Slid my monitor forward, and now DVI port won't work!?!

GoodEnough

Golden Member
Apr 24, 2011
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I have a Dell 26" widescreen monitor

I moved it forward when watching a movie,
and suddenly got "No VGA signal".

This was connected via the white DVI cable.
I re-secured both ends of the cable, rebooted, etc.
No luck.

I reverted back to blue VGA cable to type this...
So, both PC and monitor still work under VGA.

Either DVI port on graphics card is bad,
or the DVI port on monitor is bad..

Have anyone seen this happen before??
 
Last edited:

C1

Platinum Member
Feb 21, 2008
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If there was not enough slack in the DVI cable then you could have busted a CB or a solder joint on one of the CBs (either computer or monitor end) when you moved the monitor. Recommend testing the DVI cable (pin to pin) using an ohm meter as that is easy to do. Unless you have an extra known good monitor, you may have to have a PC shop test the computer and monitor. If it is a bad solder joint at one of the connectors then they should be able to repair it for you. Before you do this though, make sure that the monitor has not simply been manually switched to another input as sometimes monitors with touch buttons can inadvertently be set when the unit's frame is grasped. Therefore, reset the monitor to default settings (eg, begin by disconnecting then reconnecting the power cord).
 

GoodEnough

Golden Member
Apr 24, 2011
1,547
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Thanks for the help, C1

I don't see any external buttons on the monitor.
When I reverted to VGA, it switched right over.
So, I'm not sure it's a button setting.

Not sure I have access to a ohm meter.

Not sure it's worth buying b/c I noticed the cheap graphics card I initially installed (to drive the widescreen resolution) also has an HDMI port. Maybe I should just switch over to an HDMI cable?

If I can't use HDMI, maybe I'll buy a new cable and new graphics card. I really don't think I damaged the monitor DVI port, b/c the thing was very securely fastened.
 

lupi

Lifer
Apr 8, 2001
32,539
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Does your vid card have multiple outlets, may want to try the other if you do. At times some dell monitors have had a problem running in dvi mode and you could get a driver update from them, but have no idea off the specifics of the monitor you are currently using.
 

GoodEnough

Golden Member
Apr 24, 2011
1,547
19
81
Does your vid card have multiple outlets, may want to try the other if you do. At times some dell monitors have had a problem running in dvi mode and you could get a driver update from them, but have no idea off the specifics of the monitor you are currently using.

Not a driver issue, as it's worked fine for 2+ years.
I moved the monitor and then it flaked.
I am just going to get an HDMI cable.
 

GoodEnough

Golden Member
Apr 24, 2011
1,547
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C1, Nevermind!!
I re-tried my DVI plug one more time, and this time it worked!
Maybe it was powering down the monitor as C1 stated