Can someone explain how to change my computer monitor?
The history is this:
The original monitor is a REALLY old Dell. The “new-er” one is a MAG Innovations. The plug for the MAG mates with the video card in the comp. When I power it up, I get power to the monitor, but no picture on the screen at all.
I’m running Win95, if that helps. I don’t know what kind of video card I have.
Come on Millions, I’m trying here…
I dont know for sure and someone should be along shortly to provide better information.
It could be that your new monitor cant handle the current video settings (the resolution and refresh rate). If this is the case you can get an image by Booting up into safe mode. (when you turn the computer on start hitting the F8 key once every second or so until you come to a startup menu, pick #3 safemode.) Once in safe mode you can go to display properties and, probably lower, the settings.
or your new monitor may not work.
make sure that the pins are not bent, check you monitor on another computer
Thanks Gentlemen!
The pins look ok. I’m guessing that they would have to be bent enough to see the bend, to be bad. (Right?) And I don’t have another computer handy, so that will wait for desperation to set in. I’m going to try the boot into “safe” mode and see if I can get anything that way.
This monitor has a menu button, and select arrows, none of which did anything during my last attempt.
Wish me luck!
I would suspect the cable. The best thing to do is to try it on another computer. But if you do not even see the initial boot up messages when you power on the computer, then more than likely the cable has a broken wire in it.
Does the monitor have a switch to switch between two different input cable types? One of my monitors (possibly the MAG, even) had such a switch. It was inside the door on the monitor front, but YMMV.
Update:
F8 didn’t work. I get nothing on the screen at all.
I DO get the power light, however.
ZenBeam, I don’t see a switch, and I don’t have a door on the monitor at all. At least not that I can find.
xizor, great idea. Now can you tell me how to detach the cable at the montor end? Can I use the cable from the old (working)monitor?
Have I mentioned that I really don’t have a great grasp on the whole computer parts issue?
You all have been great. I’ve understood every suggestion so far and have been able to follow the instructions given. Thanks for being so kind to the uninformed!!
Find the knob on front & turn the brightness up, you’d be surprised how many have it off.
It doesn’t have a brightness knob. I think brightness is controlled by the “menu” and it’s “select” buttons. Of course, I can’t see what is ON the menu.
Thanks for trying!
Is the power light you are talking about orange or green? On a late model monitor if orange it simply means the monitor is plugged in. Green typically means it is getting a signal.
1: Plug the old DELL back in. Set the video resolution to 640x480. Ten turn off and plug in the MAG.
2: Some digital monitors have “analog style” brightness and contrast controls. Might be worth double checking under the front lip or seeing if there is a panel to access.
If the monitor is not responding even when you press the front panel adjustment button it is likely a defective cable or monitor as these adjustment menus are usually internal to the monitor and do not need to have Windows running to operate.
Have you tried changing the drivers for the monitor? Go to my computer, control panel, display, settings, change display type. Enter your new display type. It should tell you to reboot for these settings to take effect. restart now? ok. Now change to your new monitor
I have a MAG monitor (which one you got?) I have seen hundreds of monitors, every one has a brightness knob on the front or side of the monitor. Ones with onscreen adjustments have this too, plus you can change the setting onscreen.
Is there a person here who doesn’t have an external brightness knob?
Was the MAG monitor working satisfactorally before you acquired it?
I think you alluded to the fact that it wasn’t a new unit. Therefore it could be faulty and you may be the mug that’s been caught with a dud. Get computer tech to check the monitor for correct operation, because I think your monitor may need repairs.
handy, my MultiSync E700 here at work does not have a knob of any sort on it. It does have pushbutton controls which change the brightness through the onscreen menu.
dragonlady, I agree with Dvous, it sounds like a dud monitor, especially if you don’t see anything at all even when you first turn the computer on (ALL monitors should be able to comply with the text mode that the system is in in the first stage of bootup). I’d take it back to where you bought it and have them show you that it works, or replace it.
yes you would see if the pins are bent- now if a pin is missing, you probally wouldn’t notice it.
It doesn’t matter what your windows resoultion is set at, you still should see something at boot up (the standard DOS screen) until win kicks in.
The cable either easilly unplugs from the monitor or is wired through the case. Still your best bet is to try it on another computer.
Thanks everyone!
Astro: the light is green.
Handy: No brightness button, just a menu button, select up and down and “adjust” + and -. None of these do anything.
I got the monitor from a friend, it was working when she disconnected it. It, or it’s cable, may have been damaged in the moving around process. I’ve decided that it isn’t my failure to properly install it, it is a failure in the unit itself.
Thanks so much to everyone for all your help. I think I’ll just have to break down and buy a NEW monitor.
Or wait until my ancient Dell blows itself up.
I work for store & we get lots of used monitors the way I test them is to plug them in to wall, not the computer, turn them on, let em warm up a minute & turn them off, they should flash something on the screen for me. If they have a brightness knob, I turn it all the way up & it should show a gray screen. mac monitors show nothing though.
Try tigerdirect.com for a new monitor if you like mail order.
handy: Thanks! I’ll give that a try before I give up.
How safe do you think buying fragile equiptment is online? I worry about shipping damage. I work for the post office, and I know what we do…
Another good test for a new monitor is to hook the old monitor up, turn the computer on, and go into the BIOS setup program (i.e. “press F2 to enter setup”). Once it is on a textmode screen that’s not going to go away, unplug the old monitor and plug the new one in. At that point, you know there should be a picture on the new monitor, so if there isn’t one, it’s either broken or the knobs need fiddling.
dragonlady, thats why they ship UPS
Frankly its a little better to visit Circuit City & get a monitor there if you can so you can see how your eyes like it.
BTW, if you push the setup button on a monitor, it should show a display on screen even not connected to a puter.