Computer Monitor Problem

[Starman]

Hi,

Today something strange happened. My monitor screen frooze with the
screensaver, so I turned off computer and restarted and the monitor failed
to start up. The monitor's LCD light stayed on yellow rather than green. I
thought maybe my monitor had died so grabbed another monitor and restarted
computer and the same thing happened. The computer seems to run but not thre
monitor so I have no monitor so can't see anything on the screen. I can't
even access my system restore/recovery or my data. What has happened and can
it be repaired? Or has my computer crashed and now I have lost all my data?
Please advise as I'm really needing help.

Star

 

[JS]

Try another graphics card.

JS

 

[Nightowl]

Today something strange happened. My monitor screen frooze with the
screensaver, so I turned off computer and restarted and the monitor failed
to start up. The monitor's LCD light stayed on yellow rather than green. I
thought maybe my monitor had died so grabbed another monitor and restarted
computer and the same thing happened. The computer seems to run but not thre
monitor so I have no monitor so can't see anything on the screen. I can't
even access my system restore/recovery or my data. What has happened and can
it be repaired? Or has my computer crashed and now I have lost all my data?
Please advise as I'm really needing help.

Hello Star

If the same thing happens with another monitor, then it's not your
monitor that's the problem As JS says, it's likely your graphics
card, or could even be a faulty cable. Sometimes just reseating the card
(taking it out of its slot and putting it back in properly) is all
that's needed, but if not you probably need to buy a new one. If you
have on-board graphics, it could be the chip has failed. In that case
you can install a card instead.

If you have a techie friend, have them try a different video card for
you, or take the PC to a good repair shop. Don't worry, your data should
be fine

 

[Starman]

Thanks for the advice. I'm not too techy so can some one please tell me or
give me a link on how to identify the video card, remove it and re-install
it per your advice or should I just get a computer tech guy to do it for me?

If its something I can do myself with instructions, please let me know.

 

[Plato]

Today something strange happened. My monitor screen frooze with the
screensaver, so I turned off computer and restarted and the monitor failed
to start up. The monitor's LCD light stayed on yellow rather than green. I
thought maybe my monitor had died so grabbed another monitor and restarted
computer and the same thing happened. The computer seems to run but not thre
monitor so I have no monitor so can't see anything on the screen. I can't
even access my system restore/recovery or my data. What has happened and can
it be repaired? Or has my computer crashed and now I have lost all my data?

On semi older systems, it was very common for the AGP card to get
mis-seated. Try fixing that first.

 

[Nightowl]

Thanks for the advice. I'm not too techy so can some one please tell me or
give me a link on how to identify the video card, remove it and re-install
it per your advice or should I just get a computer tech guy to do it for me?

If its something I can do myself with instructions, please let me know.

Hi again Star

Yes, sure you can do it yourself, even if you've not done any work
inside your computer before. It's very easy -- just remember to be
fairly gentle and try, as far as possible, only to hold boards by the
edges or the bracket (the metal part that holds the socket where you
plug your monitor in.)

Depending on how new your computer is, the card may be an AGP type or a
PCIExpress one. These are different types of connector on the
motherboard which the card "plugs" into, but the procedure is exactly
the same. To help you identify the card, you can leave the monitor cable
connected to it while you open the case, then you'll easily see which
one it is.

Here's a little video that shows you how to install a graphics card:

I hope this helps: let us know how it goes

 

[Starman]

thanks for this, will follow instructions. Is the "don't use a green
screwdriver" a joke or is it real?

 

[Nightowl]

thanks for this, will follow instructions. Is the "don't use a green
screwdriver" a joke or is it real?

It's just a joke. I use a blue one

 

[Guest]

I am having the exact same problem. And I have tried all of the above
mentioned solutions. (new monitor, new graphics card, more memory, new hard
drive, unplugging power to devices in case the power supply was overloaded)

Computer boots, gets to the Windows Starting page, then monitor goes blank,
then black, then message no signal is displayed. Computer is still on, can
do a shut down (Windows, U, U) or put it to sleep with my keyboard.
Everything seems to work, just no monitor.
Tried MSCONFIG using diagnostic boot, using only boot.ini, same problem.

Amazingly it will boot into safe mode.
Tried booting with last known good configuration, nope.
Any help?

i

 

[JS]

Have you installed the latest video drivers for either your old or the new
graphics card?

JS