[Talgoran]

Hi.
My computer is fairly high-end. It can run CoD4 on highest settings at around 20 fps, it plays FarCry 2 at medium to high, it's recent, etc.
Everything was fine last night, and I don't believe I turned my computer off incorrectly or shut it down badly. I get up, and this morning my monitor does not receive a signal, like it can't find my computer. It enters power save mode even after I move my mouse and press keyboard buttons. I restarted a couple of times, and it sounds like my computer is booting up normally, but my monitor doesn't show anything. I tried the auto-detect button and everything, but it can't 'find' my computer. (BTW, it's a dell 16:10 flatscreen that's pretty new...I use a DVI I think it's called input, which is connected to my NVidia Geforce 8600 (I think) video card).
So I think my monitor has died. I switch the cable, no go. I turn it off and on, I try disconnecting the USB cable from my monitor to my computer, I try pressing all the buttons, no go. I know that my computer is booting up fine because my speakers make the Windows sound after a minute.
So I switched my monitor for another one, another Dell flatscreen, a bit older I think. Didn't work, that couldn't find my computer either. Not even if I use a blue VGA cable.
Also, I have a usb microphone that I connect to the USB slots on the side of my monitor. My computer makes the found-new-hardware ascending-two-tone sound when I turn my monitor on when it's off. And even though my monitor wasn't displaying anything, when I turned it off and on, that sound played. Which means the USB slots on the side of my monitor are working.
So all this information leads me to believe that there is something wrong with my video drivers or something, or my video card or motherboard. I can't think of anything that might have gone wrong overnight, except there was a small storm. I'm almost positive there was no lightning, and I use a surgeprotector (and I think everything is working fine), so I don't think my computer got electrocuted.
I think that's about it. I don't think my computer specs matter that much in this case, and I really don't know them that well (though my computer is hand-built). Win XP SP2 or 3, 512 MB DDR1 RAM I think, really old SoundBlaster sound card, and the UT LanParty motherboard or whatever it's called. So yes. It's thanksgiving so stores are closed...if this awesome forum can't help me I suppose I'll have to find a geeksquad dude or something like that, because I really need my computer this weekend. Please reply if you can help!!

[dustyjay]

How are you sure your computer is fully booting if you get no signal to the monitor? See if you can try another known good monitor on your computer or your monitor on a known good computer.

[Talgoran]

I'm pretty sure that it's booting up Windows for 2 reasons:
1) The usb microphone thing. It wouldn't make the found-new-usb-device noise if it wasn't in Windows.
2) It makes the Windows sound.
I mean, it could have booted up a really messed up version of Windows if my video card is dead...but of course I can't see.
Oh, and I did try another monitor. One that I am sure works, since it's my brother's and he uses it. I plugged everything up, and that monitor 'works', it just can't connect to my computer right. It goes into powersave mode, and if I unplug the monitor-to-computer cable, it knows I've done it because it shows some RGB color synchronization wizard thing on the monitor.
So I'm pretty sure it's not a problem with the monitors. I wish I had a VGA monitor to plug directly into my motherboard to try that, but I don't anymore.
Any help would be GREATLY appreciated guys!

[dustyjay]

You say our brothers monitor works properly on your computer? Or it isnt giving you a display of your windows desktop either, just goes into power save? If that is the case then it is possible that the video card hs a problem. Does it not even give you a bios screen?

[Talgoran]

Yeah, the monitor works perfectly on HIS computer.
Mine...powersave mode.
It doesn't even give me a bios screen or anything before Windows.
So...yeah I guess it's the video card? Is there anything I can do besides buy a new video card?

[dustyjay]

Your monitor doesnt have a vga input or did you say you didnt have onboard video?
If you do have onboard video, you could possible get a VGA adapter to what ever input your monitor has. If no onboard video, then you are probably stuck buying a new Video Card. Onboard Video isnt going to be great for gaming

[JSanguancheu]

Try your dell monitor on your brother's computer. Just to be sure.

Definitely sounds like something's wrong with your video card.

[Talgoran]

Alright, Jsanguancheu, I tried my brother's monitor on his laptop and everything works fine. (DVI) So I'm basically positive that the monitor is not the problem now.
Dustyjay...my videocard has 2 DVI slots (with holes). My motherboard has a VGA slot with pins, and a 12+13-hole-row which I'm guessing is some old monitor format. Will semi-old CRTs connect to that? Anyways, I have a VGA-to-VGA cable, and a DVI-VGA adapter with DVI pins and VGA holes. Of course it doesn't help me, since I need an adapter with VGA holes and DVI holes, if that exists. That way I can connect my monitor's DVI cable to my motherboard's VGA slot. OR, an adapter thing that has both sides VGA holes, if that exists, so that I can connect my monitor to it with a VGA cable, and then it to my motherboard's VGA slot.
Do either of those things exist? I imagine if they do, then I could get one really quick at Fry's. Or would I be better off borrowing an old monitor from someone? My primary priority is getting my computer usable, since you guys have helped me find out that it's basically my video card that is the problem. I will order a new one after careful research.
Thank you very much for your help so far guys!!

[dustyjay]

Well expense wise, if you can borrow a VGA monitor until you can get your replacement Video Card, that would make sense.

As far as your system goes, you give specs in your first post, but it sounds like you are not sure that these are accurate. You could once you get it running with Video, download and run Belarc advisor (it's free) and it will tell you what you actually have installed in your computer hardware wise. And software wise as well.

[Talgoran]

Miraculously, one of my friends had a spare Nvidia Geforce 8600 GTS lying around. So I installed that and it's basically working awesomely.
I use SiSoftware Sandra Lite, but I'll check out that Belarc advisor.
Thanks once again for your help guys...I'm going to order another video card now probably. Case closed I guess.

[dustyjay]

You can mark your thread closed at the top of your first post.