Computer runs but monitor is on power saving mode?

This stuff rarely happens, but when it does I simply restart my PC then it works fine. But today after several restart attempts it seems to be stuck.

I tried removing the video card then switched to onboard video, same thing: The PC runs, (there's power and fans are working) but the monitor is stuck on power saving mode (blank screen).

Is this a monitor or PC problem? Any ideas what might be the problem?

I'm Windows 7 btw.

IMB

Posted 2012-03-05T07:48:09.810

Reputation: 4 845

It is more likely that the video card is not outputting the display or the resolution is beyond the montitors capability, than the monitor has somehow gone into power saving mode. Then there is a big twist in the question, because switching to the onboard should have tested for the video card being the problem. Unless , you have No Post At All. . Does it seem like the computer goes ahead and boots up without vision? If you shine a light on the monitor can you see anything? Does it seem like the backlight is bleeding through and on, and that it is just the lcd pannel that is dark? – Psycogeek – 2012-03-05T08:54:23.997

I'm having a similar problem with one of my computers. My suspicion is that the monitor is not reporting its "plug&play" info correctly during startup and so the video adapter is using the wrong display resolution. – Daniel R Hicks – 2012-03-05T12:25:13.100

@Psycogeek I have tried using VGA cable instead of DVI. I have also tried a using smaller monitor. Same problem. The PC doesn't seem to send any output at all. I do not see anything in the monitor, only it's blue light flashing (which means it's on power saving mode). I am not sure if the PC is going until windows, I do not see even the BIOS screen. It's just pure black right from the start. – IMB – 2012-03-05T12:45:53.620

@IMB ok that confirms more things. If there were "beeps" from the motherboard would you have heard them? (is a beeper hooked up, do you hear the bios Ok beep normally) . Have you changed any aspect of the system lately? added ram, adjusted bios settings? If you could provide a better History of the computer starting to fail, any other noticeable problems. Right now I would put you back into the "build" state. that one of the 4 majors is just not working correct. MB , PSU , CPU, RAM, Video. If you cleared the CMOS, did you have any special settings, or would it work ok at Default settings? – Psycogeek – 2012-03-05T13:22:01.357

@Psycogeek I do not hear any beeps. The funny thing is I do not remember hearing any beeps at all on normal conditions. What I hear is a "tick". There is one "tick" sound before and after this problem happened. This computer is only 6 months old and like I said this has happened before (rarely) but a simple restart usually fixes the problem. I did not have any changes in the hardware or settings. All is same old from the beginning. – IMB – 2012-03-05T13:32:29.147

BTW, one of my restart attempts recently have worked, I saw the bios screen but then Windows asked if I want to run Startup Repair or Start Normally, I chose to Start Normally but I never reached Windows so I restarted again and then original problem was back. – IMB – 2012-03-05T13:33:28.210

I probably would have wanted to hop into the bios, if I got it viewing. They often have some hardware monitoring in there, and it gives you a opportunity (which I guess you had anyway) to check the monitor thing, and or connection. We would need a lot more information about the hardware? Bios or Boot Cd/USb thing , any possible way to get some views of temps, voltages, settings, or to even "downclock" the system temporarily so you can limp along and check more aspects of the hardware and figure out what might be the cause. – Psycogeek – 2012-03-05T14:11:12.860

^ and I am not trying to imply anything, still not enough info. The monitor going out when the video device is fired up , or even if the bios or system has the Int/Ext display priority thing, the video going to the other device etc. – Psycogeek – 2012-03-05T14:16:40.167

@Psycogeek Ok, I tried to re-seat everything again and suddenly it works. The thing is, is this still an indication of dying hardware? Since this is only 6 months old, it's kinda weird that I have to re-seat stuff. I usually do that only in old computers. – IMB – 2012-03-06T11:13:18.303

Hey, don't look a gift horse in the mouth! – Daniel R Hicks – 2012-03-06T12:36:48.670

@IMB not nessisarily dying, there are so many adjustments, minor tweaks, settings, that can change things slightly. – Psycogeek – 2012-03-06T15:01:16.333

Answers

If you have the same problem with the on-board graphics then that points to the video cable/monitor.
Check your display resolution is not set too high
Check the video connection into the monitor
Try a different video cable
If all that fails, then try a different monitor

Tog

Posted 2012-03-05T07:48:09.810

Reputation: 4 747

I have tried using VGA cable instead of DVI. I have also tried a using smaller monitor. Same problem. The PC doesn't seem to send any output at all. – IMB – 2012-03-05T12:42:27.900

Anyway, how do you check/change display resolution? Is it possible because I can't go to Windows. – IMB – 2012-03-05T12:49:28.170

So much for my first thoughts, do you get any display at all or does it just stay blank? Does the disk drive get accessed after you power it up – Tog – 2012-03-05T18:46:40.110

Ok, I tried to re-seat everything again and suddenly it works. – IMB – 2012-03-06T11:12:05.823

Easy to fix problem. Shut the system down. Open your case and remove one stick of ram. Don't put it back in yet! Restart and your system will wake up because it is forced to recognize the change in ram.

Michael

Posted 2012-03-05T07:48:09.810

Reputation: 41

The only solution that works for me! Thanks!! – Mosh Feu – 2016-11-25T13:14:17.760

This just happened to me. Any chance you installed a Windows update that included an optional installation for a driver for your video card? My monitor would go into sleep mode as soon as I started it. If I started it in safe mode it worked fine. Then I remembered the Windows update. I did a system restore to a time before the driver installation and no more problems.

Jon

Posted 2012-03-05T07:48:09.810

Reputation: 31

Same thing happened to me, but I was not even able to access the BIOS. I tried to replug everything without any luck. What finally helped was changing the computer's power supply cable.

dave

Posted 2012-03-05T07:48:09.810

Reputation: 21

It is not always what others say the problem is, it can be as simple as a DVI cable going bad. I have a computer that I built, it has no dell insides, and yet a LG monitor kept giving me the DVI power save mode message. I checked with a second monitor and it did not say any message but was just dark with no image. I tried a new DVI cable and I have not had a problem since.

PhotogCraig

Posted 2012-03-05T07:48:09.810

Reputation: 1

When adding an answer to an old question with established answers it helps to explain why your answer differs from the existing ones. – Jason Aller – 2014-05-31T06:05:07.863

I know this is late but it might help people that are having this issue.

My desktop kept going into powersaving mode even before windows could start up. I thought it was the monitor or software programs.

Turns out it was the video card... My videocard wasnt bad it was just overheating. If this problem happens to you I would suggest Checking the temp of your video card and see if its hot or not.

I had to take out my video card unscrew the case and Clean it out because it was really dusty. can air is best for this but I didnt have any so I used Q tips and water. Make sure its really clean! If that alone doesnt work you might need to add more thermal Paste to the the card.

goodluck!

keith

Posted 2012-03-05T07:48:09.810

Reputation: 1