View Full Version : Graphics card or Monitor problem?
HitmanIP7
08-12-2003, 19:16
Im not sure what could be at fault for this problem, so I thought Id see if any one here would know.
When my computer is booting up, just after the bit when it shows the XP logo and the loading bar, and it goes to the login prompt (I use the classic login prompt, not the welcome screen), this happens:
http://iain.buildtolearn.com/screenlarge.gif
It only happens for a second or so, and then the monitor clicks, and it goes to the login prompt.
Im not sure whether its a fault with the graphics card or the monitor.
Have you tried both the monitor and GFX card with another machine?
HitmanIP7
08-12-2003, 19:31
I havent tried it yet.
Ive got a spare TFT monitor, so I could try that with the graphics card to see if its a graphics card fault.
slartiBardfarst
08-12-2003, 19:35
i say it's your monitor. it gets the bootup image with is something like 600x400 and then when your card switches over to the desktop resolution it doesn't switch over with it at the same time. it then detects it 2-3 seconds later and changes.
the funny lines and colours are because it gets an image that is bigger than the current resolution and refresh rate settings.
Originally posted by slartiBardfarst
i say it's your monitor. it gets the bootup image with is something like 600x400 and then when your card switches over to the desktop resolution it doesn't switch over with it at the same time. it then detects it 2-3 seconds later and changes.
the funny lines and colours are because it gets an image that is bigger than the current resolution and refresh rate settings.
as slarti says.. it sounds like the admin account res is set higher than your monitor can handle, and when you get as far as the login it is switching to a res that it can handle. easiest thing to do is to try a good monitor on it, one that can handle 1600*1200 @85hz and see if it works fine on that.
In my experience, if you boot a PC on a monitor that can't handle the resolution that the graphics card is set at, you get a blank screen.
On that basis, I suspect a graphics card fault.
slartiBardfarst
08-12-2003, 21:32
i wouldn't say it was set higher than the monitor can display, just that it takes a few seconds to detect the change from boot to desktop settings.
the monitor tries to display the desktop settings while still running the 600x400 (or whatever) bootup ones.
HitmanIP7
08-12-2003, 23:16
Ive always had my desktop set at 1024 * 768, 32 bit, at 60Hz (although Im not sure if it has always been at 60Hz as Ive never looked at or changed this).
Recently I get a new hard drive, so I re-installed XP Pro. I cant remember the problem being there before.
I got a similar problem when i tried to run 3dmark2000, couldnt tell if it was monitor or gfx card. when it happened it was solved by simply switching my monitor off and on this solved, then after reinstalling the graphics drivers this never happened agian. :confused:
HitmanIP7
16-12-2003, 23:59
I got a chance (finally) to try another monitor, and I didn't get the problem at all on it.
But when I was trying the other monitor, I remembered something.
When I installed my new hard drive, I noticed that the lead going from the monitor to the graphics card had got caught between the wall and my desk. So instead of moving the desk forward (which would have been a better idea), I just pulled it out.
When I looked at the cable there was an inch long gash in it, exposing the wires inside, but not actually breaking any of them.
I thought it might have done some damage, but it seemed okay. I completely forgot about it, and only remembered when I saw the black tape I had put around the gash.
I guess I should be more carefull in the future :D
It could just be windows xp loading the graphics driver for your card into memory. This could be the driver setting the H and V sync frequencies and your monitor adjusting to them.
I dont suspect the monitor or card are at fault as they are stable once initialised.
To test the theory, temporarly change your graphics card drivers to windows generic 1024x768 VGA driver.
DarkEntity
17-12-2003, 22:18
or it could simply be he damaged some of the cables in the VGA cable and its not transmitting a full set of signals down the cable to the monitor ne more
I thought this only happend for a few seconds. If it were cables then it would likely to always happen.
The fact the mouse pointer looks ghosted in that screen shot sugggests its a frequencey problem.
HitmanIP7
17-12-2003, 23:14
Yeah, the only time this ever happens is at startup.
I never have any problems at any other time.
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