Solved Second monitor on Nvidia 7600 GO goes dark after couple minutes

[csenger41]

I connect any second monitor via VGA and extend my desktop, it works for a couple minutes fine, after that it just goes dark and says "no signal".
Not reconnecting or reconfiguring helps, only restarting the whole computer. Tried many monitors, problem the same, no problem at all with laptop main monitor.
Please help me, I would like to use extended desktops.

 

[Sarris]

Brother, I had a similar issue with a different setup, and it ended up being the (vga) cable. Other than that, is your VC overheating....or possibly bad?? That's all I got for you. Good luck!

 

[csenger41]

The VGA cable works perfectly until the monitor goes dark, the GPU is not overheated, it's around 60°C, the CPU around 40°C.

 

[Faladu]

What resolution is the external monitor being run at for those few mins?

I am guessing that old laptop can't really handle it.

 

[csenger41]

What resolution is the external monitor being run at for those few mins?

I am guessing that old laptop can't really handle it.

Its resolution is 1024×768 and though it's an old laptop, kinda powerful, I attached the Windows Experience Index window to assure you.

 

[Faladu]

As long as that VRAM is separate, OK.

But, 2gigs of RAM with Windows 7 itself results in mediocre performance, are you using ready boost?

Otherwise though, is there anything out of the ordinary performance wise?

And you did swap out the cable from the monitor to this laptop?

After all that I would guess that the video port on the laptop could be bad or the monitor itself.

 

[csenger41]

As long as that VRAM is separate, OK.
But, 2gigs of RAM with Windows 7 itself results in mediocre performance, are you using ready boost?
Otherwise though, is there anything out of the ordinary performance wise?
And you did swap out the cable from the monitor to this laptop?
After all that I would guess that the video port on the laptop could be bad or the monitor itself.

VRAM is separate, 2GB RAM is enough for me, Windows 7 itself uses about 30-35% of it and I have only Trillian running in the background, using about 20MB more memory.
No performance issue at all, while the external monitor is working, no slowdown can be felt whatsoever.
Yes, tried swapping the cable, nothing changed. The monitor itself has been used for years without problem and works like wonder on other computers.
The strange thing is that the picture comes in and work great for couple minutes and THEN goes away, randomly.

 

[csenger41]

News: now after restarting, the picture doesnt come in, though the monitor is shown in Device Manager as non-pnp monitor. Maybe the VGA output is dead?

 

[Faladu]

Verify that VGA with another monitor or I would boot using a Linux distro LiveCD (burn CD, boot using it, & loads into memory only), and see if no issues, although I am not sure how the Linux distro will handle a 2nd monitor.

 

[csenger41]

Verify that VGA with another monitor or I would boot using a Linux distro LiveCD (burn CD, boot using it, & loads into memory only), and see if no issues, although I am not sure how the Linux distro will handle a 2nd monitor.

Tried with another monitor, not working with it either.
I'm wondering if the VGA is broken, how does it Device Manager see the monitor? Or maybe one or two pin broke?

 

[bulletng]

Don't waste anymore time until you try another VGA cable.

 

[Faladu]

Exactly, cabling is the first thing to swap out (of course if monitor is hard cabled, grrrrrr I still have old CRT with that.)

Go as short as you need for a replacement for best signal, usually sold 3ft, 6ft, 10ft, 12ft, and too long....

 

[csenger41]

Don't waste anymore time until you try another VGA cable.

I have tried 2 VGA cables so far, going to buy a DVI in a couple days, and give it a try too. I'm hoping for the best.

 

[csenger41]

I bought a DVI cable, it working with that, so I guess the problem is with the VGA port itself on my notebook... :/
Thanks for the tips anyways guys!

 

[Faladu]

Troubleshooting complete, almost, if you look really close to the 15 pin (likely blue connector, called DB15) on that notebook, are any of the holes filled? Or is it loose, at all?

Yes, that is not THAT unusual a failure point, especially if it's disconnected/reconnected a lot.
I am glad yours had another port, ours only has a DB15 for external.

 

[bulletng]

90% of the time the problem is physical. Something to remember.