How to try out an older monitor with my desktop

[Oteyallergy1]

Do I need to tell my Windows 7 desktop (do an uninstall or similar action) before disconnecting current Dell wide screen monitor to try out an older Acer monitor from an XP OS ? Both are flat panel LCDs. Does it matter whether I disconnect the power cable first or the other cable ?

 

[DocBrown]

Welcome Oteyallergy1

It would be the safest way to have computer & monitors powered OFF when switching the cables. But I have done it many times when powered on if very very careful .


Is Otey a family surname from Virginia ?

 

[Mellon Head]

Windows will autodetect the different monitor. No need to do anything special, but change the monitor with the monitor and the computer powered off.

 

[quadrplax]

I don't see the need to change monitors while the computer is off. If you're afraid something could happen, set the resolution to 800x600 before changing the monitors. Also, if you can connect both at once that would be the best way.

 

[Mellon Head]

You don't plug monitors in with the power on for the same reason that you don't plug cards into the motherboard when the power is on. Transients and voltage spikes can cause damage to the equipment. Especially if pins with voltages on them get connected before the ground does.

 

[quadrplax]

Interesting, I've always hot-swapped monitors without any issue. If the power is connected before the ground, then it wouldn't complete the circuit and nothing would happen, right?

 

[Mellon Head]

The individual pins can be at different potentials (voltages). If power and another pin get connected before ground, you run the risk of doing damage. It might partially complete the circuit, treating the other pin as a ground, potentially placing more voltage on a pin than it can stand or is rated for. The actual circuit analysis is a little too complicated to get into here, but if you have the option, plugging in a multi pinned connector to anything should be done with the power off.

 

[quadrplax]

Doesn't every single connector in existence have at least 2 pins?

 

[Gornot]

I can say from personal experience that hot-swapping monitors is a bad idea. It doesn't matter if it's worked for you before, it did the same for me until one time the monitor literally caught on fire. Besides, computers start up pretty quickly these days, especially with Windows 8 on them, so powering down your PC to change the monitors is really not such an annoyance.

 

[Mellon Head]

Doesn't every single connector in existence have at least 2 pins?

No. Some have one.