Hi folks

Can't get sony e500 crt monitor to work with acer aspire desktop PC, win 7.

At boot up I see "starting windows" etc then a permanent blank screen. PC works fine with the thin screen monitor.

I can't easily get the monitor [very heavy] and the pc to an internet connection although I am online with another pc.

Any ideas appreciated.

Have you tried starting in safe mode? If your PC is set to start the graphics in a resolution that the crt cannot handle, as soon as the video drivers are loaded (after the starting windows screen) the crt may not be able to handle it. It could be the resolution or even the Hz setting (if your thin monitor happens to be 120Hz forget it on the crt). If you can get it into safe mode, you can adjust the graphics to 60Hz and a resolution more appropriate for the crt (closer to 4x3). Safe mode, as well as the start screen, run with default graphics settings, that's why the safe mode screens icons and windows are so huge.

tried that and its ok in safe mode . but still not in normal mode. i set resolution to 800 by 600 [actually it already was set to that]

cant see how to change hz though

pressed "identify" monitor and it did nothing i could see
win 7

Thanks

see above too

setting are now 64. OK hz / 60 hz
12by 1024

cant find a setting for 4x3 [as u suggest]

You need to be in full windows mode to make changes like that as when you are in "safe mode" you only have access to default drivers. You should be able to do it with a full bootup. Then tell windows what you want to do with the monitor once it is working.

OK but I'm new to win 7. can you please say how I tell that to windows as i was just there and couldn't see anythin useful . and what exactly should i tell it
Thanks

Try right click on your desktop and choose personalize. Then choose display. Then choose change display settings. See if the monitor appears there.

Yes I did that but of coarse it's the flat one [monitor] that shows up as I had to connect that to run PC normally. I need to kjnow what setting to set even though they are not appropriate fot this monitor

What type of video card are you running? Usually in the video card settings you can add a monitor and either "mirror" or "extend" what you are using to view.

Mirror creates a copy of the desktop and displays it the same on both.

Extend actually extends the physical desktop and you can drag things between them.

Its onboard , can't see any setting for it

4x3 is just a descriptor of the older standard screen size just as 9x16 is for wide screen. When your in the display settings and you change the resolutions you will see the picture of the monitor change from wide to more squarish depending on what settings you choose. Maybe look through the bios for some kind of setting that might help. It's so long since I played with a CRT monitor I'm a little lost, but I can't remember a time when I couldn't swap between them just by plugging it in.

That's not helping much, I need some more specific info

Thanks though

How to Connect a Laptop to a CRT Monitor | eHow

Have you followed this procedure?

Its not a laptop. Looked but not appropriate to this
Thabnks

Laptop or desktop the procedure is the same... A laptop is just like a desktop with smaller parts packaged in such a way that you can fold it and carry it with you.

This doesn't apply to mine, I simply want to make the monitor work as the sole monitor

"Turn on the laptop. Look for the shift or function key combination. This is listed in the manual but also often listed on the keyboard. Holding the key combination will alternate between showing the video on the laptop screen, the monitor or both."

Read more: How to Connect a Laptop to a CRT Monitor | eHow

Are you using special connection lines or older ones that came with the monitor?

Standard one that's often part of a monitor

And does this cable match perfectly with your tower?

Yes, and monitor works OK in safe mode

Can you see any bent or missing pins in the CRT monitors plug end? There should be 15 I think for a VGA analog connection. Do you have a friend who can bring a laptop or PC over to test it on another PC with a VGA connector? Perhaps the CRT monitor is only able to produce a specific resolution, try looking up the monitors specifications on the manufacturers site. If the company doesn't exist anymore try putting the make and model in your search along with "specifications". There are sites out there that keep that info after a company is no longer. Did you look through the bios? Sometimes with on-board video they put stuff in there.

Bear with me. How many pins does the cable have on both sides?

Pins look OK, unfortunately I wouldn't know what to look for in the bios. Works OK in safe mode

talaniman do you really want to now number of pins or just if they are bent?

its a very good monitor so can do high resolution ,,,if no luck soon i will indeed carry the damn thing to another pc

On the typical CRT type monitor there are only pins on the connector to the PC and the cord disappears into the back of the monitor case.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Appzalien

On the typical CRT type monitor there are only pins on the connector to the PC and the cord disappears into the back of the monitor case.

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Actually not true....while most were built that way....a lot actually did have detachable cords, Sony was one of those I saw a lot on various models of. On the LCD types today..most have detachable cords. Many also have the analog as well as digital inputs. VGA is an analog interface.

That's why I ask how many pins in the monitor plugin, and how many pin receptacles in the tower connection. Its highly like that these connection are not compatible as far as sending and receiving even though they fit.

http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...ductId=2484291#

Do your monitor cable look like these?

Trying to figure out if your problem is in the compatibility of the connection, or if you have a configuration problem you can workout thru your programming. A picture could sure clarify thing as most monitor plugs have screw in blue to blue connections and 14, or 15 tiny plugs pins. So does the monitor have that many, or does the tower?

It has this: " screw in blue to blue connections and 14, or 15 tiny plugs pins.", and they are not bent and they/plugs connect to each other perfectly

Its works OK in safe mode and it also works OK with another PC in normal mode

now that i know u understand this do u still need to know the actual number of pins?
Thanks

Yes, because in theory you should be able to change configurations of the monitor in the normal mode from control panel/display from your PC. That's why the cable is important because it may have to be jury rigged to allow your analog monitor to be detected in normal mode and give you many more options than you have in safe mode.

Its like putting a 1960 carburetor, on a brand new Chevy. It cannot be done that simply without many modifications. Even if the "bolts line up the ports do not. They may not even make such a cable that you need.

Your monitor is receiving no input from your PC in normal mode.

OK... 14 pins with one pin missing in 2nd row

In normal mode I do see "windows starting" so there is some inpuit

Thanks

VGA Resolution Identification and Windows | devtrends.com

Quote:

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The “optional” Sense pin, pin 9, is used by the graphics card to send +5V DC to the connected device, which plays a significant part in allowing the computer to determine resolution capabilities. This pin is crucial to monitor identification features of the VGA DDC2 standard – it is likely that without this power to the monitor, the graphics card / computer has no idea what type of monitor is plugged in…

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I believe that you can bridge this problem with an adapter. 15 pin to USB

How to Connect a USB Port to a Serial Port on a Computer | eHow

Well... interesting but are u sure that's appropriate to mine. The monitor that came with the PC has the same blue plug [not usb connection]

Thanks

The monitor that came with the PC is already matched and compatible. You are trying to use a monitor that is not. That's what the other guys were trying to tell you.

Peruse these adapters to give you an idea connecting different components to each other.

Amazon.com: Plugable Active HDMI to VGA 6ft (1.9m) Converter Cable Supporting up to 1920 x 1080 (60Hz): Electronics

I know that.
But the comment is "I believe that you can bridge this problem with an adapter 15 pin to USB" I don't think usb involved in this problem, both connections/sockets are multi pin/hole and blue [serial port]

the original thin monitor also uses this serial port

What am I not understanding please

Different technology

What, I'm not understanding "different technology", don't know what you mean by that.

If you look at my last post ull see what I am questioning. or to put another way, getting that cable suggests i connect monitor via usb , why would i want to do that, have u made a mistake with the link to the cable?

Thanks.

It may get you the control you need to adapt your monitor and make it useful for your purposes since obviously you have not solved the problem. Another way of looking at this is doing your own research by Googling and it may shed some technical understanding of the suggestions you have gotten so far that lead to a solution.

Without getting technical, attaching the USB connection may give you the input to your monitor you currently lack. Try it, as we can go no further until you do.

OK I will try to borrow an adapter and try, I had no idea you could run it through usb

Also, the graphic artist who gave it to me said that it has a better image using some other sort of connection [i forget] , any idea what that could be, as I would change to that anyway if I can get it working in the first place

Thanks 4 your assistance

talaniman, all the way through this issue here it has been a bit like a visit to the doctors surgery in that you get a recommended coarse of action but u are not allowed to know the reason behind the advice or ask why.

Thanks for your time folks, I'm not going to spend any more of mine trying to understand your reasoning , I'm obviously not privileged

Sorry guy you have not been able to get what you wanted. It is difficult to convey years of learning through experimenting and researching and learning the fundamentals, I and others have tried to convey to you. I would have hoped through leading you through a logical process you would have gained more from it.

I can only suggest you reread this thread especially the links provided and trace your steps again. If you tried adapter cables and they didn't work, please say so.

Correction, I should have said "part of the way through this issue" not "all the way"

Any way I have taken my last question [in number 37] elsewhere as it too does not seem to warrant an answer