My computer was in standby for some time I can hear the computer wake up when i move the mouse but ht monitor stays blank the light by power button stays orange. I Tried hooking the monitor on a different PC and the monitor works fine. I'm running windows XP

Dear Ashtray,
First, I want to welcome you to AnswerPool.com. I hope you will find your experience here an enjoyable one.

I have found some systems where the standby just won't work correctly. When I have run across this situation I have just disabled the standby option.

You can just turn off the monitor whenever the computer is not in use, and save the electricity. When you are ready to "compute" again, just turn the monitor on. You may need to move the mouse to stop the screen saver if that is set.

You can disable the monitor standby in the Display Properties window. To open the Display Properties window you can:

1. Right click on any unused area of the desktop
2. Select Properties
3. Select the Screen saver tab
4. Look at the bottom of the window for the "Energy Saving Features" (The verbiage will vary a bit between systems)
5. Click the Settings button and set "Never" in the Shut off monitor option box.
6. OK your selections to close the window.

If you have additional questions or comments about this thread, please click the "Reply" button and post them.

Once again, welcome to AnswerPool.com and I hope this reply helps!

Dwight

the problem is the monitor stays black nothing comes up on the monitor at all. So I'm unable to do or look at anything. is it possible that i burned out monitor port in the back of the computer? I'm using a friends computer to ask these questions

OK, have you tried restarting the computer? If not, I suggest you try that, because sometimes a system restart will set things right again. Because you cannot see anything on the screen, you will need to just power the system down rather that using the standard shutdown procedure.

Just press and hold the power switch for about 10 seconds. The computer will shut down. Give it about 10 - 15 seconds and then turn the computer on again.

If you still don't see the monitor, then I suggest you restart the computer in Safe Mode. Safe Mode is a special diagnostic mode of operation where only those essential drivers are installed at startup so that you can attempt to repair faulty systems.

To start the computer in Safe Mode, press the power switch to turn on the computer and then press and release the F8 key repeatedly. You should see a Windows start menu on the screen. Choose your regular login and Safe Mode. You may need to use the up/down arrows to select, and the Enter key to accept the selection.

If the screen is visible, the problem may be due to a failed monitor driver (though it should work in Safe Mode). If you're seeing the monitor, then I suggest you uninstall the monitor driver.

1. To uninstall the monitor driver, right click on the "My Computer" icon and choose "properties".

2. Click the Hardware tab, then the Device Manager button.

3. Click the + sign to the left of the monitor entry.

4. Right click on the entry and choose "uninstall".

5. OK the selection and restart the computer in Normal Mode. (Just use the normal shutdown/restart procedure).

Windows should automatically see the monitor as "New" and reinstall the proper driver for it.

If this doesn't solve the problem, please post again and we can try some additional steps.

Dwight

Hi Dwight,
I have the same problem. I followed your advice and tried restarting to Safe mode. I repeatedly hit F8 but still just a blank screen.
Thanks,
Mike

Hi Mike Welcome to Answerpool
Assuming the Monitor is "on" does it "click" if the computer is started? (Only applies to the Older Monitors with Tubes)
Next job with the computer(and Power) turned off
Go behind the Monitor and see if the Cable from the Computer to the Monitor Is Pushed Fully into the Socket ,and any "finger screw" fasteners are tightened up.Many Monitors have a long cable which only has a connector to the computer OK?

If that is in order ,follow the Cable to the computer. It terminates in a "D" Shaped Plug which only fits in a colored Blue Socket on the Graphics card on the Current Card types, and it Must Be secured Tightly with the Fasteners on the Plug OK?

If you have a really old computer all you'll have is (going from Memory) 2 Leads colored Red & Black which are a Push fit All it takes to have a Fault with these is 1 pulled out slightly. Hence No Picture!

PS Also Check you have Power going to the Monitor and the Fuse hasn't blown (easily overlooked!)

a quick ? is this connecting to a video card or is it direct to the mother board (built in). ok 2 ?s. was this computer just worked on? if so and it does have a video card maybe the video card is not connected all the way(pushed in correctly).