Author Topic: Monitor turns itself off.. runs fine in Safe Mode (Read 11695 times)

CPitalo · « **on:** June 18, 2009, 09:57:11 PM »

Hi, there.

I've been experiencing this problem for several weeks now and it's quite annoying. After several minutes of operating normally, the 'hardware connection' sound clip is played and the monitor goes dark. The monitor acts as if the computer is in standby and it cannot be brought out of this.. even though the computer is still on and functioning normally.

The only way I can seem to reset this is through pulling the power cable from the tower. Even at that, the computer only resets after about five to six pullings-out of the cable. Once Windows loads, wash, rinse and repeat. I've only had luck running the computer in Safe Mode, as I am right now. I've rolled back my video card drivers, I've upgraded them, checked the cables.. nothing seems to help. My system specs are as posted:

Quote

Dell XPS710
Intel Core2 CPU 6400 @ 2.13 Ghz
2 GB RAM

Microsoft Windows XP Professional SP3
Dual nVIDIA GeForce 7900 GS cards (driver 6.14.11.8618 - 06/10/09)
DirectX 9.0c

hot dog · « **Reply #1 on:** June 18, 2009, 10:38:41 PM »

Quote from: CPitalo on June 18, 2009, 09:57:11 PM

Once Windows loads, wash, rinse and repeat.

uh, did you remember to add fabric softener, and be sure to only tumble dry on low heat

Nice looking computer...It kind of looks like one of those portable living room heaters..

Anyway, could you describe the "hardware connection sound clip" a little better...not exactly sure what you mean...

Have you looked inside the computer lately? Is there any dust that needs to be blown out? It seems like you've tried everything.......If it is going into hibernation or standby, you might be able to prevent it...Check here: START>control panel>Display>Screen Saver tab>Under "monitor power", click the "power" button, under "power schemes" tab & under "settings for presentation power scheme", make sure all those settings are set to "NEVER" Be sure to click the "APPLY" button after changing the settings. Like I said, this will not correct the problem of not being able to come out of hibernation or standby, but it will prevent your PC from entering either one, period..

Most likely, there are settings for your video card as well....LOOK in Control Panel for your video card settings...

If all else fails, you could just reinstall your OS, because the monitor works in safe mode, so the problem is NOT with the monitor...The problem exists between the video card driver and Operation system

CPitalo · « **Reply #2 on:** June 19, 2009, 07:57:13 AM »

Thanks for the reply! Yeah, it does look like a space heater..

Anyway, the sound byte could best be described as 'badunk' for a connection and 'dadunk' for a disconnection. Plug something into USB.. the sound it makes is what I'm poorly describing.

I've also adjusted the power settings but it's a no-go. The computer itself stays active, it's only the monitor that appears to go into hibernation.

hot dog · « **Reply #3 on:** June 19, 2009, 07:59:35 AM »

did you look in Control Panel for your graphics card settings? There may be some settings that you can adjust in the graphics card properties, that is causing this

CPitalo · « **Reply #4 on:** June 19, 2009, 08:02:56 AM »

Yeah, I did. I reset to the factory settings, turned SLI off too.. neither worked. I haven't opened the tower in a while but then again, it rarely ever moves so I don't suspect anything to be loose. Definitely going to dust it later today though.

hot dog · « **Reply #5 on:** June 19, 2009, 08:06:50 AM »

Was your computer always like this or did this start recently?

I would just back up everything that you can and reinstall

CPitalo · « **Reply #6 on:** June 19, 2009, 04:01:44 PM »

It's fairly recent.. it's been a couple of weeks now.

hot dog · « **Reply #7 on:** June 19, 2009, 04:42:09 PM »

Boot into SAFE MODE and do a System Restore, before trying to reinstall

CPitalo · « **Reply #8 on:** June 19, 2009, 05:13:27 PM »

Yeah, will try that. I restored about a week ago to a week before that but the problem still occurred.

hot dog · « **Reply #9 on:** June 19, 2009, 05:19:58 PM »

go back to the point when you first installed, if you can!

CPitalo · « **Reply #10 on:** June 19, 2009, 05:24:18 PM »

System restore is a no-go. Monitor blacks out as soon as the reboot starts.. system carries on. I ended up having to pull the power cable and restart about four times until the monitor came back to life.

hot dog · « **Reply #11 on:** June 19, 2009, 05:31:07 PM »

time to reinstall

CPitalo · « **Reply #12 on:** June 19, 2009, 07:03:44 PM »

NOOOOOOO!

patio · « **Reply #13 on:** June 19, 2009, 08:21:05 PM »

If it runs properly in safemode then it's a driver issue...

CPitalo · « **Reply #14 on:** June 19, 2009, 08:34:40 PM »

That's what I was thinking, but with the rolling back, leaving be, and upgrading of the drivers, I can't seem to hammer it out.

hot dog · « **Reply #15 on:** June 19, 2009, 09:22:06 PM »

definitely a driver issue but we can't seem to pin down the problem...he's already rolled back AND updated......I doubt uninstalling in Device Manager would make any difference. There's something going on between the driver and the Operation system....

This is a long shot, but try this: boot into safe mode with command prompt, insert your installation disk, type sfc /scannow at the prompt and see if the System File Checker utility finds anything corrupt or missing in your OS that needs repair

Do you have the latest Windows Updates?

CPitalo · « **Reply #16 on:** June 19, 2009, 09:25:40 PM »

I do. Will try the disc suggestion and post results.

Broni · « **Reply #17 on:** June 19, 2009, 09:27:03 PM »

Did you try another cable?
Did you try THIS monitor on another working computer, or another working monitor on THIS computer?
Do you have any power saving features enabled?
How long does it take for the monitor, running in Normal Mode, before it dies?

CPitalo · « **Reply #18 on:** June 19, 2009, 09:37:59 PM »

Quote from: Broni on June 19, 2009, 09:27:03 PM

Did you try another cable?

I didn't. I don't have another cable to use and do not know of anyone who has one.

Did you try THIS monitor on another working computer, or another working monitor on THIS computer?

See above.

Do you have any power saving features enabled?

No. I disabled these just to be safe and the problem still occurs.

How long does it take for the monitor, running in Normal Mode, before it dies?

It depends. It can last a couple of hours or a couple of minutes.

hot dog · « **Reply #19 on:** June 19, 2009, 09:40:11 PM »

I can't see how another cable would make a difference, the monitor works while in SAFE MODE...

Broni · « **Reply #20 on:** June 19, 2009, 09:40:49 PM »

Well, testing first two possibilities would answer a lot of questions.

Is it on-board video, or video card?

CPitalo · « **Reply #21 on:** June 19, 2009, 09:42:33 PM »

It's a dual card set: nVIDIA GeForce 7900 GS dual / SLI.

hot dog · « **Reply #22 on:** June 19, 2009, 09:43:52 PM »

Is there an onboard video port on the motherboard you can try?

Broni · « **Reply #23 on:** June 19, 2009, 09:44:24 PM »

Quote

I can't see how another cable would make a difference, the monitor works while in SAFE MODE...

CPitalo
For how long, and how many times have you tested monitor in Safe Mode?

I'm asking, because of your answer:

Quote

It can last a couple of hours or a couple of minutes.

Broni · « **Reply #24 on:** June 19, 2009, 09:46:07 PM »

Is it LCD, or CRT monitor?
I assume, the card has two ports: VGA, and DVI, correct?
Which port do you use?

Broni · « **Reply #25 on:** June 19, 2009, 09:47:53 PM »

Download, and install SpeedFan: http://www.almico.com/sfdownload.php
Post your computer temperatures:

Provide processor info (hold Windows logo key, and hit Pause/Break key to find out).

Post back with initial temperatures, and then keep watching them, while using computer.

CPitalo · « **Reply #26 on:** June 19, 2009, 09:49:53 PM »

Quote

CPitalo
For how long, and how many times have you tested monitor in Safe Mode?

I'm asking, because of your answer:

Several. I left it in Safe Mode overnight to see if the problem would reoccur, but some twenty-eight hours later, it's still on and functioning properly.

hot dog · « **Reply #27 on:** June 19, 2009, 09:56:46 PM »

Does the motherboard have a video port you can try? (not the video card)

CPitalo · « **Reply #28 on:** June 19, 2009, 10:00:47 PM »

Quote from: Broni on June 19, 2009, 09:47:53 PM

Download, and install SpeedFan:
Post back with initial temperatures, and then keep watching them, while using computer.

(blue downward arrow) GPU: 0C
(flame) GPU: 125C
(green check mark) HD0: 40C
(flame) Core 0: 57C
(flame) Core 1: 58C

CPitalo · « **Reply #29 on:** June 19, 2009, 10:02:06 PM »

Quote from: blockHEAD on June 19, 2009, 09:56:46 PM

Does the motherboard have a video port you can try? (not the video card)

There are two plugins for the monitor to the card.. I tried the other but nothing at all.

@ Broni:

The cable is DVI-D into an LCD monitor.

Broni · « **Reply #30 on:** June 19, 2009, 10:02:54 PM »

What processor is it? Dual core?

CPitalo · « **Reply #31 on:** June 19, 2009, 10:04:03 PM »

Intel Core 2

Broni · « **Reply #32 on:** June 19, 2009, 10:08:22 PM »

Be more specific. What model, speed?

CPitalo · « **Reply #33 on:** June 19, 2009, 10:10:21 PM »

From the first post in the thread:

Quote

Dell XPS710
Intel Core2 CPU 6400 @ 2.13 Ghz
2 GB RAM

Microsoft Windows XP Professional SP3
Dual nVIDIA GeForce 7900 GS cards (driver 6.14.11.8618 - 06/10/09)
DirectX 9.0c

Broni · « **Reply #34 on:** June 19, 2009, 10:14:07 PM »

Your computer is hot! Too hot.
Max temp for your processor is listed at 61.4° C.
Start with cleaning inside, using compressed air.

If this is true reading:
(flame) GPU: 125C
you're boiling your video card.

CPitalo · « **Reply #35 on:** June 19, 2009, 10:14:40 PM »

EEK! I'm going to buy Duster right now.. be right back.

hot dog · « **Reply #36 on:** June 19, 2009, 10:21:36 PM »

I take it "flame" next to the temperature readings indicates the temperature is too high??

Well I sure jumped the gun a little

Three cheers for Broni

edit: how can you use Speed Fan while in Safe Mode? The the CPU work relatively just as hard in SAFE MODE as normal mode?

CPitalo · « **Reply #37 on:** June 19, 2009, 11:04:12 PM »

Ok, back. I opened up the case and gave it a through dusting. For now, it's running normally again.. I have the side of the case open and a room fan blowing on it. The HD0, Core 0 and Core 1 are all down, put the two GPU are flaming.

(flame) GPU: 67C
(flame)GPU: 52C
(downward blue arrow) HD0: 30C
(downward blue arrow) Core 0: 38C
(downward blue arrow) Core 1: 39C

hot dog · « **Reply #38 on:** June 19, 2009, 11:09:51 PM »

What kind of motherboard is it, make/model?

You should make sure that the heat sink is seated against the processor correctly and if it is already, then you should remove the heat sink, clean off all the old thermal grease with some alcohol and apply a new layer....

hot dog · « **Reply #39 on:** June 19, 2009, 11:12:50 PM »

sorry, you already specified the make/model of the computer, I can get it the mobo make/model from there

Broni · « **Reply #40 on:** June 19, 2009, 11:16:46 PM »

GPU at 52C, or 67C (I'm not sure, which temp is correct one) is acceptable. GPU can take temperatures like those.
38-39C for CPU is surely much better, but I'd still like to see it lower. For idle desktop, I'd like to see them below 30C
You may want to reapply thermal paste.

CPitalo · « **Reply #41 on:** June 19, 2009, 11:18:13 PM »

As I leave the case open it seems the temperatures are slowly decreasing. I wonder if the current temperatures are due to the dust AND leaving it on in safemode, enclosed, over a twenty four hour period.

CPitalo · « **Reply #42 on:** June 19, 2009, 11:23:53 PM »

I'll keep this thread updated through-out the night. In the mean time, thanks for the outstanding assistance!

hot dog · « **Reply #43 on:** June 19, 2009, 11:26:21 PM »

awww, it was nothing......don't mention it

kudos to Broni

CPitalo · « **Reply #44 on:** June 20, 2009, 06:51:29 PM »

Here's a shot of today's temperatures.. a couple still running a bit high even with the tower open and the room fan still blowing. The PC was shutdown or in standby for the duration of the night.

[attachment deleted by admin]

Broni · « **Reply #45 on:** June 20, 2009, 07:06:44 PM »

Yeah, video card at 73C is hot.

CPitalo · « **Reply #46 on:** June 20, 2009, 07:08:28 PM »

What do you recommend?

Broni · « **Reply #47 on:** June 20, 2009, 07:10:49 PM »

Since CPU is not cold either (38C), I'd start with reapplying thermal paste.
Maybe some extra fan is needed. Maybe video card fan is going out...

CPitalo · « **Reply #48 on:** June 20, 2009, 07:21:48 PM »

Do you know of any write-ups on where to purchase and how to apply thermal paste?

Broni · « **Reply #49 on:** June 20, 2009, 07:28:46 PM »

Very good manual: http://www.arcticsilver.com/instructions.htm

CPitalo · « **Reply #50 on:** June 20, 2009, 07:29:21 PM »

Excellent. Thanks!

Broni · « **Reply #51 on:** June 20, 2009, 07:31:08 PM »

You're very welcome

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Author Topic: Monitor turns itself off.. runs fine in Safe Mode (Read 11695 times)

CPitalo

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