Monitor

[bberr]

I have some problems with my pc. When i´m surfing on net the monitor can suddenly be turned off. Then it turns on again and i get a message from windows telling me that a serious problem has occured to my pc. The problem is related to a device-driver. Is this usual? I mean does this mean that it is sometrhing wrong with my pc? I have tried to reinstall all programs but the same problem happens now again.

[Lewis]

Check the cables connecting the monitor to the back of the computer. Also, check to see if there's an update for that device that is causing problems.

-Lewis

[PN]

Try what Lewis said first. If you are still experiencing this problem, to find if the monitor is the culprit, replace it with another monitor and see what happens. If you do not have another working monitor in your house, then maybe you can borrow one from one of your friends/neighbors. Let us know what happens. Bon Chance!

PN

[jimnms]

I don't think it's the monitor if you're getting a Windows error. Windows will not give you an error if your monitor is unplugged or turned off. Try updating your video card drivers.

_____
Learn from the mistakes of others, you won't live long enough to make all of them yourself.

[bberr]

Paul Nussbaum
It´s impossible for me to replace the monitor and check if this causes problems. I have a portable pc. I did this once on the repair shop because i had other problems with the same pc and since that i got a new problem
with turning-offs. It happens regulary but not so often and it´s difficult to
demonstrate this for those who work in the store where i bought this pc. They have read the error-logg and meant such errors must be program-related. That´s why they recommended me to reinstall all programs and drivers. As i mentioned before that didn´t help neither.
Lewis i cant update any device because the message i get sounds like that: a device can has caused the breakdown. It´s so general.
I try to download all the critical updates from windows at regular intervals. It´doesn´t seem to help.

[PN]

If you have reinstalled the operating system and you are still having this trouble, then I think you have a hardware issue/problem. If someone opens up this portable computer, make sure that all the connections are secure.

Just to be clear, this is not a laptop? This portable computer does not have a separate tower and a separate monitor.

PN

[KeyBored]

As already suggested, I would install latest video drivers. Also, install latest directx, correct monitor drivers, and set refresh rate that monitor supports.

Steve

[booster]

In your monitor properties, under the hardware config, does it recognize your specific monitor by model number or something generic? I feel it is your vid card, but let me know the answer to the above first.

[bberr]

Booster
As regard your question about hardware config. It does recognise my spesific monitor by modelnumber: mobility radeon 9000.

[booster]

'Mobility radeon 9000'???????

So this is not a pc, meaning desktop, but it's a lap top?

That chipset only comes in highend notebooks. Here's the reference: http://www.ati.com/products/mobilityradeon9000/.

Is this laptop under waranty because it is either the 15 pin connector or the chip's "socket" that's at fault.

If this is a desktop, got a different answer for you.

[mingo]

I see a lot of good advice here. Anyone experiencing these problems on a desktop PC should also try reseating their video card. On a laptop, I can only repeat "fixes" I've heard about. It is possible for the laptop to experience similar problems if screws have fallen out of the laptop case and it is not properly grounded.

A friend of mine recently pluged in a LCD monitor to his Mac laptop under battery power which trashed his video. A very costly mistake; it now will work only with the LCD.

But, as most others are pointing at video card or drivers. Check to see if you can flex the laptop. If it has been traveling or someone has explored inside, it may be a ground problem. More likely in that case the whole machine would lose power sporatically. So, barring a faulty chip or overheating problem, I'd try checking the connection internally.

Its one of the more irritating problems you could have.

[bberr]

My pc is a lap top / portable with model-name:
fujitsu siemens amilo D 7830.

[booster]

Mingo, great advice.

Sleipner, I made a mistake in the assumption it was a desktop http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/redface.gif. I appoligize.

Is it still under waranty? If so you will have to take it in. The 15 pin connector is 'loose' or there is a fault with the actual chipset. If you only have this issue with an external monitor, the issue likely lies between the chipset and connector.

I too feel that it is highly unlikely it is the monitor. The sole premise for this is the computer only recognizes the monitor as 'generic' so generating error messages would not happen. The other thing, all modern monitors have the little two tho three tone LED. It is also connected to a trouble shooting circut that will cause it to blink when a fault is detected within the monitor. There is always a slight posibility that there is a monitor cable issue. I would not recomend testing for that though, it could fry your computer.

[mingo]

I was getting the bum's rush to shutdown my computer and did not get a chance to finish my thoughts. So, one or two things more:

You mention this happens while on the internet and not playing Freecell, etc. There is the possibility this is an Active X issue. Check your Windows updates and before opening up the machine or reinstalling the OS, try Mozilla or a different browser.

Mozilla will not stop a website from playing tricks on you, but its one more variable to think about. About a month back I was on a website based in China and popups were popping up like crazy. I started clicking on the browser's "back" button and clicked on a strategically placed popup. My bookmarks were eaten just that quickly.

I have at times had spontaneous reboots on my system. Sometimes the Windows hotfixes seem to cause more problems than they report protecting you from. So, since System Administrators report on problems created by a hotfix... a hoxfix on a Saturday may be something we could wait on. Shoot for Wednesday.

If this is a new problem on an otherwise stable system it may just pass with a little time. I did see some diagnostic tools which reportedly can turn up Active X problems, but I could not endorse them. Try a free download before you reinstall and if it does come to that make sure you clear the master boot record (a virus scan is always something to consider. You can do that online, but would take a few hours on a dialup connection Trend Micro/Norton will do that but they have to use the Microsoft browser... Active X again.).

You see why I get the bum's rush. http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif

[PN]

It will also be safer not to use Internet Explorer. By the way, how old is your laptop?

CNet (http://news.com.com/Pop-up+toolbar+spreads+via+IE+flaws/2100-1002_3-5229707.html?tag=cd.top)

http://www.mozilla.org/

PN