Monitor not turning on.

redboy1

Hi, I have an acer aspire, I came to turn it on today and the desktop fire's up but the monitor is staying on standby. I used it yesterday and it was fine, does anyone know what the problem may be? I've pulled all the cables and refitted but still the same.

WilliamO

One of the first things to do is test the computer with another VGA monitor plugged into it. It could be your monitor.....but then again it could be a Windows update that tripped the graphics drivers (updated drivers with bugs/incompatibility issues). Then again it could be a loose graphics card or loose connector.

You did not state your computer - laptop or desktop? You did not state the age of your computer and what operating system it is using.

Note to self: My prayer for tonight - PLEASE GOD, PLEASE give me the extra special mind reading powers needed to help people on this forum. THANKS GOD......Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.

redboy1

Ok, i have not put the model no. I will post that later. I have put that it is an acer aspire and that it is a desk top

I have tried the monitor and VGA cable on a different desktop and it is working, so its not either of them. Is it a case of opening the casing and try taking the graphics card out and replaceing?

I've never opened up a computer before :eek:

WilliamO

That's assuming it has a separate (plug in) graphics card and not a built-in one only (on the motherboard only). Saying that, many pcs these days have both.....in other words you should still get a picture on the screen when you take out the graphics card.

If you take out the graphics card (which is a simple matter of unplugging it) and do get a picture, denoting that your graphics card is indeed at fault, you should then uninstall any software/drivers belonging to the dead graphics card before installing a new graphics card and its software/drivers to avoid any clashes in the future.

The computer casing should be a simple case of unscrewing 2 or 4 screws only and then sliding off the side panel. Newer pcs sometimes have a quick release button.

So what OS is it using and how old is it? Does the pc have a model number?

WilliamO

redboy1

ACER ASPIRE E700-1E7I

INTEL CORE 2 QUAD Q6600

320GB SATA

2GB DDRII

DVD +/- RW, DOUBLE LAYER

RUNNING VISTA HOME PREMIUM

Not sure how old it is, atleast 5+ years. So when messing with the insides do i need to earth myself somehow? Aint got no anti static straps.

Also how do i uninstall drivers when i have no picture?

bod1467

Open it up. Touch a radiator (if one isn't nearby, move the PC to near one before you open it) with one hand and touch the metal frame of the PC with the other - that should be you earthed and the PC also.

GlynD

Don't miss the most basic point. Try another monitor even if you have to borrow one. The very same thing happened to me and it was the monitor which was at fault.

redboy1

Good idea with the rad

I tried the monitor on another pc and it works.

GlynD

redboy1 wrote: »

Good idea with the rad

I tried the monitor on another pc and it works.

At this point then my usefuness ends

TrickyWicky

Sounds like you graphics card may have given up the ghost OR your graphics driver has been corrupted / replaced with one that doesn't work.

You'll need to get into safe mode (using F8 when turning on the computer or might be F5) and then once into windows (which will look odd) you'll need to go into the hardware manager and uninstall the monitor.

At that point, reboot and windows should pick up the monitor and reinstall it.

redboy1

Ok, so i opened up the desktop today and took the gfx card out, hovered all the dust out and refitted. Still didnt work.
Ive now done a factory reset and it still does not work.
Ive got the monitor plugged into another vga port on the back of the desktop and im able to use the computer this way.

I take it this means the gfx card is knackered, the fan still spins on it though. Also if i go into programs there is nothing saying nvidea.

Should i start looking for a new graphics card?:(