Your monitor is punting because it can't handle the signal.
Boot in safe mode by holding down the F8 key and selecting VGA mode. Then lower your default screen resolution. If it was working before at the old resolution, maybe try a new video cable.
Angel: I appreciate you guys looking out for Connor all summer. It's just—he's confused. He needs time. That's all. Fred: Right. Time, and some corporal punishment with a large heavy mallet. Not that I'm bitter.
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Tom Scola - Feb 05, 2008 7:50:29 am PST #4641 of 25501
Remember that the frontier of the Rebellion is everywhere. And even the smallest act of insurrection pushes our lines forward.
Sean K - Feb 05, 2008 8:00:06 am PST #4642 of 25501
You can't leave me to my own devices; my devices are Nap and Eat. -Zenkitty
Well, this has been a problem with two different monitors, each with its own cable, so if it is a hardware problem, I'd think it was the video card, but if it is the video card, why would it be sending any signal at all?
Anyway, I'll try safe mode and report back.
Sean K - Feb 05, 2008 8:10:42 am PST #4643 of 25501
You can't leave me to my own devices; my devices are Nap and Eat. -Zenkitty
Okay, new report:
I booted in safe mode and got all the way. I opened Display Properties to reset the resolution to the lowest setting (640x480), but it was already there. So I restarted the computer and sure enough, as soon as the cylon screen had done its thing and the blue "Windows is starting up" screen was supposed to show up, the monitor shut off as I listened to the hard drive continue loading Windows.
Jon B. - Feb 05, 2008 8:12:10 am PST #4644 of 25501
A turkey in every toilet -- only in America!
Did you also check the refresh rate?
Sean K - Feb 05, 2008 8:16:34 am PST #4645 of 25501
You can't leave me to my own devices; my devices are Nap and Eat. -Zenkitty
No. Not sure what it should be. The two monitors this has been a problem with are an off brand LCD and a huge 17 inch NEC CRT.
Tom Scola - Feb 05, 2008 8:17:51 am PST #4646 of 25501
Remember that the frontier of the Rebellion is everywhere. And even the smallest act of insurrection pushes our lines forward.
Don't use anything other than 60Hz for LCD.
Sean K - Feb 05, 2008 8:22:46 am PST #4647 of 25501
You can't leave me to my own devices; my devices are Nap and Eat. -Zenkitty
Huh, okay... I've booted back in safe mode, and this time there's an odd quiet thrumming or grinding coming from the tower every half second or so. It sounds like a bad fan. I'm now trying to remember if there's a fan on the graphics card that's maybe clogged with dust, and in safe mode it's not heating up enough to crap out, but in regular mode it overheats as soon as it tries to send full signal to the monitor.
Don't know if that's even possible, but it's the thought that just occurred to me.
Sean K - Feb 05, 2008 8:28:19 am PST #4648 of 25501
You can't leave me to my own devices; my devices are Nap and Eat. -Zenkitty
Also, the only refresh rate choice I'm getting is "hardware default," so the computer seems to be letting the monitor set the rate.
Sean K - Feb 05, 2008 8:34:59 am PST #4649 of 25501
You can't leave me to my own devices; my devices are Nap and Eat. -Zenkitty
New update: I disabled all graphics hardware acceleration, and even dropped the color to 16 bit, just for shits and grins.
Same shut down.
Ginger - Feb 05, 2008 8:40:44 am PST #4650 of 25501
"It didn't taste good. It tasted soooo horrible. It tasted like....a vodka martini." - Matilda
Does anyone have any thoughts on Toshiba laptops? What about Lenovo? My older neighbor is looking, and I don't want to steer her wrong. The prices and specs are essentially the same.