DVI ti VGA problem

Hi all
I bought a second hand computer, a DELL Dimension 9200.
I saw it up and running so I know it's ok.
My problem is I didn't realise the graphics was a dual DVI connection.
I bought a DVI to VGA adapter but still no signal.
Itried both sockets on the card.
The card is a NVidia but not sure which one as all it has on it is NVidia.
I have a Samsung SyncMaster 940 MW Monitor.
Do I have the wrong adapter?
I've read something about some adapters only working with analogue kit, or something like that.
Any clues?
Cheers.

 

Thanks for the reply.
That's not it i'm afraid.
Yes, there are deffinately different ones.
I've seen some with some of the dvi pins missing.
The one I have has all the pins present.
Also, I have read about 'active' adapters?
Still not sure which one I need.

 

Just looked at the back of my Samsung monitor/tv and i see a DVI (HDCP) socket.
Does this mean I just need a DVI male to male cable in replacement of my VGA cable and don't need an adapter after all?

 

The socket on the monitor/tv does NOT have the holes for the four pins at one end.
The socket on the graphics card does have the holes for the four pins.

I have also just tried a tv/monitor I have in my bedroom.
It works using the vga cable with the dvi adapter on my pc.
So, I know it all works and now I know the card is Nvidia Geforce 7900 pci express x16.

As my bedroom tv works fine that must mean the older Samsung is missing something.
I've looked into dvi stuff and even the experts are getting miffed off with the amount of different stuff, headbanger.

 

The difference between DVI-I (all pins) and DVI-D (none of the 4 pins around the long flat pin) is the DVI-I also carries the analog signal. Usually the video card is DVI-I and the tv/monitor is DVI-D.

Now you bought an adapter which I guess means you are using a VGA cable. So you have the DVI-I adapter plugged into the video card and what connector is on the other end going into the tv/monitor? VGA? If it is VGA try setting the tv/monitor's "source" to Analog.

 

sach2
I've looked for settings on the monitor and can't figure anything out.
I have downloaded a manual for it, still no joy.
The only two 'source' options I have are TV or Ext. VR STB.
All the other options, PC, DVI, AV, S-Video and Component are greyed out.
It will not let me choose PC for some reason.
It did yesterday, I hope I haven't blown something plugging and unplugging.

 

If it worked to select source yesterday it should work today. I'm guessing your adapter came slightly loose or you had a loose connection at the PC.

The manual says have the monitor plugged in but off.
Connect the adapter to the PC. (make sure the adapter is firmly connected to both cable and PC)
Plug in the VGA/RGB cable to the monitor.
Turn on both monitor and PC.
Then check if you can change Source to PC. (I think this is equivalent to Analog)

 

Oh, and to answer your question about a cable I think you would be good with a DVI-D to DVI-D Dual Link cable. (You may want to count holes on the TV DVI input but I think it will take either single or dual link from what I see in the manual.)

Here in US they are usually available on Ebay very cheap $5 with free shipping. I know UK is more expensive for electronic supplies. You want one with the little round shielding cylinders below the connectors to minimize interference. (I don't understand the technical reasons for this.)

Something like this http://www.monoprice.com/products/p...d=1020902&p_id=2408&seq=1&format=1#largeimage

 

That cable looks like it will fit.
No cluster of 4 holes on the dvi socket on the monitor.
There are the 4 holes on the graphics card.
I take it there is no need for the 4 pins as the info can't be sent to the monitor anyway?

As for the possible loose connections, I take it you have read the manual online.
If you take another look it says that even without a cable connected I should be able to see a white box with writing dancing about the screen saying no signal.
I did see this yesterday but now I don't, I see two blue boxes, one with 'ext PVR STB' in it and one with 'no signal' written in it.
No matter what I try I can't get the source to go to pc or get that white box back.

 

That sounds like ext PVR STB is the selected source. That is a special connection that is only used in the UK. If you don't have a cable connected to that I don't understand why it would be selected. Do you have any input connections attached besides the VGA cable? Maybe try disconnecting power to the monitor for a few minutes.

The manual seems to indicate that the source will only be available if the cable for that source is attached. So with only the VGA cable attached that should be the only possible choice except tv.

I'll think about this. You only have one computer but two monitors? I'm wondering if trying to set it to PC from another computer might have more luck and if that is an option?

On the cable, it has been a while since I read up on them. The four pins carry the VGA/Analog signal. So they are only needed if the monitor can only understand an Analog signal. Since you would be using the DVI-D connection on the monitor you don't need the four pins. I don't know if a VGA cable could be used with two DVI adapters to carry a digital signal. So say you bought a DVi-D to VGA adapter whether that would work along with your other adapter to use the current cable to carry a digital signal. It is easier safer to buy the DVI_D male cable on both ends.

 

Tried unplugging, no good.
No other devices connected.
Take a look at page 37 of the manual.
It says

1. Self-Test Feature Check
Your monitor provides a self test feature that allows you to check whether your monitor is functioning
properly.
1. Turn off both your computer and the monitor.
2. Unplug the video cable from the back of the computer.
3. Turn on the monitor.
The figure shown below ("Check Signal Cable") appears on a black background when the monitor is
in its normal working condition though it does not sense any video signal: While in the Self-Test
mode, the LED power indicator remains green and the figure moves around on the screen.

I'm not getting that white box for some reason.
Very strange!
I'll give it a go on my laptop tomorrow and see what happens.
Looking like a new monitor at the mo though.

 

I read the manual again and don't see anything new. Does the Menu button bring up anything useful like "reset" or "set to defaults"?
One quick thought is that you might try using the Source button on the monitor itself if you have been using the remote control. (Only because there are two source buttons on the remote and the one towards the bottom is valid only for PIP.)

It is possible that unplugging and replugging the Dsub/VGA cable into the connector on the monitor damaged the connector. The DVI to DVI cable would still be a possibility to test. If only the DSUB connection on the monitor is unresponsive the DVI could still work (I had a video card where the Dsub connection solder was loose but the DVI connector worked fine).

What is troubling is that with no cables attached you don't get that "no signal" screen. But you do get a screen that seems to be saying Ext is the selected source but that the ext. device isn't giving a signal. This doesn't make sense because you .ext should also be greyed out when there is no cable connected. I'll see if I can come up with anything else but having the source options greyed out is a major stumbling block.

 

It was point 2 that was different to what I think you were thinking.
It is saying that it doesn't matter if there is a cable attached or not.
I should be able to select pc as the source without any cables attached, then I should see the white box.
No reset either.

I've tried the buttons on the monitor and the remote.
It's a strange one indeed.
Could be coincidence of course, the monitor could have been ready to give up but I think there is a possibility I have blown it.
They always say turn things off before connecting/disconnecting but I for one have ignored that advice thinking it a bit over cautious. Perhaps I should have heeeded the advice!

As for the greyed out bit, any source not selected is greyed out. When you choose that source it turns red. The only ones I can make turn red using the source button is tv and that Ext one.
Thanks for the support thus far.

 

Forgot to say thanks for the help.
It was just the lead.
As soon as the right one was plugged in all worked a treat.
Cheers.