Monitor Black

[AZ Scott]

Guy's, I need some help from those more computer saavy than me.
When I woke up this morning my monitor was black - no big deal just hibernating. Move the mouse and hit enter as usual screen lights up for less than a second and then goes back to black.
Futz around and the screen will light up for a fraction of a second and looks normal and then immediately back to black. Got the computer to reboot and same issue. Monitor light indicates it's receiving data just not showing it. Turned the monitor off & on and same story.
I don't know if it makes a difference but I'm running XP home edition. Monitors a ViewSonic flat panel.
I do have another monitor I can try but wanted to see if maybe I'm overlooking something before I start ripping stuff apart?
Any ideas???

Any help would be appreciated, Thanks.

[Sonny Edmonds]

I'd answer you, but don't know how to post in white letters so it will show on your black monitor. :'(

Try a different monitor. If it's the video card, both black.
If it's the flat panel, substitute monitor might work.

I run dual flat panels. One is digital, one is regular, both from one video card.
If one gets it's source switched, it will be black. Indicators will blink and all that jazz, but stays black.
(Channel A, Channel B thing.)

You'll have to get a picture before you can check the control panel, I think. ;)

:D

[link:home.att.net/~paul.edmonds/|Sonny Edmonds ]
Saugus, CA
"Precision Firewood Specialist"
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[HAMMER23H]

You might try Help and Tools and then go to System Restore and starts you computer with the same settings that you had at an early date. I never used it but I think it is safe to use.

[grandpaw]

I am not a computer expert but I can tell you mine did the same thing and when I would press any buttons on the monitor it would read something like power saver mode. Mine ended up being the motherboard. $280.00 later and a new board and it works just fine. Hope that is not your problem, Jeff

"I decided years ago I was only going to have two types of days...
Very Good Days :) :) :) or just Plain Good Days :) :). I just refuse to have bad ones!!!"

May you have at least a Good Day today, Jeff on the Mississippi Gulf Coast

[Sonny Edmonds]

"$280.00 later and a new board "

OUCH! :(

:D

[link:home.att.net/~paul.edmonds/|Sonny Edmonds ]
Saugus, CA
"Precision Firewood Specialist"
God Bless America !
One Nation Under God!
"Lurkimus turdius orifus"

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[Breaddrink]

Could be a few things.

Whenever anything like this happens, try a rollback.
Failing that if it isn't turned on, and probably do it as well, go into hardware manager and delete your graphics adapter drivers from the list.
the computer will reboot and reinstall them.

What else...Try booting to safe mode and see if the change in resolution enables you to see anything.

When the computer boots do you have a black screen as well or do you see the text, etc as xp boots up?

If the monitor is doing the exact same thing after you do a hard power on and off with it, then that sounds suspect, but it can happen if you're in a resolution it doesn't like.

Rob.

[beagles]

I'd swap monitors first. Don't fiddle with the software if you can avoid it.

My Apple monitor gave up the ghost a few weeks back. Hauled down a previous monitor in the attic from the early 90's. A $20 adapter and we are up and running once again.

[jon1941]

Hi all
i had the same thing happen to my 19 inch agneovo flat screen
after i pulled it apart i found a lady bug had shorted out the
power supply for the floresent tubes there are 2 tubes in a
flat panal monitor , one tube lit the other did not,the supply
pulled to much power an turned off after about 1 secound.
try useing a different monoter befor changing any settings
best regards

Jon

[AZ Scott]

Well gang it is a monitor problem. Swapped out the monitor & all's well with everything else.
So what now? I hate to chuck out a 2 year old 20" flat panel - but with the relatively low cost of new monitors I dont want to spend much to repair & it seems it'll cost $75 or more to get it looked at.
I did send ViewSonic an email but don't hold much hope of a good answer. :(
Any sugesstions?

[robhannon]

probably is the backlight or the inverter for it. You could find the parts on ebay, or you could sell it for parts there as well.