Why won't desktop monitor come on sometimes?

Question

I am in Europe, using a high quality voltage converter rated for computer use. I have a 3-year old Sony Vaio desktop running Windows XP. Everything has worked fine for the last 10 months. However, recently, I would come back after the monitor went into energy saving mode, and pressing the Enter key would not bring it back to life.

I have tried checking all the connections to see if anything is loose. When I switch on the computer, the monitor only comes on about 1/3 of the time, even though I can see the green light, indicating it has power.

Otherwise, the monitor works perfectly. Previously, it only required a little bit off fiddling to get the monitor to spring back to life, but now it doesn't respond. I have gotten in the habit of leaving the computer on most of the day (since the monitor goes into sleep mode to save power). I wonder if this is contributing to the problem.

SORRY..... I WAS NOT CLEAR. I HAVE AN LCD MONITOR, THE ONE THAT NORMALLY COMES BUNDLED WITH THE SONY VAIO DESKTOP. It is not CRT.

Answer 1

Sorry just had to comment on "computer guys" post

Firstly, the voltage converter may indeed be a little out but the statement that it will wear out your monitor is totally wrong. Mains Voltages are supplied by the power company with exceedingly high tolerances to allow for fluctuation of up to 10% in most countries so ALL mains powered devices are designed to withstand fairly signifigant variations in the supply voltage.

Second, CRT monitors are usually not repaired because they have reached the end of their working life so a repair may be an expensive way to a short term fix...its nearly always better to buy a new one as they are fairly cheap these days.

CRT Displays do indeed carry High voltages in them and any engineer who knows what he is doing is still able to safely repair one. CRT's do not just implode, it usually takes some idiot poking a screwdriver in the wrong place or knocking the neck of the tube to break them and even then, implode is too strong a word to describe what happens (it is hardly any more dramatic that dropping a light bulb)

Back to the question, you may have some issues with refresh rates, resolution or a driver issue. It is hard to say but can you tell us, does the monitor power up every time when you reboot the machine? If it does, it is likely to be an issue with the card/driver/settings in your laptop. try ensuring that you have the right monitor set in Windows XP as some monitoirs have issues coming out of power save mode when hit with high refresh rate signals (can be caused by wrong monitor selection).

Tell us the following

What resolution you are running and refresh rate.
Brand and model of monitor

That will give us a fighting chance of solving your problem :)

Answer 2

This is a common ailment of the windows platform. Over a period of time if left idle and powered up windows decays.

System drivers decide they're not being used so they switch down.

Best thing to do, if you know you won't be using the computer for awhile, shut it off.

I don't say to because I want you to conserve energy, you wouldn't leave the car motor running all day, just incase I might drive somewhere, it will be ready. Same with the computer, wear and tear on the machine parts, brown outs, spikes it 's an endurance your machine is going through, plus windows silent issue, decay.

Boot down when you are not using it. Boot up when you are, you'll find windows to be more friendlier, fresh each time.

Then you can switch those life sucking screen savers off, and discover your computer has a totally different, smoother feel.

Answer 3

Your Video Card(Video Driver) is causing it, or so I beleive. My Desktop Computer was doing that. It started after we got malware and had to reformat the computer. Since we have two Video Cards we had to connect to the first one, turn on the computer and reinstall the new graphics card, then replug in the monitor to the new one. I doubt you have been working on a new Video Card though. I am not sure how to access the Video Card on a laptop, but once you get there try taking it out and putting it back in, just incase it is loose. BE CAREFUL, YOU DO NOT WANT TO HARM THE LAPTOP WHILE IT IS OPEN TO THE HARDWARE. IF YOU DO NOT KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING, CONSULT A PROFESSIONAL.

Hope that helped xP

Answer 4

I don't know the specs on your "high quality" voltage converter, but if it is only a little off, it will wear out your monitor more quickly than you would expect.

In general, it is not practical to repair monitors. They have dangerous high-voltage components and the CRT can implode.

If you are going to be in Europe much longer, I advise you to buy one that runs on local power.

Answer 5

Leaving the monitor on should not cause this problem. If all the connections are good, and this still happens, perhaps it is time to get a new monitor.

Answer 6

without greater info it is dificult at beast.the problem is efecting all your perrifreals(video demonstrate,key board and mouse) between the solutions you obtain approximately potential saving setings is def worth looking into.You geared up this technique,hint it out.once you turne on the video demonstrate,earlier the %.,you need to first have a mild on the video demonstrate potential indicator,eco-friendly.then it is going to bypass yellow,withe a mesage on the demonstrate asserting no sign.If this hapens,your video demonstrate is large.then potential up your %. and watch the potential indicatore gentle on your video demonstrate.if the gentle turns eco-friendly,you have a sign out of your %. to the video demonstrate.no be counted if it continues to be yellow there is not any sign out of your %..potential down each factor,open it up, take all enjoying cards,ram strips,conections to mom board,complicated force conections ect.disconect and reconect each factor.something that has contacs which you will get at with an eraser on the tip of a pencel,sparkling them with the eraser.get all of it placed decrease back at the same time,potential up and allow me understand what happens

Answer 7

probably .. i would try redoing the video driver to see if it helps ..