When I turn on my PC and monitor, the monitor goes into standby mode (showing an orange rather than green light) after a few seconds, while the PC continues into Windows XP (I know this because I can hear Windows start up through my speakers.) Nothing I do, such as moving the mouse, will bring the monitor out of standby. However, there is a way of getting the monitor to display Windows XP as it normally would, but this requires me to time the pressing of the monitor button to about 1.5 seconds after turning the computer on. This has to be done exactly, and is very difficult to get right without a number of attempts. If the monitor is turned on at any other time then it will go into standby as I have said in my description of the problem above.

This problem is with my Gigabyte GeForce FX 5700 with 256 megs of RAM, with driver 81.85. However, I changed the card to an older GeForce 4 mx that came with my computer when I bought it, and that works fine. With the GeForce 4 there are no problems with the monitor whatsoever, even though I am using the same Nvidia driver. I am using the GeForce 4 now to use my computer and surf the internet looking for a solution.

I have attempted a few other things to fix the problem, all didn't work: used AdAware 6 to remove any malware; restored the computer to 2 different restore points before the date the problem began; taken the GeForce FX5700 out, blown on the connectors, then replaced it; uninstalled the Nvidia driver 81.85 and reinstalled it; changed the monitor, had same problem with that monitor.

Note: it seems to me that the night before the problem began I had a Windows automatic update, which I let run as I turned the computer off. The next day the computer had the problems. I am not certain however that this was exactly the way it happened.

Lastly, I don't know much about BIOS so if you refer me to that, could you give me some detailed directions or links to sites for advice.

More lastly: thanks to everyone who helps, and even to those who couldn't help but took a look at this thread to see if they could.

Here are my specs:

hp pavilion 424.uk:
Pentium 4 2.4 Ghz
756 DDR RAM
40 gig hard drive
60 gig hard drive
Gigabyte GeForce FX 5700 with 256 megs RAM (now using GeForce 4 mx to overcome problem)

The BIOS depends on your computer make and model or motherboards.

I do see this problem related to this BIOS setting:

Skip DDC Monitor Detection

What is the computer make and model and or the motherboards?

This scan will show such under the headings of System Model as well as Main Circuit Board

http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html

thanks for replying Jephree.

Here is the information you asked for:

Computer Model and Make: HP Pavilion 06 DA385A-ABU 424 0d'0201RE101XENO3

Main Circuit Board:

Board: MICRO-STAR INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD MS-6577 020
Serial Number: 2A01548535
Bus Clock: 133 megahertz
BIOS: Phoenix Technologies, LTD 3.25 09/23/2003

thanks again.

This would appear to be your board:

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/d...dlc=en&lang=en

To enter BIOS setup, start the PC and press the F1 key as the PC boots.

Look for a setting such as: Skip DDC Monitor Detection

The uninstallation of previous graphics drivers is crucial.

Perhaps try this Driver Cleaner:

http://www.drivercleaner.net/

To Jephree,

I am not sure what I should do now. Do I just have to uninstall my graphics driver completely, and then change the setting in the BIOS?

thanks again.

If you see that Skip DDC Monitor Detection setting then change it.

You might also see a setting regarding disabling the on-board VGA.

Then uninstall and reinstall the nVidea drivers:

Driver Installation Hints

* "Download Accelerator" utilities should be disabled when downloading any drivers.

* Do not run virus protection software in the background while installing the drivers. This prevents the driver from configuring itself properly.

* Before installing new drivers make sure you uninstall all NVIDIA display drivers from the Windows Control Panel. Browse to the Start Menu > Windows Control Panel > Add/Remove Programs and search for "NVIDIA Windows Display Drivers" or "NVIDIA Display Drivers" and select remove.

Version: 81.98

http://www.nvidia.com/object/winxp_2k_81.98.html

I couldn't find the Skip DDL thing in the BIOS but I will download the newest driver and attempt that now.

thanks Jephree.

Okay I couldn't find the Skip DDC Monitor Detection setting in the BIOS. I couldn't find the setting regarding disabling the on-board VGA. I wasn't sure what section to look in the BIOS for these, either.

Regardless, I downloaded the lateset driver, and following all of the driver installation hints, and after using drivercleaner, updated the driver.

I then took out the GeForce 4 and put the GeForce FX 5700 back in. When I turned the computer on I still had the same problem as before. I also noticed that the fan on the graphics card didn't start turning.

Was the fan working previously?

Does the card have/need a power connection from the PSU?

I assume that the fan on the graphics card worked in the past. I have been using my graphics card for about a year and a half and I only began to have any problems this week. Of course, I can't be sure that it was working before this week, I have never seen the fan running before.

The graphics card (and the fan attached to it) doesn't have a connection to the PSU: it is simply connected to the motherboard.