CrazyMobster Posted April 15, 2007 Report Share Posted April 15, 2007 I started having this problem about a week or two ago. At totaly random times my computer monitor would go dark as if its turned off and it would stay like that untill I turn off my computer by holding the power button or unplugging it. I know this is very bad for my computer. Ive checked all connections and wires and everyhting seems to be fine, but I dont know why this happens. And it happens totaly random too, not after I do a specific action or anything like that. Anyone have any idea about whats going on? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catgate Posted April 15, 2007 Report Share Posted April 15, 2007 How many miles has it done? And what are you running on? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyMobster Posted April 15, 2007 Author Report Share Posted April 15, 2007 I got the computer 2 and a half years ago. I mainly got it to edit video and play games so its a high-end machine. Ive only changed the video card once. Im running Windows XP Media Center Edition. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catgate Posted April 15, 2007 Report Share Posted April 15, 2007 In the absence of any forum experts I would suggest looking at overheating of the works. It may be a dust problem affecting the cooling. It may also be tired RAM. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raddy Posted April 15, 2007 Report Share Posted April 15, 2007 I would be more inclined to think it's something wrong with the monitor; an overheating video card generally gives several signs before failure (horrendous frame lag, screen artifacts, frame tearing). Two additional questions:1. After your monitor goes dark, does it seem like your computer continues to run normally (do fans and LEDs remain on)?2. Are you using an LCD or CRT monitor? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyMobster Posted April 16, 2007 Author Report Share Posted April 16, 2007 Ive noticed on my monitor (not sure if its the same on very monitor) but when lets say I start a game the screen goes black for a few seconds while the game starts and thats a lighter shade of black. When my monitor goes black because of this problem its a very thick shade of black, the same as if I tunrned the monitor off. I have only one dot on my monitor that flashes when my monitor is on, regrdless ifthe computer is on, and that light continues to flash during this problem. Im using an LCD monitor. I also think this is something with over heating because it happenes after the computer is on for a while. I turned it off for an hour or so today at 3 pm and turned it on at 4 and so far it hasnt happened. I will try cleaning the fan on the graphics card. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raddy Posted April 16, 2007 Report Share Posted April 16, 2007 Okay, it sounds to me like your monitor is going, but it can't hurt to clean the card and maybe re-seat it in the slot. Next time it goes dark, unplug the monitor from the video card and you should get the monitor self-test screen; if you don't see it, I would say it is the monitor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andsome Posted April 16, 2007 Report Share Posted April 16, 2007 Can a friend lend you a monitor to try out? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyMobster Posted April 16, 2007 Author Report Share Posted April 16, 2007 Ok, ill try cleaning the card and reseating it. I have an old monitor, one of the fat ones, that I can try for a day and see how that works. Thanks for the help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catgate Posted April 16, 2007 Report Share Posted April 16, 2007 Ok, ill try cleaning the card and reseating it.Remember not to use steel wool!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andsome Posted April 16, 2007 Report Share Posted April 16, 2007 Ok, ill try cleaning the card and reseating it.Remember not to use steel wool!!!Or Brasso. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyMobster Posted April 16, 2007 Author Report Share Posted April 16, 2007 Ok, so I decided to give it another try before I actually opened up the computer and cleaned it and I turned it on and nothing will show up on the screen at all. Even from startup it just stays black. I tried my old fat monitor and its the same thing. So now im almost sure its my card. I didnt pay much attention to it back then but this started out as my screen going black for a second or two about twice a day. I though it was just refreshing the screen because of my high resolution. Then it just started getting black and not turning back and now it wont show anyhting at all. So ill have to buy a new card and try it out.And I did clean it and re seated the card after I first saw this this morning and it was the same afterwards. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andsome Posted April 16, 2007 Report Share Posted April 16, 2007 Oh dear, new card. :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyMobster Posted April 16, 2007 Author Report Share Posted April 16, 2007 Yea, guess so, I still have the original card that came with the computer so im going to try that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyMobster Posted April 16, 2007 Author Report Share Posted April 16, 2007 It wouldnt let me edit my post for some reason. Strange. But anyway its settled, it works perfecty with my old card so I gotta buy a new card if I want to continue playing up to date games. Thanks for all the help guys. And im gonna have to get used to my old card because the max resolution is much diferent from one card to another. Looks blurry to me now. But thanks for the help everyone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andsome Posted April 17, 2007 Report Share Posted April 17, 2007 Hang around now and join in. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyMobster Posted April 18, 2007 Author Report Share Posted April 18, 2007 One final question, on the box the card came in it says Lifetime Warranty. Does that mean I can get a new one because this one is not functioning properly? Im almost sure I cant return it to the store because its been 11 months, but I think I can send it into their headquarters or something like that. On the ATI website it says Here is a list of examples that likely DO NOT require warranty service. 1. System restarts to a black screen after installation. 2. Display corruption. 3. Random system hangs. 4. Game or Application performance. Would my problem be in display corruption? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raddy Posted April 18, 2007 Report Share Posted April 18, 2007 I wouldn't see why it wouldn't qualify for a warranty replacement. My buddy had a BFG card crap out on him and he returned it without a problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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