Sometimes I have a blue box show up telling me what the best resolution is for my monitor. The same blue box will come up and say "No signal, analog" what does that mean? This only happens when the computer is first started up

My ex has been having the same problem with his, a grey box comes up says no signal and the screen goes black as it would when going into screensaver mode

Both are LCD monitors

jennifer doxakis said:

That's completely normal.

The LCD monitor "knows" when it's connected to a computer, and it also "knows" when it's not getting a signal. During the beginning of the power-up process, everything is being reset and there is no video signal being sent out by the mobo or video adapter card...so, the display tells you it isn't getting a signal.

It may also briefly appear after the computer is up and running if/when you change a display setting.

What if the box comes up and you havent changed the display setting?

Well, that's a horse of a different kettle of fish.

Some possibilities (in no particular order):

driver acting wonky, downlevel, wrong driver (e.g. using Windows generic vs. vendor's specific driver)[verify correct driver is in use, might try installing newer or even older version. Might even try display on a different OS computer. e.g. if using Vista, try display on an XP computer]

video card management software gone wonky (e.g. flakey "ati/nvidia video card tool" or a "beta" version being used, that sort of thing)[try downloading and using newer or even older version]

For BOTH driver and vid management software isolation testing, you might try running the display(s) under a self-booting repair/diagnostic disc like UBCD or Knoppix (which boots in Linux derivative) Make sure it is self-booting and does NOT run under your installed Windows OS.

power issue (card, display, or PSU)[could be failing device or system PSU, connector related, system PSU operating at top-edge of capacity, system PSU out-of-spec voltage variation, etc. Might try using displays on totally separate computer, test or swap PSU, etc]

thermal issue (card or display)[might try opening computer case, more cooling, cleaning dust out, etc, see if makes a difference]

cable/connector issue [try inspecting and re-seating all vid connectors...don't forget video aux power connectors, re-seat vid card as needed]

power settings issue [try de-activating all power management, screensavers, etc. for awhile, see if makes a diff]

re-seat video card


Remember to use proper AC mains disconnect (not just front switch) and ESD handling procedures when you install/remove/handle internal computer components.



edit-clean up and add PSU to "power" list
edit-add try on different OS (e.g. XP v. Vista or even Linux by using a self-booting "repair" or diagnostic disc)

sorry about multiple edits...on max pain killers again this morning