Gateway Video Probem - LCD or Computer

[MikeSD]

I have a Gateway GM5424 duo core computer with a Faroudia (I think) FPD2275W 22" LCD display.

I have had this problem happen 2 times. The first time, it was transitory and corrected itself within a few minutes. This time, when the problem occurred, it stayed out. The symptom is NO VIDEO. I am using the digital video cable vs. VGA or other cables.

What initiated the problem:
In both cases, I had a screensaver executing. I moved the mouse to close the screensaver and the video went blank. It just acted like the monitor lost it's input. But there was no "no video" displayed, when video is lost. The screen just went blank. The power light was still blue and the menus could still be activated... just nothing displayed on the screen.

My initial theory of what happened: Since the computer is still working and since there was no "no video" displayed, I figured I had video to the LCD but that the LCD display had glitched into some other mode that caused the screen to go blank. Like perhaps it was waiting for component video and I was using DVI.

What I have done so far:

• I have removed the cables and reconnected them. Interesting symptom I'll explain later.
• I have tried the VGA cable... no change
• I have removed the video card and reseated it... no change
• I have verified the computer is actually working but I don't know if the video problem is on the computer or in the monitor.

I need to try and isolate which is defective. I'm also wondering if possibly the LCD display has gone into some sort of misprogrammed mode. It comes up, initially with DVI input but all the menus are in another language (Spanish I think. They are there only for about 10 seconds).

Interesting symptom:One thing I did notice. When I remove the video, the monitor power on button will change from blue to orange, as if in standby. When I reconnect the cable, whatever should be shown, is shown for about 3 seconds, and then the video goes blank again. So the computer is working. Again, it looks like the LCD display, after 3 seconds, switches to a different mode. Also, I noticed that all my menus (that I can see for those 3 seconds) have also switched to Spanish vs. English.

Questions
1) Without any video cables attached to the monitor but with the power attached, shouldn't I be able to operate the menus to setup the monitor? Other than the initial DVI splash screen, the monitor goes blank.

2) Is there some easy test to isolate whether or not the problem is with the computer or the monitor? I have no other computers or LCD to swap components.

3) Is there a way to test the monitor by itself, without a computer attached? Shouldn't I be able to see menus, without video attached? The reason I wonder about this, is because I know there are video input options to select which type of input the LCD expects (VGA, DVI, Analog, Composite, etc). Unless one can see the menus, how can they select the input type? That is why I'm wondering if the problem might be in the monitor. There is no video, without a video cable and even with the cable, I only see it for about 3 seconds, before it goes blank.

4) Anyone know how to reset the monitor to factory defaults? If the video input source was somehow glitched, perhaps resetting it would allow it to again work. But since I can't see the display, for more than 3 seconds, I need to determine the exact sequence of menu buttons to push. The menus do work.... I just can't see the display.

5) For those who have this monitor, if you disconnect the USB cables and Video cable, can you see the menu choices on your LCD?


Thanks,

 

[A Cheese Danish]

1. No. If the monitor is in stand-by, you can not do anything. I just tried on my Acer for reassurance.
2. You could take it to a friend or relatives house and test it. Or if you have a laptop, you could hook it up via VGA. And if the monitor gives you the same troubles, you know its the monitor. If not it is most likely the vid card.
3. Unless your monitor is a tv, the monitor will automatically pick up what cables you are using.
4. Don't know that one, sorry
5. Same as answer 3, it will go into standby and you will not be able to see any menu options.

Honestly, it sounds like your monitor is having major issues with the backlighting.
See if you can acquire a different monitor from someone and see if it does the same thing.

 

[fmw]

The one thing you haven't done is the first thing techs would do to troubleshoot. Either sub the computer or the monitor. Then you will know which one it is.

 

[MikeSD]

The one thing you haven't done is the first thing techs would do to troubleshoot. Either sub the computer or the monitor. Then you will know which one it is.

Well duh! What part of "I don't have any other components didn't you understand? But you are right. That should be the first test.

Honestly, it sounds like your monitor is having major issues with the backlighting.
See if you can acquire a different monitor from someone and see if it does the same thing.

I thought about that too. There was one time when something happened that made me think backlight.

I'm at work right now so can't check but if it's backlight, shouldn't I be able to use a bright light on the screen and just see if there is some video present, even if it's dark? I mean, the video should still be visible (yet very dark) shouldn't it, from the front?

The other thing is this monitor is about 2 years old and has virtually never been turned off. It mostly runs 24/7. So it's altogether likely that it's life has just come to an end.

The one thing that makes me question whether or not something broke is this happened before and came back. AND, it happened both times, at the instant that I moved my mouse. In both cases the screen was not in standby but rather just displaying a screensaver images. The monitor is never really in standby, just displaying random images.

I'm going to try and borrow my laptop and docking station from work, which also have VGA and DVI connections. That might help me.

Thanks

 

[fmw]

Well duh! What part of "I don't have any other components didn't you understand?

No need to get snippy, son. Take one component to someplace else at which there is a computer and do the sub there. It isn't rocket science. Do the first things first. Duh!