No image when turning monitor off then on again

Jimbo Mahoney · 17 Jul 2013 at 10:21

[Not sure if this is Windows / Monitor or Graphics card issue]

I've never seen this before, but if I turn my monitor off while Windows is running, then back on again, it stays black but the computer is running fine. The only way to get it back is restart the PC or change the desktop resolution (via remote desktop from another PC).

Any ideas on what it could be and what to try?

Win 7 32-bit
ATI FirePro 2260 with latest drivers
DisplayPort connection
Dell 2709w

jackle13 · 17 Jul 2013 at 10:38

I could only hazard a guess in that it's either a Display Port issue, but most likely could be the Graphics card not waking up the monitor again (realizing it has a signal)?

Possibly a combination of the gpu + drivers + display port.

Maybe try a previous revision of drivers?

I remember vaguely an issue with Dell Monitors / Display port with being unable to wake up.

LaRZ · 17 Jul 2013 at 13:15

When you turn it back on again, perhaps its defaulting to a different input ?

Jimbo Mahoney · 18 Jul 2013 at 16:24

jackle13 said:
I could only hazard a guess in that it's either a Display Port issue, but most likely could be the Graphics card not waking up the monitor again (realizing it has a signal)?

Possibly a combination of the gpu + drivers + display port.

Maybe try a previous revision of drivers?

I remember vaguely an issue with Dell Monitors / Display port with being unable to wake up.

Thanks - sounds promising.

I guess it could also be because I'm using non-Dell drivers on the PC? (It's a Dell too). I know my Dell laptop loses some hotkey functionality if I use drivers from the manufacturer (Intel) instead of the supplier (Dell). Perhaps the same is true here...

LaRZ said:
When you turn it back on again, perhaps its defaulting to a different input ?

Thanks, but have checked this already and it's not the problem.

jeffa123 · 19 Jul 2013 at 21:57

you should check your refresh rate. If anything try a simple click from the mouse on the desktop and press F5. This kind of issue dates back to the VGA cards of windows 3.1, so nothing new here. Your drivers should be checked for UNPNP status. I do not know the Catalyst drivers so I am sure you will find someone with that speciality on this forum.