my monitor only works in safe mode

I can't figure out what's going on. My old monitor started blinking out, and having lines in it in both safe mode and regular. I borrowed a friends, and the same issue went on with that monitor -- but not in safe mode. In safe mode the monitor works just fine.

So I deleted the drivers for my video card, and reloaded them with updated drivers I got from the web. A mistake...all screens wacky again. Then I just reloaded the original drivers from my restore CD, and again, the monitor works in safe mode.

Does this mean my video card is dying? Why would it work in safe mode and not regualr mode. I did try system restore, and when that happens, it works about two minutes before reverting to it's old ways.

Miah

 

I would try taking the card out and then reinstalling it to see if it still happens. Do you have another card to try?

 

I don't have another card, and don't know much about the insides of machines. I'll open it later and try unplugging it and plugging it back in. There's no trick to doing that, right? I've installed a firewire port on my own...that was pretty easy. Is it much the same thing?

Do you think it's worth buying a new card for such an old computer? How much do they cost? I have a GE Force Nvidia 5200 card now.

Thanks...

Miah

Dell Dimension 4600
Processor Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 2.66GHz
Processor Speed 2.60 GHz
Memory (RAM) 1024 MB
Operating System Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
Operating System Version 5.1.2600

 

Hi Mik,

Allk has the right idea. The Monitor is running off the Video driver in the MB CMOS during Boot and in Safe mode. That indicates that your Monitor is OK and that the problem is the Video software or the card itself. Cost of the card would depend on what kind of use you make of the Comp. For me any card that gets up to about 1024X768 res is OK, a gamer would want the very best. Before you reload drivers for anything the best approach is to remove the Device from Device Manager and reboot. Windoze has stashed all drivers and will reload them. Usually gets you going again if it's software. Next would be what you did.

Good Luck, Jim

 

To check that it is your video card remove it and plug the monitor into the standard monitor port which you'll be able to find near the rear USB ports and Ethernet port etc. If the monitor works fine through that port then it's a problem with the video card.

The first thing that came to mind for me is that your OS is trying to run the display at a higher refresh rate than the monitor can handle. You can fix this by going to your desktop and right clicking and selecting properties. Click the advanced tab. On the next window click monitor and you'll have an option to set the screen refresh rate. Most monitors work fine on 60MHz.