Computer problem with old computer

[Fighter Pilot]

Hi gang, it's me again, with yet another computer problem. I'm trying to get files off my old PC that I need. I hook everything up, and I get a message on the monitor that says "Monitor is in power save mode. Activate using the computer". I move the mouse and all that, but it won't do anything. After a minute or so, an orange lite on the monitor comes on and the message goes away, but still can't do anything.

Why the heck is this happening??

[Cyrus]

1 - This is my first time posting here, so hi everyone. I've been logging onto the site for the past two weeks, it's been really informative. So much so that i'm back into the pachinko spending spree on Ebay. (So much for buying christmas gifts this year )

2 - I'm an IT guru, so I could probably give you an idea what you need to fix.
It sounds like you pulled the hard drive out of your old PC to transfer data to the new one.

I'm going to take a guess and figured you opened the PC and installed the old drive onto the same cable as the new Hard drive. If that's the case, then both of the hard drives might have the same jumper setting (master/slave)which would causing a conflict.

If you don't understand what that means, then just unhook the cables from your internal cd drive, and connect the old hard drive to it. It should boot fine.


If this wasn't the issue, then reply to the post and tell me exactly what you did in detail, and i'll come up with an answer.

[LeWood]

a couple of things could be happening to you here, not sure on your machine or operating system,
This problem usually occurs when 1) you have set your display resolution
to something higher than the monitor can handle; or 2) the video card
is going. If you did change the resolution to something too
high, go into Safe Mode and lower the resolution.
if that is not a solution you can enter the Bios and from there you can turn off power saving.

[Fighter Pilot]

Thanks. I haven't changed the res. that I know of, so I'll have to try the bios thing, IF I can remember how. Is that f1 or f10? As far as the pc goes, it's a Dell 1.3 running XP home edition.

[FTKServices]

Question?
After you have hooked everything up correctly. When you boot the computer do you see the boot screens before you get to windows or do you just get that message and nothing else.
If only message turn off, remove video card (if not onboard video), reseat card & make sure monitor cable is plugs in card tightly.
Dell bios should be F10 on some old ones its F2.

[LeWood]

To enter Bios at boot up

Dell 400 F1
Dell Dimension F2 or DEL
Dell Inspiron F2
Dell Latitude Fn+F1 (while booted)
Dell Latitude F2 (on boot)
Dell Optiplex DEL
Dell Optiplex F2
Dell Precision F2

[slothappy144]

Lot of help here. WE are overlooking what he wants to do and concentrating on how to fix the video problem.
Put the old hard drive in the new PC , use the power and IDE cable from the cdrom to make it simple, boot it and drag the files you want from the old PC to the new shiney one. stuff old HD back in the old PC and use as doorstop.

[Fighter Pilot]

The PC still works (until now anyway). I guess I will have to open the case and check the video card to see if it's seated correctly. I want to get my files off of it and reformat the drive so I can give it to a friend.

I haven't had the case open on that PC in ages, so I haven't tried removing the HD or anything like that.

[slothappy144]

It is simple stuff. after your files are safe on the new PC then worry about fixing and wiping the old one. I do this all the time for people who get new PC's.

[Fighter Pilot]

Well, last night I talked with FTKServices, and he helped me through this mess with my old PC. We aren't 100% sure yet, but everything is pointing to a bad video card. I'm going to call some friends today and see if any of them might have a spare card I can throw into it and see what happens.

Thanks for the help everyone, and I will let you know what I find out.

Ed, thanks for everything. I really enjoyed talking to you last night.

[FTKServices]

Me too.. No problem, if you ever never anything you let me know and I will see if I have a card around here.