Messed up monitor, won't showbooted computer - help

[flycaster]

[SOLVED] Messed up monitor, won't show booted computer - help

While trying to improved on the quality of my desktop's monitor (Samsung Syncmaster 193p), I must have screwed up the driver, or something, because now the screen is blank when I rebooted. The only thing that shows on the screen were the alternating digital/analog text and then going to sleep. I know that the computer rebooted as announced by the bell. Here's what i did to cause the problem:

First tried to dl the MagicTune screen picture adjusting program, but I dl'd the one for the 173p model. Installed it and when I ran it, there were several things not available. So I tried to uninstall it with W7's uninstall program in order to attempt a new install.. It showed up in the Trash Bin, but was still in windows explorer. I tried to simply delete it from there, but kept getting a dropdown stating that a file was still open somewhere and had to be closed first. I couldn't find the o[pen file and tried to retore the file that was in the rashbin...and was then asked to reboot. On rebooting, the screen never showed anything but what i described above.

I do have the CD with MagicTune on it, but can't attempt to load it because the monitor screen doesn't respond to a booted computer. I do have a laptop that is networked with the desktop, both have W7. Wondering if i can hook the desktop to the laptop so that I can fix the problem? If not, what am I to do?

 

[kword88]

have you tried booting in safe mode? restart and keep tapping F8 until the menu appears. frome safe mode you should be able to install the correct software.

 

[Lordbob75]

Does the monitor show the BIOS boot up, or does it just think nothing is plugged in at all?

~Lordbob

 

[flycaster]

Does the monitor show the BIOS boot up, or does it just think nothing is plugged in at all?

~Lordbob

Doesn't show the boot up bios. Shows alternating text (digital - analog), and then says going to sleep. Hence a black screen.

 

[Lordbob75]

Does the monitor show the BIOS boot up, or does it just think nothing is plugged in at all?

~Lordbob

Doesn't show the boot up bios. Shows alternating text (digital - analog), and then says going to sleep. Hence a black screen.

Can you try hooking the monitor up to another computer and see if it works?

~Lordbob

 

[MacGyvr]

Sounds like the monitor or the video card is fried. The alternating "digital" / "analog" means that it is not receiving any signal of any type from the computer.

 

[flycaster]

Sounds like the monitor or the video card is fried. The alternating "digital" / "analog" means that it is not receiving any signal of any type from the computer.

I don't think the monitor is fired, but the video card could be corrupted. Reason I think this is that I fooling around with Magictune (a program for the monitor that allows for monitor calibration) trying to update it and may have tried to install the wrong version...

 

[Fayla]

You have a secondary computer, namely a laptop. Why not hook the monitor up to the laptop and see if it works there? If the monitor works with the laptop, then next is the graphic card.

I know these suggestions sound basic but have you tried dusting your graphic card and making sure that it is sat properly in its slot? Also, make sure that everything (monitor connectors, power cable) is firmly in place.

A color tuning program like magic tune shouldn't cause any graphic card driver damage.

 

[flycaster]

You have a secondary computer, namely a laptop. Why not hook the monitor up to the laptop and see if it works there? If the monitor works with the laptop, then next is the graphic card.

I know these suggestions sound basic but have you tried dusting your graphic card and making sure that it is sat properly in its slot? Also, make sure that everything (monitor connectors, power cable) is firmly in place.

A color tuning program like magic tune shouldn't cause any graphic card driver damage.

Good suggestions. I will hook the monitor to the laptop and see what happens. Although, I don't think it is the monitor. But then again it could be. BTW, cables have been checked and seem to be in order.

Interesting that you say that MagicTune wouldn't louse up the adapter. I guess that is good news.

 

[alphanumeric]

It may have been that you needed to reboot to finish the uninstall but weren't prompted to do so. Does the PC in question have onboard video? If it does and your monitor works OK on your laptop, remove the add-in video card and see if the onboard works. The other option is to try your add-in video card in another PC or try a different video card in the PC with no video.

 

[flycaster]

Got things to work, but what was the cause?

Finally got around to testing different hook ups. The monitor takes both DVI and VGA inputs. The problematic hookup was when DVI>HDMI was in use. I first did VGA>VGA from monitor to laptop...all was well. Then did DVI>HDMI, monitor to laptop, monitor didn't respond. Must be the DVI>HDMI cable. So, I then did VGA>VGA, monitor to desktop, it worked.

Computer opened in safe mode, but then reverted to Normal (before i could touch anything) and finished booting in a normal Welcome screenand...all was well.

This is a perfect example of annecdotal evidence leading one up the wrong tree, eh? Although I still haven't tried out the DVI>HDMI cable on another monitor (will do that later), this cable does seem to be the culprit.

EDIT: Checked out the DVI>HDMI cable on another monitor, didn't wake up, nothing. Obviously the cable, yes?

BTW, I had the initial setup with DVI>HDMI because I thought that I would get better digital picture than if I used VGA...but I really don't know if there is a difference between the two. Is there?

EDIT: Although most say that there is a difference between VGA and DVI, I don't see it on this monitor. But I do think I note that the transfer of data from computer to screen might (not really sure) be a little slower with VGA???

 

[Lordbob75]

At this point, use the VGA to VGA.

Why can't you use a DVI to DVI? There should be no need for an adapter on that monitor.

~Lordbob

 

[flycaster]

At this point, use the VGA to VGA.

Why can't you use a DVI to DVI? There should be no need for an adapter on that monitor.

~Lordbob

I am using VGA to VGA now.
I think that the DVI>HDMI cable came with the monitor???

 

[flycaster]

Problem solved, pretty sure it is a fried dvi port on the monitor. Here's the evolving story as writen up on another forum...

Finally got around to testing different hook ups. The monitor takes both DVI and VGA inputs. The problematic hookup was when DVI>HDMI was in use. I first did VGA>VGA from monitor to laptop...all was well. Then did DVI>HDMI, monitor to laptop, monitor didn't respond. Must be the DVI>HDMI cable. So, I then did VGA>VGA, monitor to desktop, it worked.
Computer opened in safe mode, but then reverted to Normal (before i could touch anything) and finished booting in a normal Welcome screenand...all was well.
This is a perfect example of annecdotal evidence leading one up the wrong tree, eh? Although I still haven't tried out the DVI>HDMI cable on another monitor (will do that later), this cable does seem to be the culprit.
EDIT: Just tried the DVI>VGA, monitor to laptop, and screen didn't respond. Guess that verfies that the cable went south.
BTW, I had the initial setup with DVI>HDMI because I thought that I would get better digital picture than if I used VGA...but I really don't know if there is a difference between the two. Is there?
EDIT: As the cable is the problem, am I correct in that there is no need to run SystemRestore? Everything seems to be running well.
EDIT 2: Screen unresponsiveness may not have been due to the cable, as first thought. Bought a similar cable ($54 ripoff) from RS (will return of course) and tested on the monitor (DVI monitor to HDMI computer)...didn't work. Thus, the monitor's DVI input must have fried. Also, dl'd Magictune (premium for Vista 64 and Windows 7 64...everything is now working fine.

 

[Dwarf]

Does your monitor have an Input Source Selection button?

VGA is analog video and, despite the disappearance of the analog socket on the graphics card, many cards are still able to provide such a signal through the DVI port and the use of a suitable adapter (I recommend the adapter rather than the cable). Both DVI and HDMI use the same digital video signal format, and, as you mentioned, there are adapters to allow a DVI source to be used to feed an HDMI input. The difference between the two (other than the connector) is that HDMI also provides for audio connectivity - a bit like a digital version of the old SCART connector.

 

[flycaster]

No manual switching mechanism between vga and dvi. The monitor must sense which input is active???

Also, re "there are adapters to allow a DVI source to be used to feed an HDMI input," in my case the original hookup was dvi at monitor and hdmi at computer.