How to Troubleshoot Video Problems
a. Try another monitor with
the computer in question
- The monitor must be
KNOWN GOOD.
- This confirms that the problem is with the computer or the monitor.
- If the test monitor displays correctly, the monitor in question is suspect.
- If the test monitor does not display correctly, the computer and/or the video
adapter are suspect.
b. Try a test video card
- If the known good test monitor fails to provide video with the computer in
question, then we need to use a test video card.
- Two test video cards are available in my office.
- If the video adapter in question is integrated, it needs to be disabled in
the BIOS.
- To confirm
that a test video card works, you need only see the startup screens.
After that, you can turn the computer off.
- In this case, you can plan to purchase a new video card.
c. If necessary, download the video card driver and install it
- The process of identifying the adapter is the same as for network adapters.
- Review the process of identifying non-integrated adapters.
- Review the process of identifying integrated adapters.
- Download the file to the desktop and double-click to install it.
- Major vendor sites contain video drivers for their integrated and
non-integrated OEM cards.
How to tell the difference between a bad video card and a dying
monitor
- A bad video card will
usually cause the system to freeze up. Frequently the user is playing a
graphics heavy game or watching a movie, or is trying to set video preferences.
- A dying monitor usually changes hue or becomes "glittery" without
user intervention.
- If the connection between the monitor and the computer is good, and you're
getting an intermittent change in hue, or a consistent change in hue, there is
a good chance the monitor is failing.
- A PINK
- Going into the Bios will show if the video card is the problem or the monitor. If it is the monitor the display will be bad in the BIOS. In most cases