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Unattached Only (and Primary) Monitor

Tags:
  • Screen Resolution
  • Primary
  • Display
  • Unattached
  • no signal
  • disable
  • Graphics
  • Monitors
Last response: in Graphics & Displays
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August 29, 2014 5:18:11 PM

Boy did I back myself into a corner this time.

So in my attempts to fix up an old XP, I got into the Display "Settings" tab and tried to boost screen resolution. In that screen you have the panel where you see other monitors right, and there were 4 monitor options available. Odd seeing as I have only one monitor and only one hookup (a single VGA) on the back.

I clicked on the monitor that said "1" and set it is Primary. The other monitor, monitor "2" I unattached. Turns out, monitor 2 was my monitor and monitor 1 was non existent. BAM! No signal to my monitor. So I waited for the automatic display settings revert, and it doesn't go.

What now? I restarted the computer, hoping to see some DELL screen or open bios to do something, but I have absolutely nothing. The monitor acknowledges it is connected to a computer by saying "No Signal" when the computer is turned on, but nothing more.

I have no idea where to go from here. I already tried another monitor with no luck. Are there keyboard shortcuts to the display menu from which I could make the necessary changes, whatever they may be?

More about : unattached primary monitor

a c 136 C Monitor
August 29, 2014 5:29:19 PM

Unplug it from your graphics card and plug the monitor into the motherboard integrated graphics.
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August 29, 2014 5:55:05 PM

i7Baby said:
Unplug it from your graphics card and plug the monitor into the motherboard integrated graphics.


I don't follow. The monitor VGA cord is connected to the only video connection on the back of the PC, and that one is nearby all of the USB connections and the like, not an add-on card.
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a c 136 C Monitor
August 29, 2014 6:04:19 PM

You haven't posted your build, so I've gotta guess.

Try another monitor.
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August 29, 2014 6:24:56 PM

i7Baby said:
You haven't posted your build, so I've gotta guess.

Try another monitor.


Oh, yeah sorry. It isn't my regular use computer, and I just got it, so I don't even know what its build is.

I did try another monitor, but it just went to sleep after plugging it in, so I assume it got the same feed as the other.
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a c 136 C Monitor
August 29, 2014 6:43:54 PM

Without your vbuild, this could take months to solve. Use HWInfo and post your complete and detailed build. See examples on other threads
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August 29, 2014 6:56:05 PM

Well that kinda leads back to the problem. Can't look on the screen to download the program. I was thinking a solution would be to use keyboard shortcuts to navigate to the menu and change the settings.

Maybe: Start Button, c (to select control panel), enter, d (select display) maybe. I'm not sure, I don't have an XP to test it on (that works).
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August 30, 2014 11:33:42 AM

Well I managed to fix my own problem.

First I tried blind key-stroking. Using an old XP I found, I made this line:

Start Button → c → d (x2) → Enter → Tab (x4) → Right Arrow Key (x4) → Tab (x2) → Down Arrow Key → Tab (x5) → Space → Tab (x4) → Space → Tab (x7).

I had no luck, so I modified the beginning in case Classic Control Menu wasn't enabled.

R-Click → Up Arrow Key → Enter → Tab (x4) → Right Arrow Key (x4) → Tab (x2) → Down Arrow Key → Tab (x5) → Space → Tab (x4) → Space → Tab (x7).

That also did not produce anything.


Here is where my problem became a solution. Turns out that really odd connection at the bottom of the computer is actually a video connection of some type. Its that weird 4 x 15 (or 16, not really sure) pin grid connection. So I got myself one of those DVI splitters that takes that weird connection and splits it into two DVI connections. Then on that I put a DVI to VGA adapter, and then connected my monitor. Success!

So I guess when I was messing with settings, I attached and made primary the graphics card, and unattached the default motherboard VGA connection. Ay, what a headache. Thanks for your help i7Baby.
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