Why doesn't external monitor doesn't wake up from sleep mode anymore?

jabailo

Distinguished
Jan 13, 2010
15
0
18,520
Latitude E6410 in docking bay
External Acer 2216w monitor
Connected with DVI cable

After working correctly since 2010, just recently my system started having problems bringing the monitor back on when it went into sleep mode -- whether I put it in sleep manually or let the power options shut it down.

Now, when bringing the computer out of sleep, the monitor light goes from amber to green...but the screen stays black! What I do is turn the monitor on and off. Then put the computer back into sleep and then bring it back and it works.

I've updated to all the latest video drivers using Dell's website.

Anything I can do?
 

jabailo

Distinguished
Jan 13, 2010
15
0
18,520


No, it was working fine for years and I haven't added any hardware to the device since first getting it brand new. I would always be able to press the blinking blue button on the dock and it would come out of Sleep and kick the monitor back on to green and then display Windows.

There have been scheduled Windows updates and after the problem started I updated everything Recommended from the Dell drivers site (but it did not fix the problem).

What's weird is that it switches the monitor from amber to green, but the display remains black until I turn the monitor all the way off off, then put the computer back to sleep and then bring it back out of sleep again!


 

jabailo

Distinguished
Jan 13, 2010
15
0
18,520
I finally gave up on my monitor. It would never come back immediately from Sleep but if I put my laptop into Sleep a couple of times, and turned it off and on again, etc, it might come back on the 3rd of 4th try. I decided it was just worn out and bought a new one for $99 at Wal*Mart (AOC), same size. Best investment I made. Not only is it a lot brighter, but it works perfectly.

Sometimes giving up is the correct strategy (take that, Tony Robbins).

Oh, but here's the bizarre part. This monitor...makes my computer run faster!! I can't tell you how or why. One thing that's different is that it only has VGA. No big deal, it's still crisp and clear. But my Windows 7 system is running noticeably faster...maybe even an order of magnitude faster! I can't figure out why. But here's another clue for you all, when I took off the old monitor and used the built in one on the lid...it was running dog slow! Maybe it's easier to render on the monitor, better drivers, maybe external VGA offloads something. Who knows. It's just great..and yet, weird!