serial port problems with my dell, PLEASE HELP ME!

angelfire

Hello everyone, I'm hoping someone on here can help me with a problem with my Dell Dimension C521.

The other day I was doing some work on my daughter's laptop which has a faulty screen, which meant I had to use the screen I normally use with the Dell No problem, I simply unhooked the serial lead fom the back of the Dell and put it into the laptop and everything was fine. However, when I put it back into the Dell, I noticed a slight sparking - but the pc worked fine so I left it be.

Then this evening, my daughter has been using the dell and decided to plug in the speakers (by plug in I mean literally attach to the mains socket, via the extension lead - again, should be no problem. But as soon as she did, the monitor went off - just went blank.

To test the monitor, I've hooked it up to another pc and it's working fine. Then i've hooked the dell up to a different montior and that isn't working properly either? Which suggests a prblem with the Dell...

After much messing about I've managed to get a picture on the Dell's original monitor - i'm using it now, but there's no red colour at all. I've run a diagnostics as directed by the Dell website, on which everything said passed, so I'm at a loss as to what to do now - can anyone offer any advice?

The pc is less than a year old?

Thanks in advance

Angel

evadanit

that is 100% why I don't like Dell.....

I was once told that they use old PCs then fix them together LOL.

is it under warranty? They tend to go wrong just AFTER the warranty has finished.

Sorry I couldn't help you.

evilgoose

Firstly - to nit-pick! - its most likely not a serial cable - its more likely a 'd-sub' cable, the smaller serial connector is a 9 pin socket, your monitor cable (if memory serves me) is 15 pins.

By reading what you've typed:-

You've got two monitors - one doesnt work with the dell at all now (but does work on other computers)

the second monitor works on the dell but doesnt display red?

cundall

evilgoose wrote: »

more likely a 'd-sub' cable, the smaller serial connector is a 9 pin socket, your monitor cable (if memory serves me) is 15 pins.

Just so you know it will most likely be a HD15 connector

If the monitor works with another PC though not the dell base unit i would guess its a problem with the graphics card. Is it a graphics card or one built onto the mother board? As if your not into gaming you can get another graphics card very cheaply...

That's what i think though i am drinking vodka :beer:

albertross_2

Check the vga cable at both ends by unscrewing, and checking for bent pins, and then plug it back in carefully, it's probably loose/misaligned/too tight.

evilgoose

cundall wrote: »

Just so you know it will most likely be a HD15 connector

wooops - I getting old!