[vox-tech] Acer AL2216W (blank screen)

[Jeff Newmiller]

No, the video card is in the computer, generating the image. If you see the monitor logo, then the problem is likely that no usable signal is arriving at the monitor.

"Thomas Johnston" <trjohnston at ucdavis.edu> wrote:

>Thanks Richard and Jeff. Just to make sure I understand, you think the
>video card inside the external monitor has failed?
>
>
>
>
>
>On Fri, Sep 17, 2010 at 7:27 AM, Jeff Newmiller
><jdnewmil at dcn.davis.ca.us> wrote:
>> This sounds more like the video card, though it could be the video connector or cable.
>>
>> "Richard Harke" <paleopenguin at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>>In recent years I have noticed that video cards die distressingly soon.
>>>Often with
>>>strange symptoms that make it appear to be something more basic. I do have
>>>to admit
>>>that the most recen time (about two weeks ago) it was in fact the monitor.
>>>That was an
>>>HP 22" LCD monitor only 5 years old. My previous monitor was a Sony CRT that
>>>went back
>>>to the early 90's.
>>>
>>>I can only suugest that you try swapping out starting with whatever you can
>>>do cheaply.
>>>Especially if you can borrow a component for testing.
>>>
>>>I do have an extra video card but I'm not in Davis so you'd have to wait
>>>till
>>>the regular Lugod meeting.
>>>
>>>Richard
>>>
>>>
>>>On Thu, Sep 16, 2010 at 5:13 PM, Thomas Johnston <trjohnston at ucdavis.edu>wrote:
>>>
>>>> I am running Kubuntu 10.04 (64 bit) on my Dell Vostro 1500 and using
>>>> an Acer AL2216W as a second monitor. Everything was working great
>>>> until last Monday morning. I powered up the computer, activated the
>>>> external monitor and the max resolution was 1280x1024 (the native
>>>> resolution is 1680x1050 - same as my laptop display). I didn't do
>>>> anything to modify any video settings so I don't know exactly what
>>>> prompted the change; however, there were about 10 "bug fixes" the day
>>>> before. Looking at the history of fixes I don't see anything that
>>>> looks likely to cause a problem, but I am certainly not a Linux
>>>> expert.
>>>>
>>>> Anyway, I have spent the last 4 days doing everything I can to make it
>>>> work again: updated drivers, uninstalled/reinstalled drivers, deleting
>>>> the xorg.conf file and having one auto generated, manually editing the
>>>> xorg.conf .... nothing has worked. In fact, the situation is now
>>>> worse. I can't even get the monitor to display anything anymore - just
>>>> a black screen. I think the monitor itself is fine, if I turn it on I
>>>> see the "ACER" logo appear, then I briefly see a dialog box that says
>>>> "no signal", and then it goes blank. I don't have a great
>>>> understanding of the xorg.conf file, but I was very careful when
>>>> editing it. I read all of the NVIDIA documentation online and I found
>>>> examples of xorg.conf files online from people with this same monitor
>>>> who claimed to have it working, so I don't think I used a refresh/sync
>>>> rate beyond what the monitor is capable of (I didn't smell any
>>>> smoke!).  My Google searches have indicated that many people have had
>>>> problems reading EDID data from this monitor. I have even plugged it
>>>> into a Windows machine with an ATI graphics card and same
>>>> thing...blank screen.
>>>>
>>>> I checked the /var/log/Xorg.0.log file and I see this warning:
>>>> (WW) Sep 16 15:07:43 NVIDIA(GPU-0): Unable to read EDID for display device
>>>> CRT-0
>>>>
>>>> there are no errors (EE) generated.
>>>>
>>>> Other system details in case it is relevant:
>>>> The monitor is connected to my graphics card via the VGA port (my
>>>> laptop doesn't have any other display ports; however the monitor does
>>>> have a DVI-D connection)
>>>> NVIDIA Driver Version: 256.53
>>>> Server Version: 1.7.6
>>>> NV-CONTROL Version: 1.23
>>>> Graphics Card: GeForce 8600M GT
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> My question is: do you think the monitor is toast or would work again
>>>> if I could get a working EDID.bin and/or xorg.conf file (perhaps from
>>>> kind soul on the interwebs)?
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> thanks in advance,
>>>>
>>>> Thomas
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> vox-tech mailing list
>>>> vox-tech at lists.lugod.org
>>>> http://lists.lugod.org/mailman/listinfo/vox-tech
>>>>
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>>
>> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
>> Jeff Newmiller                        The     .....       .....  Go Live...
>> DCN:<jdnewmil at dcn.davis.ca.us>        Basics: ##.#.       ##.#.  Live Go...
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>> Research Engineer (Solar/Batteries            O.O#.       #.O#.  with
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---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jeff Newmiller                        The     .....       .....  Go Live...
DCN:<jdnewmil at dcn.davis.ca.us>        Basics: ##.#.       ##.#.  Live Go...
                                      Live:   OO#.. Dead: OO#..  Playing
Research Engineer (Solar/Batteries            O.O#.       #.O#.  with
/Software/Embedded Controllers)               .OO#.       .OO#.  rocks...1k
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sent from my phone. Please excuse my brevity.