Computer genuis folks of ATS, I need your help!!!!

I have an Acer computer: AX1800-E1232 CPU: E5400 ((Sorry, don't know much about computer model numbers so I hope that is enough))

I turned my computer on today & the monitor stayed black. I turned the computer off & then back on. While it was starting up the monitor showed the Acer start up screen & even showed the Windows starting up screen but then it went back to black. I tried unplugging the monitor cord from the monitor & when I was plugging it back in, I got an image for a couple seconds. I repeated the process but could only make the image stay for a couple seconds. I tried the other end of the monitor cord, unplugged it & replugged it back in. Again, I was only able to get picture for a couple seconds before it went back to black.

Anyone know what is going on? Do I need a new monitor cable or do I need a new monitor??

It sounds like the graphic drivers are corrupt. Can you do a safe start. Switch on your PC and press F8 and then start in safe mode and try to reinstall the graphics driver.

a reply to: knoledgeispower

I am not a genius in the computers but when you turn on your PC do you hear a beep ? At my PC,when I hear the Beep everything will start,if not...it doesn't work

EDIT: I know the solution for that

a reply to: knoledgeispower

Try booting in Safe mode. To get that keep dabbing F8 from the moment you switch on while its booting. When the menu appears choose safe mode. Let it boot completely then restart.

originally posted by: PaulTheDuke
a reply to: knoledgeispower

I am not a genius in the computers but when you turn on your PC do you hear a beep ? At my PC,when I hear the Beep everything will start,if not...it doesn't work

EDIT: I know the solution for that

You beat me to it by a few seconds

I often find simply booting into safe mode then rebooting often solves driver problems.

If safe mode doesn't work, how old is the computer and/or monitor?

Do you use W 8.1, Microsoft had to pull back some updates ?

After updating lots of PC`s didn`t wanted to start up anymore.

www.pcpro.co.uk...

a reply to: knoledgeispower

Try Safe Mode first. This will bypass your Video Drivers. If it works then it's your drivers, if not continue...

Next try plugging your monitor into another PC or Laptop and see what happens. Also try another monitor on your PC to see if it works ok. If you can't do these, then skip it.

Being that you get something for a few seconds by plugging and unplugging the monitor, it sounds like your Monitor is going out. It could be the cable but that's probably wishful thinking. I've had this same thing with a monitor myself. Did the same as you. Would work for about 20 seconds then nothing. Power it off for a min and back on and it would last a few more seconds. Bad Monitor.

If it was your Video Card you most likely wouldn't be getting anything regardless of how many times you plugged and unplugged your monitor.

originally posted by: mOjOm
a reply to: knoledgeispower

Try Safe Mode first. This will bypass your Video Drivers. If it works then it's your drivers, if not continue...

Next try plugging your monitor into another PC or Laptop and see what happens. Also try another monitor on your PC to see if it works ok. If you can't do these, then skip it.

Being that you get something for a few seconds by plugging and unplugging the monitor, it sounds like your Monitor is going out. It could be the cable but that's probably wishful thinking. I've had this same thing with a monitor myself. Did the same as you. Would work for about 20 seconds then nothing. Power it off for a min and back on and it would last a few more seconds. Bad Monitor.

If it was your Video Card you most likely wouldn't be getting anything regardless of how many times you plugged and unplugged your monitor.

I tried plugging the monitor into another computer & I had the same exact issue. I have to dig around to find my old monitor to see if it's just the cable or if it's the whole monitor.

I've only had the computer for 4yrs so it sucks I'm already running into a problem like this. It was working fine last night.

a reply to: knoledgeispower

Do you have speakers connected? If so do you hear the Welcome to windows sound?
EVen if your monitor is dead your pc will still boot as normal, thats why I'm wondering if you hear the sound.
If you dont hear the sound then its not likely to be the monitor, especially as you see the starting windows screen.

originally posted by: knoledgeispower

I tried plugging the monitor into another computer & I had the same exact issue. I have to dig around to find my old monitor to see if it's just the cable or if it's the whole monitor.

I've only had the computer for 4yrs so it sucks I'm already running into a problem like this. It was working fine last night.

Cool. That's what I thought. Well, like I said, I think the cable being the problem is probably wishful thinking, but who knows, you may get lucky.

It sucks, I know. That's just how some stuff works though. Works one minute and the next it's gone. That's technology for ya. Sometimes you just get a weak production too.

I've had all kinds of components go out and others that take a beating and just keep going, ya just never know. Buying name brand quality parts does help though usually. But even then sometimes, as they say, sh*t happens.

originally posted by: VoidHawk
a reply to: knoledgeispower

Do you have speakers connected? If so do you hear the Welcome to windows sound?
EVen if your monitor is dead your pc will still boot as normal, thats why I'm wondering if you hear the sound.
If you dont hear the sound then its not likely to be the monitor, especially as you see the starting windows screen.

Yes the computer starts as normal, it even showed me flashes of it starting up on when I connected it to the two different computers. it is something with the monitor, either the cable or the monitor is starting to go.

a reply to: mOjOm

Found the old monitor & the cable is the kind that is connected to the back of the monitor so you can't change it around. I'll just have to use the old monitor for now until I can go out and get another cable. Hopefully that's what the issue is and not the monitor itself.

originally posted by: knoledgeispower
a reply to: mOjOm

Found the old monitor & the cable is the kind that is connected to the back of the monitor so you can't change it around. I'll just have to use the old monitor for now until I can go out and get another cable. Hopefully that's what the issue is and not the monitor itself.

I'd hate to see you waste money on a cable just to have to buy a new monitor anyway, but it's up to you. I'm going to bet it's the monitor though.

Anyway you could attach the cable to the other cable like an extension and try it that way to test the cable?? I'm assuming it's a SVGA cable right. D-shell with 3 rows of pins??

originally posted by: mOjOm

originally posted by: knoledgeispower
a reply to: mOjOm

Found the old monitor & the cable is the kind that is connected to the back of the monitor so you can't change it around. I'll just have to use the old monitor for now until I can go out and get another cable. Hopefully that's what the issue is and not the monitor itself.

I'd hate to see you waste money on a cable just to have to buy a new monitor anyway, but it's up to you. I'm going to bet it's the monitor though.

Anyway you could attach the cable to the other cable like an extension and try it that way to test the cable?? I'm assuming it's a SVGA cable right. D-shell with 3 rows of pins??

One end looks like this & it plugs into the CPU


The other end goes right up into the monitor.

a reply to: knoledgeispower

Right. Now, the cable that you think is Bad comes detached from both the CPU and the Monitor though right??? Does it have both ends looking like the pic above?? (Both Male Ends) Or does it have one Male end and a Female end on the other side???

The reason being if it has both Male and Female ends you could plug it on to the end of the Working monitor cable, just like you would an extension and try it like that. If you get the same problem with the working monitor then you'd know it is the cable. However, if it still works fine, then for sure it's the monitor.

Does that makes sense???

a reply to: mOjOm

No I can't plug them in that way.

a reply to: knoledgeispower

Ok just checking. Well You got it from here. Good luck!!

a reply to: mOjOm

Thank you for your advice

Just a thought, is it a flat screen monitor ?
Some of those suffered from bad connections to the internal back light. They'd come on then a few seconds later switch of again.
Google "2 seconds to black"

Try turning the monitor off completely. Switch pc on and let it finish booting. When your sure its finished booting switch on the monitor.