Older PC problem... what is causing this??

[echo4747]

Details:

Dell optiplex 380
- monitor is always on and usually in sleep mode
-Sometimes when I start the unit it will boot into windows just fine
- Other times when I start it up the computer it will not "wake the monitor up" so I have to hard power it down ( pressing and holding the powert button
- sometimes I need to do this 2,3,4.5 times in order to wake the monitor up

where is the first place to look to find problem?

 

[Dahak]

by "wake the monitor up" do you mean at all or, do you see the initial post screen and then when it gets to windows you don't see anything?

 

[AnonymouseUser]

I would research the monitor and see if others report similar problems. So, what is the make and model number of the monitor, and how long have you owned it?

 

[echo4747]

by "wake the monitor up" do you mean at all or, do you see the initial post screen and then when it gets to windows you don't see anything?

On the power switch located on the monitor... it is a lighted switch when it is asleep it is yellow... when it wakes it is green

sometimes when I power up the pc it turns green and other times it doesnt ( unless I repeatedly hard power off the pc and keep restarting)

 

[Fardringle]

When you turn the computer on, do the indicator lights (1, 2, 3, 4) on the front of the computer cycle through a series of combinations and then all turn off, or do some of them stay on? If any of the lights stay on, which numbers are they?

If it goes through the cycle and then the lights turn off, the computer is booting normally, at least through the initial start-up tests, and then it is most likely a problem with the monitor or the video card or the cable between them. If any of the lights stay on, there is an error and the numbers will tell you the source of the problem. Use this reference sheet to look up the error code:
https://www.manualslib.com/manual/678406/Dell-Optiplex-380.html?page=13

 

[jkauff]

Wouldn't it be easy enough to just turn the monitor off, then turn it back on when you're ready to work? I don't use Sleep mode, I run my box 24/7 and just turn off the monitor when I go to bed.

Not the solution you're looking for, but until you get one it sure beats repeatedly restarting the computer.

 

[C1]

Ive had some strange experiences with monitors getting to accept/recognize settings.

When the computer is on & monitor goes to sleep (ie, yellow light on monitor), does it have trouble waking up?

I would do the following.

Reseat video card.

Remove video cable & spray each end with DEOXIT & re-seat.

In monitor settings initiate (ie, press) reset.

Unplug monitor from 120 volt line & let it sit over night before resuming normal operations (computer off also).

 

[corkyg]

Re Jkauff: Yes, and to do that, the monitor power setting should be NEVER for timed off. It works for me regardless of OS or machine.

 

[echo4747]

I dont think the problem is with the monitor. When I turn the pc on it either starts fine (loads win 7) or it does not load windows at all or even send a signal to wake the monitor. I am assuming it does not begin to load windows is because after the repeated tries of forced shut down/starting (sometimes 5-6 times) it will load windows normally ( meaning it doesnt tell me windows was shut down improperly)

 

[Dahak]

I dont think the problem is with the monitor. When I turn the pc on it either starts fine (loads win 7) or it does not load windows at all or even send a signal to wake the monitor. I am assuming it does not begin to load windows is because after the repeated tries of forced shut down/starting (sometimes 5-6 times) it will load windows normally ( meaning it doesnt tell me windows was shut down improperly)

When its doing the long load times, does the hard drive seem to be consistently working? if so it could be possible the hard drive is bad or starting to fail.

I would backup and files that you really want to keep just in case

Then a quick way to check is if is booting into windows currently, you can run CrystalDiskInfo http://crystalmark.info/software/CrystalDiskInfo/index-e.html to see quickly if its bad or not. If it comes back good, I would then try running the hard drive maker's diagnostic tools, or you could use WDDiag for Windows http://support.wdc.com/downloads.aspx?p=3 or Seagates tools Seatools for Windows http://www.seagate.com/ca/en/support/downloads/seatools/seatools-win-master/

Either should run, now if either of those pass. and the issue still is happening. I would try to run run a chkdsk /r from an Administrator Command Prompt and see if that finds and fixes anything.

If all those pass and it still happening. Well for a basic hdd now a days is fairly cheap you could get a 500gb on and just replace the current

 

[dave_the_nerd]

I had power-on issues with an older monitor. Turned out the monitor had a bad PSU (swollen caps.)

Got a replacement AC/DC board from shopjimmy, and it was fine until I gave it away a couple years later.

 

[echo4747]

When its doing the long load times, does the hard drive seem to be consistently working? if so it could be possible the hard drive is bad or starting to fail.

I would backup and files that you really want to keep just in case

Then a quick way to check is if is booting into windows currently, you can run CrystalDiskInfo http://crystalmark.info/software/CrystalDiskInfo/index-e.html to see quickly if its bad or not. If it comes back good, I would then try running the hard drive maker's diagnostic tools, or you could use WDDiag for Windows http://support.wdc.com/downloads.aspx?p=3 or Seagates tools Seatools for Windows http://www.seagate.com/ca/en/support/downloads/seatools/seatools-win-master/

Either should run, now if either of those pass. and the issue still is happening. I would try to run run a chkdsk /r from an Administrator Command Prompt and see if that finds and fixes anything.

If all those pass and it still happening. Well for a basic hdd now a days is fairly cheap you could get a 500gb on and just replace the current

Wouldn't the pc still wake the monitor even with a totally dead hard drive? I thought would could at least get to the "dell logo press F12 to enter setup screen"
- I have another monitor that I know is good that I can try on monday just to rule out the current monitor.
-i was able to back up everything I need to a usb drive earlier today

 

[Dahak]

Wouldn't the pc still wake the monitor even with a totally dead hard drive? I thought would could at least get to the "dell logo press F12 to enter setup screen"
- I have another monitor that I know is good that I can try on monday just to rule out the current monitor.
-i was able to back up everything I need to a usb drive earlier today

Yes it would, I may have misread the previous posts where you said that it did not show even the dell logo.
Although sometimes when the drive is dying, I have seen it cause it not to post properly to the point that it would not send a video signal to the monitor because the drive it self was not initializing properly

Trying another monitor would be the best bet

 

[Ketchup]

A couple good tests would be disconnecting the drive(s) and trying a different monitor.

 

[vailr]

One thing to check for is: previously installed but now absent "ghost" devices.
Such as remnants of other video card drivers or monitors.
Check in Windows Device Manager that the monitor is identified by it's exact model number, and not as a "Generic" monitor.
Also: check for updated device drivers (system wide), such as chipset drivers.
"Iobit Driver Booster" (free and paid versions available) may be useful in that regard.
If the monitor is connected via VGA cable, switch to a digital cable type, such as DVI-D, DP, or HDMI.
Check for any unused video controllers, such as an onboard video controller when using only a discrete video card for that purpose. Onboard video can be optionally disabled in the bios settings.