Monitor looses signal on bootup after power loss

[ChromWolf]

The details...

Kitty was behind my girlfriend's computer desk, and accidentally (...?) stepped on the power switch on the power strip (she's quite good at that...). After fishing kitty out and administering some strong words against more of the same, flipped power switch back on, and turned on computer.

It'll load the Windows XP boot screen with the progress bar, but then monitor behaves like it's on but video cable is unplugged ("Out of Sync"). When booting to Safe Mode, computer/monitor operate normally.

I've tried over-installing all mobo drivers (Intel D845GBV), including video (which is onboard); no change. Beforehand, the monitor would display its "Out of Sync" message when the screen saver should have appeared, but the monitor would come back up as normal when you moved the mouse.

Is this a driver problem, hardware problem, or software problem? ...What is the switch to load Windows XP with default VGA settings, and does booting with this switch allow you to change the resolution/refresh rate afterwards, or does it lock it in like Safe Mode does?

System is a P4 1.6 GHz (of a lesser make than my Sempron 2200+, for those of you who keep up on my string of posts, LOL), Intel D845GBV board, onboard Intel video, 256 MB of memory (could be better, I know), Windows XP Pro. If more specific system stats are needed, just ask.

What could be causing this? What is the most logical next step? I've got a few ideas myself, but I'm more looking for direction on this.

[kev7555]

If the monitor comes up as normal when you move the mouse, it may simply be a matter of re-iniatating your screen saver.

Have you right clicked on the desktop, gone to properties, screen saver, and made sure everything is as it should be?


-Kev

[Statica]

The out of sync error is related to the setting on your video card for refresh rates. Try something really low... what monitor are you using? Have you loaded the drivers for the monitor and tried?

[ChromWolf]

Uhh.... no. This is not a problem with the screen saver; that was only what was happening "beforehand", as I said, and not really that much of a hassle... The problem now is---well, the title of the post. I'm sorry if I sound very harsh, but do people actually read my posts when they reply (the great and powerful GLC excepted)?

I did find the /BASEVIDEO switch, and it booted fine in normal mode. Was able to reset the resolution/refresh rate, and all seems fine.

Thanks for the quick response, kev, but... I dunno, maybe I just need to be EXTREMELY concise. It seems like nobody ever reads my posts, and in trying to provide all the information up front so I don't have to spell everything out later (how many posts do you see where the simple solution comes when the poster just lists certain stats, or troubleshooting they have or haven't done?), I end up just typing lots and still having to make several posts.

I'm sorry... I really don't mean to sound ungrateful, and I certainly don't mean to troll the boards, but... under a pinch, when I need a reliable response in short order, it can be really frustrating, and it's by far not the first time.

Anyway, yeah.... [/soapbox] I got it fixed. Thanks anyway!

[ChromWolf]

Whoops! Didn't see Statica's reply yet. Thanks much, Statica! I suspect you're right; that's why I'd asked about the switch to boot normally but with base video settings. It's possible this was some default setting out of whack, and the screen saver was a symptom, but the true problem didn't emerge till the system was forcibly reset. I'll reboot it once more just to be sure it's fixed. Thanks (for the good response and reading the post!)

[Statica]

ChromWolf - You really need to examine that attitude before coming into these boards. You aren't paying anyone for the help provided, and if you dont like people taking the time out to help you to the best of their ability then you shouldnt be visiting public forums. Your attitude is certainly not welcome here and will NOT be tolerated. Just because a suggestion provided does not deal with what you need, learn to appreciate the effort put in and show a bit more class than what you've exhibited.

I'm happy that you've been able to clue in on the refresh rate.

[ChromWolf]

I definitely want to apologize for seeming ungrateful. These boards have definitely been a GODSEND to me, on too many occasions to count.

But, that's exactly my point... It feels like the person posting (and I apologize that kev got singled out here, he's definitely helped other people--one right after responding to mine) isn't taking the time to help me out... It feels like they're just skimming posts, and not actually reading my real problem. I guess that was what I was trying to express, only my post got a little colored by my frustration. That, and saying it how I did is a generalization, rather than just expressing a perception, and that's definitely not fair.

Anyway, I suppose this really isn't the place to be discussing this; I wanted to explain what I had already said, but I'm not here to make anybody angry or hurt anyone's feelings. Again, I apologize. 'Nuff said outta me.

[Statica]

Thanks for clarifying the matter Chrom esp. for your PM .. now let's get back on topic .. hopefully you were able to get the refresh rates for your monitor sorted out.

[ChromWolf]

I'm not so sure I did... ::frowns:: At first, booting base video solved the problem; I was able to alter the resolution and refresh rate settings and they worked just fine. However, I decided I'd restart to make sure the settings stuck (and to make sure the problem didn't come back), and although it booted into windows, after getting to the part where it loads the Intel graphics control panel, it dies again. This is a little puzzling; before, I couldn't even make it into Windows to log in. I tried twice; once to put things back to my girlfriend's original settings, and once at default refresh rate, but 1024 x 768 (both the video and monitor should easily be able to handle that; it's a 19" Samsung SyncMaster 955df). Still no dice.

I'm figuring it could be the Intel control panel thinger, or it could just be the video card problem; possibly even monitor driver. I think I'll start with the monitor driver (if there's even a driver on the Samsung website for XP; I've got an older Samtron monitor that has no XP driver support on the samsung website because it's built into WinXP), then maybe rip out the Intel software (if I can do so without touching the video driver), and then try a spare video card I've got (I think it's an upgrade for her anyway). Any other suggestions, or does that sound good for now?

[glc]

Try starting it up in VGA mode. That's on the F8 boot menu. Then go into the Intel control panel and look at all the settings. There might be something in there that's overriding the Windows controls.

If you want to clean out the Intel software, the driver has to go too. Before you do, go to the Intel site and download the latest driver. Also download Driver Cleaner Pro and install it.

Uninstall Intel Extreme Graphics using add/remove programs, then do a DCP run. Reboot and it should come up in default VGA. Then install the new driver. You shouldn't need a monitor driver, plug and play should take care of that.

The other option is an AGP card - it's a 4x slot and only 4x or 8x cards are compatible. Inserting a card will disable the onboard video automatically. The Intel drivers MUST be uninstalled and I recommend DCP too, the remnants of the Intel driver WILL interfere with ATI cards (personal experience).