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Monitor + PC...Not Syncing at Boot

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by johnjackson1132

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Subject says it all.

I have a user who is experiencing PC problems...She'll turn the PC on...and then the BIOS screen, or Windows XP screen, will flash really quickly...I get the standard healthy 1 BIOS beep.

Then the screen just goes black, no errors, it still sounds as if it is loading Windows, it's just not showing on screen.

We have to manually restart the PC 9-10x, before the monitor will finally stick, and you can see the entire boot / load process all the way into Windows.

I think the problem lies, within the Monitor / VGA syncing up with the HD / PC...at post. It could be the HD, Motherboard, PSU, or Onboard Video.

Some Good Facts:

Windows XP Pro
AMD Athlon XXXX+
512 DDR Memory
Onboard Video
MCI - Mobo =(

I plan to download Seagate HD tool, and check for errors there...and I am also going to replace the Power Supply tomorrow, after I bore new holes. By any chance, it couldn't be the monitor? All feed back, responses, claims, appreciated...

Thank You.

22 replies

by retro77

Try swapping the monitor for a known good one.

by w2ktechman

would be a new monitor, or to test the monitor on another system.

It could also be the monitor cable itself, and not the montor or video card.

If those prove not to be the problem try replacing the video card and then try the PSU.

by cg it

since the video is a built in on board video chipset, your BIOS might need a flash to fix a bug. That is if you know your mother board manufacturer and check to see if others have had the problem and there's a bios flash fix.

you can also use a video card in place of the built in one.

A good test would be to try and get into the BIOS and see if that works e.g. you get good screen. If not, then probably the on board video is bad. If the mother board is new, return it for another one.

These things happen on custom build as the mother boards are only tested at the factory, unlike buying a Dell which further tests the system for problems before computers are sent out.

by johnjackson1132

Good Advice, I'll be sure to try all those out tomorrow.

Something that I forgot to mention, which may be very critical....The PC only has this problem...after the computer has been COLD, for 8-10 hours. Once it boots up fine, I can restart it over and over, and shut it down, and power back on, and it works fine.

It's just like something has to warm up, its not distorted or anything, it's just...Windows is continuing to load, however; the screen is black, and I can't see the BIOS posting as well, it may very well be the monitor.

I will try these things tomorrow, Saturday at 9 AM, and will report back, appreciate this folks. Thanks

Mike

by retro77

That thing has some issues. Try degausing it? Also did you mention if this was a CRT or an LCD?

by johnjackson1132

Yes! It is having some issues, but I think it's small, just trying to pin-point where exactly my anomaly is coming from.

The monitor is 17' Flat Screen, LCD...

On a more random note, I have to break the habbit, I always want to put LSD instead of LCD, for some reason. Anyone else do that?

Mike

by w2ktechman

like that???

Lol

I have seen this happen with LCD screens a few times. But it is much more common that it stops working after it has warmed up...

I suggest trying a different monitor first.

by cg it

a problem like this is usually the other way around. The damn thing stops working after it's warmed up. He probably has the best suggestion of first trying a different monitor and seeing if the problem persists. If the problem persists, least you'll know it's not the LSD monitor. ooops LCD...

by w2ktechman

so that it will not be an incorrect term anymore :^0

Ok, how bout an LCD with a multi-color backlight, that will rotate screen colors a bit.
Wait, thats not all, we can also add a little gel into it and have warped 'floating' spots all over that will reflect the light differently.... kind of like a lava lamp or something.
Add a small pump for current flow, and viola... LSD LCD is created :)

Damn I'm creative today!

by cg it

can be a branding solution

the LSD LCD

:)

by cg it

this is the multi million dollar sequel to Pet Rocks!!!!

Gods I love that idea.... ROFL

by w2ktechman

I took apart an LCD that would blink on and off after it warmed up. I inserted a strand of Christmas lights into it, but had to remove the thick plastic backing. This made it a perfect size for the lights to fit flat against the front screen.

Then I removed the florescent lamps and tied up the power cable. Turn it in and it looked great. I put it facing away from my desk, so people would see it when they walked up.

The reactions that people give, have kept it coming out... People walk up and stare at it for a minut to 5 minutes (like an LSD LCD would do). Then they would ask where I got the SW to make it look like I actually put lights inside. LOL

Someone snagged it for a few hours last year, and put decorations on it and wrapped it up in garland. Then took photos and made Christamas cards from it, and sent it around the dept..

Ahh, the fun with broken HW.

A few years ago I also took a broken cd reader, and cut out a portion of the front frame. On the bottom, I painted on it "Computer Repair Kit". Then I glued a match and firecracker to the cd tray.

When you open press eject, it basically gives you the tools to fix the problem....LOL :^0

by w2ktechman

but I dont know much about marketing or building a business, selling the idea to some company to make it...

Anyway, I have cool thoughts like this that can generate money, and with resources, I could even make the alterations that I wanted to... And lets not forget, all from recycled parts! What a way to go...

I wanted to (originally) put an M80 in there, but it wouldnt fit.
And I wanted to lower the tray, to add room, put a plastic (clear) front on it and put a miniature fire axe up. And a small sign "In case of emergency, Break Glass"

LOL -- too funny.

by johnjackson1132

Did I just help Hi-Jack my own thread?

=)

You guys rock, in all seriousness, I R FIXED IT. It was the monitor, thank god, I did not bore out the new holes for that small PSU.

You all get thumbs up...LSD Monitor great idea, The computer repair kit, very helpful.

and...I think we all need to go in business for ourselves...we'll call it....

"LSD LCD, Inc"...

Our Slogan...

"If it can't be fixed with large quantities of hallucinogens and highly explosive materials....it's not a problem worth dealing with, take it to Best Buy"

by w2ktechman

cause I am sure I dont have any here.

I absolutely have no idea what happened to that cd drive... I may have scrapped it or something. I went looking for it a couple of times and never found it. And since I just moved recently I have been through Everything that I own.

by cg it

think I'll look up cost of decals for the "In case of Error, break glass"

or PC Repair Kit.

by w2ktechman

I can grab more photos later, as I set it up for Christmas (after Thanksgiving of course). For now, this is the photo that was used for the card. However, the background was altered with Photoshop.

I couldnt find any copies of it, so I had to have someone look for their copy and send it to me...
Here is the link to it, as the pic is too big to post properly.
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee314/techman03/ChristmasMonitor.jpg

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

by cg it

that's awsome!!! lol

the perfect LSD LCD monitor complete with chrismas lights screen saver!!! lol

gotta put this on the discussion page. what to do with dead LCD screens....

humm who can we forward this to so it gets on the front page of Techrepublic?

Smorty?
Beth?
Trivia Geek?

by johnjackson1132

I won't lie, this thread delivers.

That picture is my new background, I hope that's okay with you, if not you can always sue me across the Internet. I hear it's all the rave. =) May want to contact the RIAA for pointers. =)

I wonder what would happen if we took it to Best Buy, and asked them what the problem was. Youtube video, anyone?

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