error: "please check signal"

There's a long story behind this problem but I'll start with just the facts.

My monitor screen is all black except a small blue window in the middle that says, "Please Check Signal" whenever I first power up. After about 10 seconds, the screen goes all black and the power light on the monitor goes from green to yellow.

Viewsonic monitor
6 year old computer

Problem started after I loaded XP onto it, replacing Windows98.

It happened the first time and then the next day, pressing the reset button successfully started it up but now it's happening again and I can't get it started.

I wiggled all the connectors inside and took out the modem and the ethernet card and put them back in.

Do I need a new computer?

Thanks in advance.

 

Hi,

There is a problem with the graphics sending a signal to the monitor.

If the graphics is an add-in card (the monitor will connect to a card in one of the add-in card slots like the modem and ethernet card), remove and reseat the graphics card. Your motherboard manual/computer User Guide should have details. You will need to take it out and put it back in, wiggling probably won't help . Just avoid touching the electronic components.

Your graphics may well be "onboard" (part of the motherboard/mainboard, not an add-in card). In this case you could only check that the monitor connector is pushed firmly in and the bolts are tight.

Check if any of the pins of the monitor connector are bent (some pins may be missing, this is normal). It may be possible to carefully straighten them.

Check your monitor on another computer or borrow another monitor to try on yours.

Lastly, if all connections are good and you still have no luck, disconnect the power, remove the battery for, say, half an hour, then replace it.

Matt

 

Thanks Mattman, your response led to the solution!

Onboard graphics so I did as you said and checked the pins and whatnot and it was all good so, as my last resort, I put that connector into the computer and, before tightening the screws, I wiggled that sucker up and down and sideways hoping it would remove enough corrosion to make a difference and it did seem to work because my monitor works now.

Thanks again.

 

That's good to hear. Thanks for letting us know.

If you have any futher problems, maybe get some Contact Cleaner, spray the pins of the connector and connect (wiggle ) it a few times while they are wet. Wait till it has completely dried before powering up.

Matt