Monitor

Symptoms: blank screen; unit comes on and off intermittently

Hardware checklist:

Check the wall socket or surge strip to see if they are bad (sometimes a surge strip will have good and bad outlets). Try the monitor in another location to see if the problem is really the monitor.

Check the power cable to the back of the monitor. Wiggle it at the detachable end next to the monitor. If the monitor flickers or comes on briefly change the cable with another one. Sometimes the original power cable is a little small on that end and a different cable will make it work properly.

Check the pins of the data cable to make sure pins are not bent on either end. A single bent pin can cause severe loss of lumens on the monitor.

Do not service monitors yourself...they carry stored electrical current inside the case in the capacitor that can kill, even after it has been unplugged.

If the monitor works OK at a second computer then you have other problems on the original computer. Possibilities include: dead video card or bad connector into video card; or perhaps incorrect video settings in Windows.

Video Display or Video Card Problems:

Symptoms: three beeps on booting the computer, 16 color display, tiny screen, large icons.

Three PC speaker beeps upon booting indicates video card problems. Check inside the case to see if the card is dislodged in the slot.

A number of display problems can be caused by an incorrect software video driver. Compare that machine with an identical machine in the Device Manager to see if the video card is misidentified. If the machine is unique open the case and write down all the identifying marks on the card. Go to http://www.windrivers.com and find the correct driver.

Check in Display Properties (rightclick on the wallpaper and left click on Properties) to see if you can change from 16 color mode to higher colors (look in the Settings tab).

A tiny screen may indicate too high a resolution. Look in Display Properties/Settings and change it to a smaller Screen Area. You may need to boot up in Safe Mode to accomplish this. Lightly and repeatedly tap the F8 button while the computer is booting. You have two seconds after it says Starting Windows to see the menu and choose Safe Mode.

Huge icons and menus means the Scheme was changed in Display Properties/Appearance. Change it back to Windows Standard and hit OK. On some machines you may not be able to see the OK button and will need to use the Tab/Arrow and enter keys to find that button. If you still can't get the OK button to work boot into Safe Mode and you will be able to change it