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Monitor damage

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8 replies

by rebecca.swanson

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Will it damage the monitor or the computer if I connect them together with power on both? Connector is not a USB or DVI. I think they call it a mini Dinn?

8 replies

by older mycroft

How are you going to get into a situation where you are attaching a monitor while the PC is powered up and running?

Why would you turn on a monitor, when it has nothing to show you (being that it's not connected yet)?

by cmiller5400

A PC will most definitely boot without a monitor attached to it. We do it all the time.

You also can change them hot if you are careful... (using the standard video cable at least)

by slayer_

I mean, I am surrounded by computers that are running fine without monitors...
My home computer runs without a monitor all the time...
I have a computer in my bedroom that never has a monitor attached, it just serves for remote desktop...

Where do you have a computer that won't boot without a monitor?

by older mycroft

Any PC can be configured to boot without a monitor for headless operation - I'm just from the school where you had to educate the system's PnP NOT to react when the monitor wasn't detected, by requesting user intervention which prevented the boot from successfully completing.

Old fart runs bad again. ;)

by balge

hi
the monitor has a mini-DIN plug?
you mean plug the monitor into the PC after having powered them both up? Why?
I really don't know offhand but if you decide to try it, will you post the video on Youtube?

cheers....

by thechas

KVM switches do this all the time. When you switch between computers connected to a KVM, you are hot connecting the monitor.

As to performing this manually, there are 2 potential risks:

1. Ground level difference.
If the monitor and computer are connected to different AC circuits, it is possible for there to be a voltage difference on the ground lines. The surge could cause the PC to reboot.
If one device did have an open ground, there could be a much larger voltage on ground than is normal.

2. Bent pins, mis-alignment.
If you were to force the connector on with either bent pins or upside down, you could set up a short circuit connection that could damage either the monitor or video card.

The above said, as long as you are careful and both devices are on the same electrical circuit there should be very little chance of damage.

Chas

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