Is it bad to uplug the monitor with the computer still on?

Profozone · 04-23-2007, 07:53 PM

I could swear I've done that before and I found another forum where a guy said he did it a thousand times no problems.too.

I have two Lilliput monitors. I was comparing them. I had everything hooked up and I turned on the system. Took a picture. Then I turned off the monitor, but not the computer, unplugged the vga cable at the monitor and plugged in the other monitor. Turned it on and it looked better. Took a picture. Then I decided to look at the other one again, so I turned it off, unplugged it, same as last time, plugged the other one in and turned it on. This time the screen had a distinct green tinge. So I rebooted and ever since then, I get "no input signal" regardless of what monitor I use.

So the question is, did I toast the video on the motherboard by NOT turning off the computer before switching monitors, did it die for some other reason, or is it maybe not dead?

I could sure use some help, because my computer diagnosis skills are only so so, when I CAN see the screen. I don't know how to fix this without one.

#Q@%!@%. ****es me off. All the hardware is brand new!
It is a VIA EPIA EN150000
The screens are both Lilliput 629GL's, plus I have an old CRT I'm using.

RyanB95 · 04-24-2007, 08:12 AM

I've done this a million times on my desktop computer, along with my laptop. I've never had a problem. I unplug and plug back in the LCD of my laptop on a daily basis because when I close the lid the screen stays on. So I unplug both the display and backlight cables so it doesn't overheat. I haven't had a problem.

The screens themselves still work because they still are displaying the message "No input signal", but may have gotten screwed up somehow. Have you tried resetting both monitors?

Profozone · 04-24-2007, 03:01 PM

I have reset one of them. But I also have a CRT I was using before the monitors arrived and it too has 'no input signal' when I plug it in with its own cable. I'm pretty sure the on board video is messed up, I'm just trying to determine if I caused it by unplugging the monitors without powering down the motherboard. Like you, I've done this a number of times, but I was wondering if I was just lucky up till now.

I have contacted mini-box about the problem, but they have not responded yet.

I'll post the resolution to the problem here. Thanks for the reassurance.

By the bye,

The quality of the video was very poor while it was working. I presumed it was the Lilliput, but now I'm wondering if it was the video input to the monitor instead. You can see what I have done at my website if you want. Go to the Solara pages, then Car PC. www.ozone1000.com

Curiosity · 04-24-2007, 03:12 PM

Just be careful to line up the pins and not touch the pins to the metal if the monitor is on, and make sure you don't zap it with a lot of static. I've never had any trouble either though.

Nerd2 · 04-24-2007, 03:21 PM

I've never heard of this being a problem. I've bent pins by plugging in the screen before :P

devvyn · 04-30-2007, 09:17 AM

try resetting the bios on the montherboard and turning it on. Refer to your motherboard manual on how to do this. otherwise i might be able to talk you through it over posts

Hero of Brandon · 05-01-2007, 12:43 AM

have you checked the cable at the computer end? a loose connection might explain the greene tinge, and the no signal may be due to a complete disconnection. just something obvious that is easily overlooked.

Profozone · 05-01-2007, 05:14 PM

I'm aware of the bent pin thing, having had that problem with an S-video cable in the past. That's not it.

I definitely checked to see if it was completely plugged in and that the cables were good. The screen was in use, I rebooted, then it didn't work. The cable was never touched.

Either way the point is moot. I contacted www.mini-box.com and the seemed to think the motherboard was bad and gave me an RMA. I'm waiting for the new board to arrive.

Thank you for the help, though.

I didn't try the bios on the motherboard thing though. Sorry, I went on vacation, just after sending the board off, so I didn't see that post in time to try it.

I hope there is no problem with the new board. I was a little hesitant to try it again with the same board, but after doing some more research, I really think this is the board I'm looking for for my application.

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