connected the monitor to the laptop and it responds the same as with the PC which makes me think that the problem is monitor-not PC.

I really should have stopped after three cups of coffee this morning...  Re-doing my office and sometimes I should just sit back and think before I go all hyper tech...
 
Thanks for the tips. The PC came with the graphics on the board - I'm not using a separate video card. I will keep trying to sort this out before rushing out and buying a new monitor. This morning it took 4 start attempts before the monitor "woke up" and displayed any images! I did change the video cable, the monitor and PC both support analog and digital inputs to the monitor. I have tried both with the same result, so I can feel confident it is not a video cable or connection.

The odd part of this is that I can shut down the computer (completely removing power) during the day for any period of time and it will boot up normal! I have left the monitor and PC powered over night, and on boot up, no monitor image. So, I'm thinking it's not a power problem.

(Of course, if it was an easy fix, we wouldn't be talking about it here!)  :-[

 
RedT said:
PC monitor problem - I think.

I have connected another smaller monitor to the PC and all operates as normal. I have connected the monitor to the laptop and it responds the same as with the PC which makes me think that the problem is monitor-not PC.

You might do a Google search on your monitor name and model number + repair kit. Your problem sounds like one or more bad electrolytic capacitor(s). Specific repair kits are available for many monitors for a few dollars. If you are handy with a soldering iron, you can repair your monitor.

Richard
 

Latest posts

Forum statistics

Threads
134,554
Posts
1,431,386
Members
140,126
Latest member
The Flying Waltini
Back
Top Bottom