http://www.lcdalternatives.com/page3.html

General istructions on opening LCD cases.

I've tried opening the back cover as suggested with no success: Only the front part of the monitor seem to be able to come out via prying, so I've decided to buy a new monitor.

Thank you all for helping.

Out of morbid curiosity, at what point did you determine this has now become an issue with the monitor?

Reading through the topic, I see that you have inconsistent POST beep codes, and now even the keyboard lights don't come on. These both sound like symptoms of a bad motherboard, and certainly have nothing to do with a bad monitor. Further, if you are basing your assumption that the monitor is bad simply because the power light is blinking, that is also what most monitors will do if they don't receive a video signal after a few seconds: go into sleep mode and blink the power light.

Have you tried this monitor on another machine?

Out of morbid curiosity, at what point did you determine this has now become an issue with the monitor?
I've tried getting a new part for every "solution" I see online. I've deduced it down to the monitor.

I've tried the old monitor on another machine and still no happy ending.

Everything that could cause this problem are all new[monitor, motherboard, cpu, PSU, CMOS battery, etc...]. I've reseated the RAM, etc... but still get this problem with the black screen or it'll say "check the cables", or "no signal". I shouldn't be getting any problem with most things being new. There were beeps, then after I bought and replaced the PSU, the beeps were gone, but the black screen and / or error messages are still here. I'm suspecting it's Windows causing this crap. Since I only see a black screen, I can't get access to the hard drives to try and fix either one. Sorry for the trouble, but I'm really frustrated. Thanks.

'm suprised that nobody suggested clearing the CMOS. Then again, as long as you werent pretty fast when you changed the CMOS battery then that would have cleared the CMOS anyway...

OK, I hope I'm not breaking a forum rule with this post. If I am, sorry.

There should be a Service Manual & Repair Guide for that monitor up somewhere. I did find this-

http://samsung-manual.com/samsung-sy...epair-guide-2/

But that takes you to a different page, where they want $10 US to d/l the manual! I havent had a good look at the samsung site to check if it is there (my eyes are blasted at the moment, stupid infection). If its not at the samsung site, you might be able to find it on some file sharing site/service.

BTW, that link to the viewsonic 'fix' at youtube is just one of the things that can go wrong. Bad caps were a serious problem a few years ago, so if you do have a LCD monitor thats gone 'bad' its reasonable to think its probably the caps. But it could be the inverter, I've got a 2 very similar model viewsonics to the one in that link. One of them was fixed totally with new caps, the other ones is dodgy, and thats the inverter as far as I can tell.

If the monitor is displaying anything (including 'no signal'), its probably not the caps, or the inverter.

*edit- I'd try using the input method you dont normally use as a tst. Ie, if you normally use DVI, try VGA.

Since replacing the power supply appear to have sorted out at least some of the issues, but the monitor problem remains, I'd guess that you've got dirty power, and/or you've got a nasty surge or brownout. Sorry to say this, but you could have a problem with the motherboard as well as the monitor.

I know, you've said above that you have replaced the motherboard, but since this is the 1st time you've said that I'm not sure.

If I've mislead / confused anyone, I'm sorry:
The old monitor = Samsung SyncMaster 932GW
The new monitor = Acer S201HL

I'm using an alternative computer as I fix the other one.

Since no one's been able to help with my problem, I'm contacting Dell to try and get it fixed. I've tested, and nothing's wrong with the monitor.

Windows hard drive doesn't seem to be corrupted [but anything goes since Windows is installed on it], but does cause keyboard to malfunction when HDD is connected to system. Once HDD is removed, rebooting the system will make the keyboard function normally again[Otherwise, I won't be able to post here]. Does anyone know why this happens?

I can't test the other HDD as it has Linux on it. Connecting a Linux HDD or for that matter, any HDD , to a Windows system, can corrupt the hard drive or some other crazy problems will occur. I'm not taking the chance with the Linux HDD. Leaving it as is. Since I don't have any other Linux system I can test it on, it's a hard one.

Thanks for the help.

All the strange random problems you're reporting with this computer leads me to believe that you probably need a new motherboard. I'm not insisting that is the problem, only suggesting that you should consider the possibility.

That just doesn't make any sense to me. The only thing that makes it a Windows system is that Windows is on the hard drive. It should not matter to the computer itself whether the hard drive contains a Windows OS, or a Linux OS, or DOS, or any other OS.

Everything's NEW, so I DO NOT need a new motherboard. The motherboard does not have a problem. Why does everyone assume it's the motherboard or it's the Power supply or the video card or CPU? All of those are NEW on my system and so does not need any replacements at all and yet I still get the same blank / black screen.

Tried calling Dell Tech Support yesterday. Everyone [They are all Indians on the phone: You can hear their accents in the background, too!!!] I get connected to has a THICK Indian accent. Did Dell outsource to India or something? And all of them have me repeat the same information over and over and over again! So, I just hung up on them!

Hi,

You keep giving us information that was not present before in this thread. I may have missed something earlier so I re-read the thread.

Now you say it's a new motherboard and that everything else is now new. You have been able to get into the BIOS at some time?

Monitor cable is OK?

When contacting any customer service be sure to get a reference number or trouble tag. That way you do not need to repeat conditions. If the service rep doesn't provide problem solution(s) then ask for a supervisor. Work up the chain till you can get someone to help you. It is really odd with all the different situations or conditions you have presented.

Think possibly some of the fault lies in your inabilities to explain or define the problems to either LQ members or Indian computer reps? Accent has nothing to do with good representation. Get your prejudice out of the situation.

I know most of us have expressed questions or queries that are not being fully answered but sometimes in pieces.

FYI: I suggest that you look at 'How to Ask Questions the Smart Way' so in the future your queries provide information that will aid us in diagnosis of the problem.



1. What motherboard Video card do you have?
2. You mention in 1 post something about old mobo, then in another it's new mobo.
3. Is windows bootable?
4.Is video card an addon or onboard.

Okay, fine. I assume all your hardware is new and arrived to you in perfect working condition. The system doesn't work. That leaves only three possibilities:

• You have assembled the system incorrectly. Some cable is disconnected, upside down, or plugged into the wrong pins. Some component (memory, CPU, video card, anything else) is not properly seated in its slot. Some motherboard switches are not properly configured for your hardware. Some component is not compatible with the rest of the system.
• You inadvertently damaged some component while assembling the computer. Something was zapped by static electricity. A pin was bent or broken by forcing a misaligned connection. A PCB was cracked when it was dropped, crushed or bent.
• You don't know how to properly assemble and test a computer system. Therefore you don't know what to expect, nor do you understand how to explain what you are experiencing.

I'm betting on the last option. Here are some very informative resources you may find helpful:

• http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/How_To_...op_PC/Assembly
• http://pcguide.com/
• http://hardwarehell.com
• http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/16666...buntu-live-cd/
• http://www.acmehowto.com/howto/pc/pr.../diagnosis.php

Although I feel sympathetic to your plight, it really is not fair for you to be so harsh just because they don't sound like your next door neighbors. Have a little patience, will you?

2 members found this post helpful.

You have assembled the system incorrectly. Some cable is disconnected, upside down, or plugged into the wrong pins. Some component (memory, CPU, video card, anything else) is not properly seated in its slot. Some motherboard switches are not properly configured for your hardware. Some component is not compatible with the rest of the system.
Wrong! Everything's in correct order.

You inadvertently damaged some component while assembling the computer. Something was zapped by static electricity. A pin was bent or broken by forcing a misaligned connection. A PCB was cracked when it was dropped, crushed or bent.
Totally assumption. Nothing's bent or broken. Nothing's damaged. Nothing was dropped, crashed or bent.

You don't know how to properly assemble and test a computer system. Therefore you don't know what to expect, nor do you understand how to explain what you are experiencing.
Totally assumption again.
You can't explain crap. Just because I explained EXPLICITLY what had happened, you wanted to twist all my words around.

You cannot just ASSUME! Just because you can't do anything to help that doesn't mean I don't know what I'm doing.
If you can't help, then don't post anything.

With some outside / offline help, and doing some testing myself, my assumption and deduction and what others have told me offline turned out to be correct.

0 members found this post helpful.

@EDDY1
Please read all of my posts again:
In my first few posts, it's with the old motherboard, then I replaced it later on with a new motherboard to see if it'll solve the problem. Still have the same problem.