Problem with monitor randomly disconnecting

Windows 7 64-bit Professional
Geforce 9800GTX, 266.58 nvidia drivers
Asus VW222U 22inch LCD

Ok, so randomly my monitor just disconnects. Basically I hear the hardware disconnect sound (just like removing a usb key) and my monitor goes black and it says No signal (same as what it would say if the monitor was on but computer was off). Restarting the monitor doesn't fix it, nor does unplugging and replugging it. To fix it, I usually click on the sleep button on my computer and let it go to sleep. Then I turn the monitor off and at the same time I turn the monitor back on and wake the computer up. This usually takes 3 or 4 goes, but it gets my monitor working again.

Sometimes when sleeping/waking several times doesn't fix it, I have to reboot. And even then when the computer is booting up it doesn't always fix the monitor and the monitor still says No signal. So I have to reboot several times until the monitor finally gets a signal. (Does this say anything about what could be causing it? I mean, the gfx card isn't yet running before windows loads, is it? Which means it's not the gfx card at fault? Or is it?) Also, sometimes when it's having trouble getting signal while booting up: it gives the message out of range.

I've had this problem for ages now, on multiple formats and driver versions, so I'm guessing it's not software related. It happens usually when I'm launching or exiting out of a full sceen game or sometimes even just randomly when I'm doing nothing just browsing web.

I'm guessing faulty monitor?

Well, it still happens with a different DVI cable... any other suggestions?

Question:

• When you reboot after something like this happens, do you see your bios splash screen or startup/post sequence at all? Or does the monitor remain black throughout the booting process?

If it's staying black throughout, it's possibly a hardware issue of some sort(perhaps a failed digital handshake). If you see your post messages at startup and then it goes black once windows starts to load, it's a software issue.

The monitor remains black through the booting process. Until a few more restarts, then it turns on properly.

So hardware issue? Gfx card?

Sounds like hardware to me if you're not even seeing post behavior.

Are you able to try a VGA input on the monitor at all? Use your current DVI cable plus the DVI > VGA adapter that came with your 9800? Do you have a different monitor you could use as a test? Even if it's an old honkin CRT, it would at least tell you that your card is functioning properly, and would point to the LCD as the issue. I've definitely seen bad DVI on an LCD before while the VGA input continued to work fine. If you've replaced the cable already, all you're left with is graphics card or monitor as the culprit. In my experience it could be either. A bit more troubleshooting will get you your answer.

• try a different monitor
• try a different input on your current monitor(VGA if possible)

Good luck, let us know how you make out.