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Question

Why is monitor shutting off?

Mar 10, 2015 2:12AM PDT

This problem just began in the last 12 hours without any system changes or installations by me...

About 10 to 120 seconds after Windows finishes booting up my monitors go blank even though my current display power setting is "Never shut off"

The computer is still running, i can give keyboard commands to a running music program, for example, and I can HEAR that it is responding appropriately even though I can't see the interface on the screen. However no amount of clicking or other activity will wake the monitors back up.

If I reboot in Safe Mode the monitors will stay on.

If I then disable my NVIDIA graphics driver (GeForce GT240) and reboot to normal mode the monitors will stay on, albeit with rather limited capabilities.

So, I presume this has something to do with the operation of the graphics driver (which i have now updated with no improvement) but I don't know what to change or what to look for.

Ideas?

Discussion is locked

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Clarification Request
Which monitor and what video settings?
Mar 10, 2015 2:20AM PDT

One of the annoying little things I've come across over the years is that some monitors degrade over time. For example one owner was pissed when we found the monitor would stay on when we pulled back the refresh rate to 60. They had it at 72 for years.

Shrug? That is, not all parts will run at all settings forever.
Bob

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I have two monitors
Mar 10, 2015 2:56AM PDT

Thank you for your reply.

I have two monitors, a Cintiq 18SXsx and an HP LCD thing.

It would be inexplicably bad luck for them both to be failing due to age at the exact same instant, and in this repeatable fashion.

Something is telling the graphics card to stop sending a video signal to the monitors.

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I didn't write they were failing.
Mar 10, 2015 2:59AM PDT

I shared that we had to pull back on a setting. Sorry but I don't see enough detail to proceed here. What do your current support folk have to add?
Bob

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try one monitor
Mar 10, 2015 7:06AM PDT

from your wording, it looks like you use dual monitors - try just one and see if it goes dark. also open the case, make sure it is dust free, pull the card and reseat it. if it does not work, you need to provide more info like computer model or specs.