graphics card wont restart monitor???

[iainface]

Hi

my problem is when my desktop pc restarts (and sometimes from normal boot up) it wont restart the monitor, as it does so the monitor will go to and stay in standby mode and i can do nothing to get a display. The only way to fix this problem i know of is to force the pc off by holding down the power button and turning it off at the wall. After being left for a while when i turn the power on at the wall the pc will start itself with the monitor without me having to press the pc power on button.

i have tried updating graphic card and monitor drivers and checking card is securely in place. The desktop is about 18months old and the monitor about 4 years i think so i was also wondering if there was any vista/monitor problems? the specs for both are below. When the monitor does restart everything works fine and how it should. I seem to remember this problem didnt happen initially but has materialised over the last 6months or so. Thanks in advance to any replies.

 

pc acer aspire e380, amd athlon 64x2 4400+, 2gb ram, vista home premium, nvidia geforce 7600gs,

 

monitor nec multisync lcd 1860nx connected by dvi

[Match]

Hi iainface

 

just to clarify, this problem occurs when you first turn on the PC, after you have got the monitor working you have no problems?

 

or do you also have this problem if the PC is left on and turns the monitor off? or if the PC is coming out of sleep or hibernation mode?

 

and could you please tell us what Graphics card you have or if you are using the onboard Graphics,

[iainface]

hi, it is ok coming out of sleep mode, ie clicking mouse etc will work fine, its after a system restart ie start menu - restart, or after a software update etc. It usually will work/start fine when its been left for a longish period of time or if i shut down the pc. i have no problems once the monitor is up and working. Nvidia geforce 7600gs. regards

[Match]

can you tell us if your monitor power lead plugs into the back of your pc or if it has its own plug to the mains.

 

and do you have access to another monitor that you can try on this system?

 

regards

[iainface]

hi, unfortunately i dont have access easily to try and connect it to another monitor at the moment. It has its own seperate power supply. regards

[Match]

Hi you don't have a second dvi slot from the motherboard graphics (VGA yes)

 

for now my best options are to try un-installing the drivers and re-installing them I know you say you have updated them but sometimes going into the device manager and un-installing them first before re-installing them can make a difference

 

and you have already tried everything else I can think of.

 

and without another monitor I can't be sure whether or not its the graphics card or the monitor,

 

If you check back tomorrow sometime I'm sure one of our experts Dalo or Tooteck will post what they think, but they aren't normally around the weekends.

[Dalo Harkin]

Turn off sleep mode and set everything to 'always on' and see if that cures the problem

[iainface]

Hi, do you mean everything in the power options in system maintenance? if so i had already put it on high performance and disabled sleep mode etc. I have just tried restarting pc and it has restarted again without restarting the monitor at the same time. as usual have to force it off by holding power button, un plug it from wall and it should come on again if i turn power back on in a few hours? i appreciate all the help i'm getting though thanks :)

[Match]

un plug it from wall and it should come on again if i turn power back on in a few hours?

 

Is it the monitor you unplug, the PC, or Both?

[iainface]

its both

[Match]

ok when it restarts do you hear the vista start up sounds? if so try turning the monitor off, leaving it and then turning the monitor on, but leave the pc turned on.

 

If you don't here the windows start up sounds ignore the above.

[iainface]

ok cheers will try that when i can get it to start up again :(

[iainface]

Hi, just tried to listen for the restarting noises and there arent any. From my limited knowledge i noticed the pc doesnt seem to be making all the normal "whurrs and clicks" that it normally does on a boot up. Its almost like it isnt restarting, if this makes sense? its just a continuous noise. regards

[Match]

Right the first noise it should make is a 'Beep' just after the power is turned on. are you hearing that 'beep' when it restarts?

 

do you know the 'beep' that I'm talking about, It is actually a really important 'Beep' and should come from your PC case and can tell us a lot about what's going on.

[iainface]

i think i know the beep in question i dont think i heard it on the restart but now its in its power off mode for the next few hours. I heard a tiny beep as it closed down but i think i know the one ur on about and its much louder.

[BeeCeeBee]

Ian, mobos beep in code and each mobo's code is different. If you can try to note the acutual beeps you hear it would be helpful. For example (1 long 2 short; 2 shor 1 long, etc.)

[iainface]

hi, thanks for all the replies, sorry so long to reply but i have to wait each time for at least an hour with it unplugged to get it to come on again. When it boots up normally(ie when the monitor comes on with it) there is one short loud beep just after the screen where you can enter setup/ safe mode etc. When i restart it (and the monitor doesnt come back on there are no beeps at all. Just a sort of click as it shuts down and tries to restart. I've noticed that the drive busy type lights dont flash either as it does when it boots up normally. regards

[Match]

Hi Without your posting 'Beep' That gives us something to go on :)

 

first off lets try and eliminate The graphics card, failing that the RAM, and moving on the PSU (Power Supply Unit)

 

so try Taking the side off your PC (that's quite easy really), then boot it up to windows and try restarting it so it crashes! then turn it off and disconnect it from the mains.

 

Remove the Graphics card, (unplug the monitor from it first), plug it back in to the mains and boot it up listen for the posting 'Beep',

 

if you don't get one, put the GPU Back in. (Turn the power off and disconnect from the mains first)

 

next take out one of the RAM sticks (their is two clips one at each end) and try powering up, again listening for the Bleep. (Remember to unplug and plug into the mains as required)

 

If you still haven't got a posting Bleep swop the RAM sticks, and try powering up,

 

Note if one of the RAM sticks have a fault it should boot up to windows, and you should be able to restart it, and boot back up to windows.

 

If its the GPU it will ether boot up to windows and you will here the windows start up sounds or give you a series of short/long Beeps telling you there is a monitor fault, (obviously because there isn't one plugged in)

 

ALWAYS DISCONNECT FROM THE MAINS BEFORE ADDING OR REMOVING COMPONENTS

ALWAYS TRY TO HANDLE COMPONENTS BY THERE EDGES AND DO NOT TOUCH CONNECTOR CONTACTS

AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS POST OR ARE UNSURE OF ANYTHING IN THIS POST ASK BEFORE ATTEMPTING ANYTHING IN THE POST

 

other than that have fun and let us know the results :)

[iainface]

hi, just took out graphic card after it had crashed and restarted it and i did get the beep like on a proper start up? guessing that means i'm off to ebay for a new one???

[iainface]

also just to add to that, after taking the card out and putting it back in again, it now has started up only 5 mins after it doing its restart crash(normally takes an hour or so)

[Match]

Noooooooo NOT EBAY!!!

 

give me a sec and I'll sort you out a list of online and local computer stores for you to look through, but I don't recommend, buying pc spares from ebay

 

and it might be worth hanging five and waiting till tomorrow for Dalo's expert opinion on the best one to buy for your needs, If you post what you use your pc for?

[Match]

I just read your last post about restarting five minutes after, might be worth taking the card out and blowing the connector socket in the PC, Might just be a bit of dirt causing the problem?

[iainface]

ok cheers any recommendations would be greatly received. i dont really play games that much anymore but probably would like to keep to at least the same sort of standard as i have nowish. Thanks for all your help as well. I will be sure to put in a donation shortly. :)

[iainface]

ok will give my pc a quick blow!!! just in case

[iainface]

i dont think thats made any difference unfortunately, as its back in its resting mode! worth a try though.