Monitor Problem - any ideas?

honey

Hi all,

I just wondered if anyone has encountered this problem and/or has any advice.

The problem is that my computer starts up fine but the monitor doesn't, it's as if the monitor isn't connected. I then switch to the other port on the computer and it works.

Next time the computer is switched on the same thing happens so I then switch back to original port.

So I know there isn't a problem with either ports, I know that when the monitor is working it's fine - no glitching/freezing or anything and VERY occasionally it will start up without having to pull the computer out and switch the lead over.

So any ideas anyone? I'd appreciate any help!

Thanks in advance
honey x

Basil1234

when you do get it working you tried updating to the latest video driver software package for your cards at all? this might help

Alexander43

Do you have a graphics card in the pc?

honey

Hi, thanks for your replies

When the screen is connected to the bottom port the device manager lists display adapter as ATI Radeon HD 3400 Series and when connected to the top port its NVIDIA Geforce 7050/nForce 620i

So does this mean 2 graphics cards?

I have tried updating, Basil1234, but it says drivers are up to date. I can always get it working by switching ports but it's not ideal and obviously somethings not right. I have tried googling the problem but can't find anything.

AHAR

Sounds like you've got built-in graphics output on the motherboard and also a separate video card ?
In the BIOS you should be able to disable the onboard graphics and/or set the separate card as the primary graphics adapter.

Basil1234

i thought you might have had beening running a pair of sli cards and the confusion was in the card software drivers usually a fresh download of the correct software and reinstall would sort this issue out but ahar sound like a possiable could solution could be as well without knowing what you have in your computer makes it much more awkward. usually if you onboard is ati you would then have a seperate card of ati. i have never heard of mixing them before as far as i am aware this would cause conflict as the motherboard usually is only ever designed to run ati or nvidia only as a rule is to do with chip sets on the board. i sure busenbust will comfirm what i have said is correct here i hope :rotfl:

honey

Thanks AHAR, I'll look in to setting the separate card as primary and see if that helps.

Basil1234, thank you for taking the time to reply again. You've kind of lost me though! I haven't got a very good understanding of computers at all and what I have got is self-taught using the net I haven't added anything to the computer, it's how I bought it.

Basil1234

honey wrote: »

Thanks AHAR, I'll look in to setting the separate card as primary and see if that helps.

Basil1234, thank you for taking the time to reply again. You've kind of lost me though! I haven't got a very good understanding of computers at all and what I have got is self-taught using the net I haven't added anything to the computer, it's how I bought it.

from a shop or someone? if a shop got a link to the model at all?

Basil1234

right honey just gone off and done some checking the motherboard is usually assoicated with one graphics manufacturer either ati or nvidia. the fact you have got both suggests to me a c**k up. right you motherboard will have onboard graphics you need to find out which from the device manager and by the sound of it it has a separate graphics card which they the shop 'have fitted the wrong manufacturer' :rotfl:
my advice for what its is worth take the damn thing back to them and tell them to fit the correct card for the motherboard either a genuine mistake or they don't know what they are upto which is sounding more like the case.:D

honey

We bought it from Comet a little over 12 months ago. It's an Acer Aspire M1641, I've had a look and they haven't got it anymore (I guess computers move on a lot in 12 months)

Wow, so the ati and nvidia shouldn't really be mixed then?! I'm not really sure how to find out which is the onboard graphics.

At the moment it's connected to the port near the bottom of the tower and in the device manager it's showing ATI Radeon HD 3400 Series alongside Display Adaptors.

There is no sign of the NVIDIA Geforce 7050/nForce 620i until I restart the computer, the screen will say no lead and then go black and then I'll change to the top port and NVIDIA will then be listed instead of the ATI alongside Display Adaptors

Just wanted to add, thank you for looking into it for me

Edit, I've just restarted the computer and it is just as I'd described above, had to change ports and no sign of ATI now.

Richie-from-the-Boro

What's happening is that your BIOS is finding two different video chips and because one or the other is not set as ' default ' it's telling windows you have two.

Put the monitor cable in the bottom port
Go into the BIOS and select the PCIe as the default that's the ATI Radeon HD 3400
The BIOS will then tell windows that you only have an ATI Radeon HD 3400
Then the on board nVIDEA chipset should disappear from windows altogether