Intermittent problems with monitor during startup

F

firedancer

New Member
Hi all,

I'm getting ready to accept that I just need a new computer. Too many issues. But here goes another.

I have a Gateway desktop running Windows XP Home.
I recently installed a new harddrive. Before that, I installed a new power supply and new memory. I have installed updated drivers for video and other things due to computer errors. For awhile, things were great, but now...

(1) It started getting stuck in standby. The computer would work fine, I'd go away for awhile, it would go into standby per my settings. If it was left for a long period of time (say overnight), it wouldn't come back on. My usual wake-up is the Esc key - nada. Or pressing power button - nada. So I would do a cold boot.

Tired of this happening, I changed my settings to never go on standby - except the monitor.

(2) I also discovered if I shut down my computer completely, it won't turn back on. The cpu WILL power up, but the monitor won't come on. There are no grinding noises or beeps or clicks coming from the cpu - it sounds like it's starting normally, but the monitor won't come on.

(3) I do a forced shutdown, wait, turn off power supply, unplug power cord, wait, plug back in, turn on power supply, and previously, that fixed the problem.

But today....

(4) Nothing worked. I did a forced shutdown about 5 or 6 times, went through my little ritual a couple times - nothing. The cpu starts up fine. The monitor's power light is on orange (standby color), but it will not start up. (Note: disabling standby has worked fine - my cpu is always running and my monitor goes into standby, but it always "wakes up" without a problem.)

FINALLY!!

(5) After a few more attempts, Windows started. Monitor seemed to be working, but after about five minutes on the computer, the system froze. No choice but to do a forced shutdown - now it won't start up again. CPU is fine - just the monitor won't ignite again (power IS on).

I'm wondering:
- Is it as simple as needing a new monitor? What are some middle issues that might be happening? I have recently installed a new display driver, but don't know if that has anything to do with it.

Any ideas??
 
Well, in the time I came on my husband's computer and typed up that last post, my desktop apparently got the rest it needed. I went in and tried to turn it on again and the monitor came on this time. Windows loaded fine and I'm looking at my desktop. What is going on???
 
Nevermind. It froze again. Both times, it froze in Hotmail.

:( Now I will do a forced shutdown, and I'll be back at square one. Any ideas?
 
Intermittent is the key word. And this word is almost always associated with the power supply. Power supplies have the highest failure rate of any PC component, and even though you recently replaced it, this sounds PSU related. I've experienced all those problems, and they've all cleared up after I purchased a good quality PSU that met my systems needs. To be sure it's not simply a inferior PSU, post specs of computer plus rated wattage of PSU and the amperage of the +12v rail (can be found on the side sticky of the unit).

Now it might be less complicated than. Is the case clear of dust, as well as the heatsinks and fans + video card itself? Have you tried plugging the power cords into a different outlet? Have you attempted to use a different monitor to reproduce the situation? You should try all these diagnostical types of things before shelling out the cash on any replacement component.
 
Last edited:
hermesyre - Thank you for the great suggestions. I will try some of the "less complicated" options you suggested, but it's funny you think it's the power supply. Originally, I thought the same thing, but disregarded it because I just bought the power supply! However, I don't know about the quality. I purchased it at Office Depot and it was a universal unit. I wasn't sure if I was making a good decision, but the technician said it would work fine. Anyway - I'll get right on your suggestions and come back with the results, as well as the information you asked for.

Thanks again for your help! I had to shut it down again at 3:00 a.m. because I woke up to it restarting itself over and over. Great...now a driver problem?? And now this morning, it won't turn on (the monitor again). So...off to work I go.
 
Restarting? Like it passes POST, then attempts to boot into Windows and restarts? It could be a software conflict problem, though my guess still lies in the PSU, the motherboard, or the monitor itself.
 
Yeah hermeslyre. I've had to disable standby because whenever I left it on standby for a longer period of time (overnight) it wouldn't wake up. So now it runs all the time, which I don't like at all, but if I shut it down I run into the monitor issue (not starting). So I left the computer last night - as usual - though I do allow the monitor to turn off. I fell asleep on the couch, and at 3:00 a.m., I awoke to the Windows music it plays during startup. I opened my eyes and witnessed it going into Windows, fully loading, sitting there, then it would restart again (Windows shut down, system restarted). I would be looking at my desktop again, and one time I saw the familiar dialogue box that I know says "Windows has recovered from a serious error." But before I could get up to see for sure, the computer restarted again. It was in a cyclical process, so I forced a shutdown. :( I'm still working on getting those specs for you.

By the way - how much does a "quality" PSU cost?
 
One other thing hermeslyre. I've gone through my routine today of trying to start the computer again - I have yet to remove the casing to look inside. Still, the CPU sounds like a gem when I power up, except about the fifth time I tried. Suddenly, the A: and the CD-Rom drive started making zapping noises. The sound it makes when the system tries to access the empty floppy? Anyway - could this also be a symptom of a faulty PSU? Or is something else going on, Doctor? :)
 
Hmm.. The restarting could be software conflict, Faulty PSU, Bad RAM, etc.. Make everything is seated properly, pull out the RAM and reseat, make sure the Power dongles and IDE cables are plugged in firmly to the HDD. Try taking out all but one stick of RAM, test, then take out that one and test another. You can do this with your HDD if you have two or more, as well. Can you boot into safe mode fine? If so, do problems persist in safe mode? Oh, and when the system restarted, did you see a BSOD? A blue screen, even if very brief?

What do you mean when you say the CPU sounds like a gem? Is this an older computer? The entire situation sounds ugly.. :D It could be the PSU, monitor, RAM, HDD/corrupt OS, Overheating, etc, etc.. The monitor problem sounds like a monitor problem lol. It wouldn't be the video drivers, as you said the monitor exhibited problems before booting into Windows. Are you able to test another monitor, or even another VGA cable to determine fault? If the monitor itself isn't at fault, once again i'd suspect the PSU, as the system may sound like it's starting but it actually isn't, Which is what happened to me.

A quality PSU doesn't need to cost alot, you just have to know what to look for. Brand and specs of PSU, as well as your system specs and what they require.
 
hermeslyre... You're funny. Thanks for the suggestions. I would concur that this issue is ugly and making me pull out my hair. Sorry for the delay in my reply - my house has been laden with a horrible virus for the last two weeks. And I'm not talking the computer kind. Blek.

Ummm... When I say the CPU sounds like a gem, I just meant it sounds smooth and the fan runs fine, and there are no grinding or other strange noises when I power up. The computer is from 2002.

Today I made sure all the power dongles (hadn't heard that term before) were solid. I took them out and put them back in. I will do the same with the data cable. I only have one HDD. I hooked up my husband's monitor (which is working fine on his computer), and it did not start up either on my system. I'm narrowing down the possibilities, right?

I canNOT get into safe mode. The monitor doesn't come on at all. It doesn't sound like Windows is loading. Well, obviously. You may be right that the system is not actually starting. The system is pretty cool, so I don't think it's an overheating issue.

When the computer was spontaneously restarting the other night, there was no blue screen. For one moment I saw a dialogue box that I suspect said, "The system has recovered from a serious error," but these do not tell me what the error is. As I continued to watch it load into Windows and restart again, there was no error message the next time.

I will follow your suggestions re: the RAM, and let you know what happens after that. I've reseated them before for another issue and it started up. Maybe that'll be my miracle cure again?

Thanks hermeslyre, I'll check back in when I try the RAM thing.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top