strange problems with graphics card/monitor

[John Lord]

My system as suddenly developed a strange problem! Any advice solutions
would be appreciated. Everything was running fine until I got a Creative
Audigy 2 ZS Card. Upon installing the card everything still seemed fine
until I rebooted. When the Windows XP logo and the blue loading bar appear
on boot up, half way through the signal to my monitor is lost? "No signal
input" appears?

Thinking it was some sort of clash between my Nvidia GeForce 6600GT graphics
card and the newly installed sound card. I uninstalled the sound card and
tried different PCI slots but the problem. I then completely removed the
sound card thinking everything would go back to how it was before installing
it. But the problem of losing the signal to my monitor on boot up remained?
I've even tried a long over due reinstall of Windows XP, with a complete
format and didn't install my sound card, again thinking I would get back to
where I could boot up without losing the signal to my monitor, but again the
problem remains.

I have found a way round, if I leave my monitor unplugged whilst Windows
gets to the log in screen, I can turn my monitor on and everything seems ok,
apart from if I try to change resolution or screen refresh I again lose the
signal to my monitor. Also if I use the video output from my graphics card
to play games on my TV, then again I lose the signal to my monitor, and the
work around doesn't work on reboot, the only way I can get a signal to my
monitor is to boot in safe mode, uninstall drivers, reboot and reinstall
nvidia drivers!?

I've tried goggling for a solution without success; can anyone help, or at
least put their finger on what the problem could be?

My system is;

Intel Pentium 4 3.00GHz

PM800-M2 Motherboard

Windows XP Home (SP2) with all updates

1GB DDR SDRAM

Maxtor 160GB Hard Disk

Nvidia GeForce 6600 GT (78.01 driver)

Creative SB Audigy 2 ZS (WDM) (5.12.1.442 driver)

Microscan i700 Pro TFT LCD monitor (can't install driver!)

Hope this is enough info.

Thanks in advance

John

 

[Cari \(MS-MVP\)]

Possibly an insufficient Power Supply Unit.

 

[John Lord]

Thanks Cari, that's what I thought at first so stripped down PC, removing
sounds card, dvd drive, second hard drive etc but still no sucess!! it's
driving me insane!

any more thoughts very welcome

John

 

[Bob I]

Video card have DVI and Analog outputs? Maybe it's switching. Does the
monitor have both type of inputs? can it be remotly switched?

 

[John Lord]

Hi Bob,

No, my monitor only as analog input. As a last resort I'm thinking of
updating my bios, a thing i don't relish cause on my last PC I made a bit of
a mess of it but was luckily enough to get a replacement bios chip. I've
tried everything else so if this doesn't work it must be a hardware problem
with the graphics card?

Thanks

John

 

[Bob I]

My take on this, is that somehow you have "set the video" to use the DVI
connector. So it switched OFF the analog port when it loads the
operating system. My fix would be to remove it in safe mode and then
reinstall the video card.

 

[John Lord]

I shall give it a go Bob, thanks. So if I boot in safe mode, uninstall the
nvidia drivers then remove the card? Should I then reboot back in to safe
mode when i reinstall or normal boot up?

Thanks

John

 

[Bob I]

It should come up in VGA in Normal mode after you remove and reboot.
Then install as per instructions.

 

[John Lord]

Thanks Bob, I need my PC for work this week, so don't want to risk anything
that could make the problem worse, but will give it a go this weekend and
let you know.

Thanks for your help

John