Samsung 204B

David_Aston

Hello Guys
It appears to me that notwithstanding the impossibility of taking updates on my Vista enabled Dell, the blank screen start up problems could be relatively cheaply fixed, if I purchased a cheapish new monitor.
However, this monitor connects to the Dell via - 15 pin HD D-Sub (HD 15) 24+1 pin digital DVI. Sorry, I have just copied that from a web page with the monitor specs.
Would a modern monitor fit, or would I have to see if I have HDMI on the back of the Dell?
OK, I have just envisioned you guys saying, "For goodness sake, don't be so bone idle, move the PC and have a look!!!"
So, no HDMI. There seems to be one spare socket which is identical to the current connector, and at the top, a blue coloured socket which seems to be a 15 pin version of the current one.
Am I out of luck do you think?

Carrot007

I am really confused as to what you are actually asking here.

Getting a new monitor for a old PC?

Cheap monitors can still often come in VGA only (even if that makes no sense as it adds extra circuitry!).

DVI is basically HDMI without sound so if you gert something with HDMI only you can get a simple lead with HDMI on one end and DVI on the other. (certainly preferable to using VGA).

David_Aston

Sorry Carrot, yes I was asking about a new monitor to plug into an eight, nine year old Dell.
I am thrown by your suggestion which appears to offer your preferred route, while giving no sound? I know, I must have that wrong. So a new monitor with a HDMI to DVI lead? And that plugs into my existing 21 or 15 pin sockets?
Thanks for your response.

custardy

David_Aston wrote: »

Sorry Carrot, yes I was asking about a new monitor to plug into an eight, nine year old Dell.
I am thrown by your suggestion which appears to offer your preferred route, while giving no sound? I know, I must have that wrong. So a new monitor with a HDMI to DVI lead? And that plugs into my existing 21 or 15 pin sockets?
Thanks for your response.

custardy

Are you sure its a screen issue?
What is the dell model no.?

EveryWhere

What relevance the subject title?
An eleven year old monitor for an eight to nine year old PC? Is that the new monitor to which you refer?
What is the Service Tag or Express Service Code of your PC?
Perhaps time to move to Windows 7?

David_Aston

Thanks for your comments guys.
It is a Dell Inspiron 530 32 bit.
The service tag, and express service code are,
CZ33W3J,
28242924607.
My thread title refers to the current monitor. For six months or more, switching on may either produce the log in screen. More likely it will either stay black, or sequence between grey and black. Up to now, simply oiking the power plug of the monitor out of the mains, and then putting it back again, has worked.
I certainly wouldn't mind having a crack at Windows 7 if I could work out which are the legit ones to buy, from Amazon, for instance.
I will be grateful for any further comments.

David_Aston

Also custardy, thanks to your very welcome image, I can confirm the current monitor is plugged in via DVI, the Dell also has a VGA socket.

custardy

David_Aston wrote: »

Thanks for your comments guys.
It is a Dell Inspiron 530 32 bit.
The service tag, and express service code are,
CZ33W3J,
28242924607.
My thread title refers to the current monitor. For six months or more, switching on may either produce the log in screen. More likely it will either stay black, or sequence between grey and black. Up to now, simply oiking the power plug of the monitor out of the mains, and then putting it back again, has worked.
I certainly wouldn't mind having a crack at Windows 7 if I could work out which are the legit ones to buy, from Amazon, for instance.
I will be grateful for any further comments.

right,so you have VGA onboard and a graphics card with DVI.
Does your TV have HDMI? If so get the DVI to HDMI adapter to test before buying a monitor.

EveryWhere

David_Aston wrote: »

Thanks for your comments guys.
It is a Dell Inspiron 530 32 bit.
The service tag, and express service code are,
CZ33W3J,
28242924607.
My thread title refers to the current monitor. For six months or more, switching on may either produce the log in screen. More likely it will either stay black, or sequence between grey and black. Up to now, simply oiking the power plug of the monitor out of the mains, and then putting it back again, has worked.
I certainly wouldn't mind having a crack at Windows 7 if I could work out which are the legit ones to buy, from Amazon, for instance.
I will be grateful for any further comments.

You can either buy a licence for Windows 7 or use an internal DELL licence to activate Windows 7.
Second option costs nothing.
Either way a clean install is recommended. So you either need to store your data elsewhere or swap the hard drive with another.
None of this is difficult to carry out. It just depends on whether you are capable of following a guide.

David_Aston

Thank you both. Is the relevance of the hdmi on telly, in order to test if the Adapter would work, in my circumstances Custardy? The tele is nowhere near the computer.
EveryWhere, naturally the free from Dell sounds attractive. Could I load it onto one of my three external drives? Only at USB 2 speeds mind.
I guess I should be able to follow a guide, although as I type this my wife is shaking her head!