Curse

TechnoMan · May 15, 2005, 07:57 AM // 07:57

I suspect it is a RAM problem. Well whatever, the weird thing is that my screen shuts off on its own. Then it opens back and seems like it lost the signal. Nothing appears in the screen and the power dot lits off and on.

Can someone confirm this for me?

Serafita Kayin · May 15, 2005, 02:16 PM // 14:16

Video card, either bad connection or dying.

Lazarus · May 15, 2005, 03:08 PM // 15:08

If you have recently unplugged your monitor, check the end of it's cable for bent pins.

Lazarus

TechnoMan · May 15, 2005, 09:10 PM // 21:10

My monitor is brand new...

I have 224 Mo of RAM. My video card is a Radeon 7000 SE (128MB).

For my internet connection, I got DSL.

Madjik · May 15, 2005, 09:35 PM // 21:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by Serafita Kayin

Video card, either bad connection or dying.

This sounds right to me. If the card is new check to make sure its COMPLETLY in its slot, if you've had it a while clean the card up (make sure theres no dust on it) make sure its completly in its slot (just to be sure, i've been suprised before) and double check to make sure the moniter is connected to the card correctly (i.e. not loose).

The monitor itself might be dying as well. If you have another monitor handy (many people have 2 computers or more these days) take the monitor thats giving you trouble down and hookup the other and see if you get the same problem. No problems from the new monitor = dead monitor.

EDIT:: just read your above post. just because the monitor is brand new doesnt mean there might not be bent pins. I've had a new monitor with bent pins once before. If you try a diffrent monitor and get the same reaction with it even though it works perfectly on other computers, then the problem is with your video card.

Lestaticon · May 15, 2005, 09:44 PM // 21:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by TechnoMan

I suspect it is a RAM problem. Well whatever, the weird thing is that my screen shuts off on its own. Then it opens back and seems like it lost the signal. Nothing appears in the screen and the power dot lits off and on.

Can someone confirm this for me?

Post a log from your dxdiag program. Press Start >> Run. Type in dxdiag to start the diagnostic program. Let it finish scanning and save the log. Post the contents here.

When does the issue appear exactly? Give steps to reproduce the problem.

You could be running the game in a resolution and/or refresh rate that your monitor does not support.

As the folks said above, carefully check out the hardware in the case. Make sure everything is fitting well.

Check the cables of your monitor, make sure they are all plugged in well. If you don't do any of these steps, above and below, you're asking for trouble.

Make sure the fan on your video card is coming on when the computer is running. Make sure all of your fans are working inside the case, especially the cpu fan.

If you post back, let us know the status of the checks above.

TechnoMan · May 16, 2005, 04:05 AM // 04:05

Here.

I will have someone check my computer soon.

XVar · May 16, 2005, 09:13 AM // 09:13

Display Memory: 64.0 MB

Just thought I'd point out that your card isn't 128mb.

TechnoMan · May 16, 2005, 10:50 AM // 10:50

But on my card box it does say 128 MB. Weird.

Principa Discordia · May 16, 2005, 10:54 AM // 10:54

Could it be that some of the memory on TechnoMan's graphics card has fried?

EnDinG · May 16, 2005, 01:02 PM // 13:02

To go along with that fried question, I just have to ask, but you make sure the system was shut off when plugging in the monitor? Power bar and all? Including if its plugged into the wall that it was pulled? Freak accidents can happen even if the system is turned off as much as possible.

Just wondering because there could have been some odd power surge if you didn't have it shut off which could have caused some hardware problems (like the memory problem perhaps).

(Now if you did have it shut off, we may continue with trying to solve the problem of the haunted monitor 'plays Scooby Doo music in the background'.)

Also, check your power cable. Make sure both ends are plugged in as well as possible. I suggest if the problem continues, you take it back and exchange it for another.

Touareg · May 16, 2005, 02:47 PM // 14:47

@TechnoMan
Well, 256mb ram are the minimum system requirements.You only have 224mb,so that could be an issue. Furthermore, your page file (virtual ram) is extremely small. you should max it out to at least 1024mb (at Control Panel | System | Advanced, click Settings in the “Performance” Section. On the Advanced page of the result, the current total physical size of all page files that may be in existence is shown. Click Change to make settings for the virtual memory operation).

EnDinG · May 16, 2005, 02:59 PM // 14:59

Lack of memory won't make a monitor shut off. It would instead make the game crash with a memory error.

It has to do with the monitor itself or the video card. The light goes off when the monitor goes off, so it doesn't go into standby mode like most new monitors do.
I'm thinking it is his power cord on a possible defective monitor model.

His powerbar might not juciey enough to run everything hooked up to it if there is a lot hooked up as well.

Madjik · May 16, 2005, 04:17 PM // 16:17

In other words either the power cord might be faulty (manufature error) OR he's not getting enough voltage from the socket if its got too many things plugged in at once.

Somthing I didnt think of. This is deffinatly possible because the monitor is actually shutting off all the way.

(sorry ending, i had to read your post a few times to get what ya were saying, figured i'd clarify, no offense ment

)

Lestaticon · May 16, 2005, 05:26 PM // 17:26

Thanks for the dxdiag.

I'll be waiting to hear back from you regarding the places I asked you to check.

EnDinG and Madjik: He says that the power light is blinking on the monitor, so I don't think it's a bad power cable. Depending on the type of power switch on the monitor, when power was lost, it would either stay off completely (no lights at all) until the on button is pressed again OR just power back on. What this monitor is doing is apparently going into standby mode. If the monitor cable is bad, there should be the "signal lost"(etc) message on the screen, but he's saying it is blank.

TechnoMan, I'd like to know what refresh rate you have configured GW to run at, and what resolution in addition to what has already been asked. To check these settings, open GW and go to options.

TechnoMan, it is also not clear WHEN this issue happens. Does it happen ONLY when running the game or other times? Please post back with this info too, and please be very specific.

Thanks

Lunarbunny · May 16, 2005, 05:37 PM // 17:37

Other options: Crappy power supply failing under load or bad chipset drivers (you can get new chipset drivers at the chipset manufacturer's website.

EnDinG · May 16, 2005, 05:54 PM // 17:54

Oops. Yea, I misread that. I thought it say it was going off then back on in a few minutes. Figured he was hitting a power cable.

What is the resolution your running your screen at? Your new monitor might not be supporting it correctly.

I think I saw a 75 hrz refresh rate from that note pad.

*Edit*
Oh yea, I need some sleep. Just saw you already mentioned the refresh. LoL. Think I'm going to leave work in 30 minutes and sleep in my car for an hour. ZZzzz...

Madjik · May 16, 2005, 06:12 PM // 18:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by TechnoMan

the weird thing is that my screen shuts off on its own. Then it opens back and seems like it lost the signal.

This sentance made it sound like it was flicking off completly, I've probably mis~read it however.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TechnoMan

Nothing appears in the screen and the power dot lits off and on.

It really sounds as if its going all the way off then turning back on with a blank screen and a blinking power button. I conceed that it might also be a refresh rate problem, just explaining my thought patterns is all, call it a bad habit.

Deckos · May 16, 2005, 09:39 PM // 21:39

i have 1 gig of ram, i just built a new computer and i think im getting the same error as the author is. Moniter just shuts off and then sometimes, very few but when it comes on it displays a error and particles in the middle are acting wierd. Hope its not my vediocard cause its brand new. Help.

gabby2600 · May 17, 2005, 12:28 AM // 00:28

Deckos:

that sounds likea vid card problem.