First, wiggle the video cable; check it where it attaches to the computer, and where it attaches to the back of the monitor. Watch the monitor to see if the problem gets worse, or if it improves.

If that isn't the problem, and the cable is attached to connectors on the back of the videocard, you'll have to remove it. Next, look inside the monitor cable connector where it attaches to the back of the computer. If you have a CRT, it will probably have a 15-pin VGA connector, though it is unlikely to actually have all 15 pins inside the shell, since some of them are not used for CRTs.

Look for damaged (bent or broken) pins; pay close attention, since they can be difficult to see. Bent pins can be straightened, but it takes a steady hand; small needle-nose pliers usually work best for me, though I've also done this repair with surgical forceps. Choose your repair tool carefully; you don't want to cause more damage in the process.

Be careful not to push on the pins themselves; if you do, you could push them into the connector housing, and that would turn this from a minor problem into major surgery.

If the connector and cable aren't the problem, test the monitor on another system; if it works on the second system, test it once again on the original system. If it works there, then the monitor is most likely not the problem at all, and you'll have to do some more tests.

If the monitor does NOT work on the second system, it might be time for repair or replacement. Since monitors are so cheap these days, you're probably better off buying a new one than repairing anything more than three years old. As a former monitor technician, I can tell you that even simple repairs can be costly, depending on the availability of parts and other factors.

If the monitor and cable are NOT the problem, that leaves the videocard or the motherboard. When you first boot a system, the videocard works at a very basic setting. The videocard BIOS chip handles the basic video during POST (otherwise, you wouldn't be able to see ANYTHING on the monitor during bootup). Once Windows starts to load, it calls and loads the Windows driver for the videocard, and that Windows driver takes control of the videocard from the videocard BIOS chip.

When you see a video problem during POST that ISN'T caused by the monitor or cable, the videocard or motherboard HAS to be the culprit. If you've ruled out the monitor and cable as the source of the problem, you'll know that the videocard is most likely at fault. You can install a different videocard in the system; if the problem disappears, the original videocard is failing. If the problem does NOT go away, and you're positive that the monitor, the cable, and the videocard are all working properly, you should check the motherboard. If the slot for the videocard is defective, you'll most likely have to replace the motherboard.

Check the cable, the monitor, and the videocard, and let us know what you learn.

 

I didn't know the shoemaker's elves can do PCs now.. hehe...

Yes, finally it's fixed! Thanks slammin' Sammy! I didn't know what happened but the problem was fixed when I woke up today. I'm blaming the cables at the back of the monitor though -- I did everything i thought would fix the problem last night, including wiggling the cables at the back of the monitor, and booted up my PC but it was still the same thing. Today, however, when I turned on to check on replies to this post, I opened the display panel and, voila, there in the Colors setting was the 16-bit High Color option which was not there last night. I selected it, restarted my PC, then checked it out again, this time saw The True Color (24bit) option appear, and the Screen area (1024x768) was adjustable.

And so by now the problem was fixed. Thanks for your help and suggestion, Sammy! I'll really take note of that!

LoRdAxiS

 

Glad to know you got this one back to normal.