Windows Vista Auto Detect "Analog Input"

Hello
I bought a Dell Inspiron 530 back in January and it worked fine until about 2 weeks ago. I am running Vista Home Premium Service Pack 1. While on the computer the screen will go blank. Checked the power saver, but it seems ok. It will not wake up, I have to shut off the monitor and when turned back on all my programs I was in are still there. On the monitor when I do this it states - Auto Detect "Analog Input ". Some days it won't shut down and others it lasts anywhere from 2 minutes to half hour between shut downs.
Could it possibly be the video card?
Thanks for any advise
Jim

 

Hi Steve
The shut down happens when I am actively using the machine, so it can't be sleep mode.
I have my pictures folder for a Screensaver and at times my pictures switch to black and white. I also got a 21 inch LCD monitor with the computer and it seems the message is halted somewhere getting from the computer to the monitor.

 

That sounds like Sleep mode.

Check the settings in Control Panel -> Power Options and you will need to configure those with the setting for when the screensaver starts. So get the screensaver to start first, after 5-10 minutes shut down the monitor, after another 5-10 minutes it goes to into Sleep mode. Even changing them from one setting to another, testing, then setting them back, might reset them.

In Power Options,if you have a desktop PC, I suggest you use Balanced, not Power Saving (that you mention), it might be aimed more at Laptop computers.

Pressing the power button is probably how you bring it out of Sleep, it is on my PC.

Note that you need to move the mouse or press a key on the keyboard to stop the power saving modes from kicking-in. If you are reading something or watching a stream or video the power savers can start.

Black and white screensaver pictures...if you have set your whole Pictures folder for a screensaver, there might be too many files or folders for the screensaver to handle. Try selecting a few or say, copy some pictures you want to show into one folder (called Screensaver?).

Matt

 

You turn off the monitor, not the computer's main power?

 

Hello Mattman
I don't have a power problem, the monitor goes blank even when I am actively using the computer. I run a home business and in the middle of entering data it blanks out. I shut off the monitor (not the computer) as stated previously, and when turned back on it states "Auto detect - Analog input" and everything is as it was before shut down. As for the power optiions, all my control panel shows is:
- Dell recommended
- Power saver
- High performance
It is set for Dell recommended.

 

Just to check, you use a VGA connection cable? If you have connections for both VGA and DVI don't connect both cables at the same time, use one or the other.

Have you checked for a bad connection on the cable. It is very easy to bend the pins on a VGA connector.

Try reducing the resolution. Higher resolutions will be harder for graphics adapter to run.

http://support.dell.com/support/top...B421B3EDBD05B4E040A68F5A28777D&doclang=en&cs=
I suggest you update your chipset drivers before updating the graphics drivers.

Lots of of hits at their forum
http://search.dell.com/results.aspx?s=gen&c=us&l=en&cs=&k=monitor+blank&cat=sup

Matt

 

Thanks Mattman & Steve for your help. I have had an old monitor hooked up for half a day and so far no problems. Seems like it may be the new monitor, but will wait a while longer before contacting Dell on it. Hope I can get warranty.
You people are a great asset to the computer world, keep up the good work.
Jim