Blinking Monitor

Hello, I wonder if anyone else has seen these symptoms. I have two friends whose monitors just blank out or turn off for about two seconds, then come back on. It is random and frequent. I have updated to the latest mobo bios and video drivers. I have even reinstalled one of them from scratch (for a different reason). The two systems are nothing alike, different mobo, video, etc. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Thanks, Dave

Four possibilities come to mind that might cause random monitor blanking on and off. My understanding is you have updated to the latest BIOS and video card drivers, and that did not eliminate the problems. 1. A bad physical connection. Check video card is seated properly, video cable connection is good and tight, power cable to monitor is good. 2. A monitor sensitive to input voltage on powerline Any other appliance , especially one that draws a lot of electricity like refrigrator, furnace, air conditioner that might have started just before the system blanks. If possible try monitor on a different electric outlet on a different circuit from the breaker. 3. BIOS or Operating System Power management issues Something is making the monitor enter power saving mode then waking it immediately. Check BIOS and try for testing try disabling any power management options. Check OS (XP?) and make sure display shows correct monitor installed. If not update monitor driver. This will make sure OS knows correct power saving issues. Check OS power management options - for testing make sure setting to turn off monitor is never, and hiberation is disabled. 4. Some program is changing the display settings, and the screen blanks while they are changed. Does the appearance look different? Check display after a blank to see if display settings have changed. Any programs running in XP compatability mode that may be changing to 256 colors. 5.an additional though. Also verify monitor refresh rate in OS is one that is good for that monitor. What operating systems are the computers running? Are they both in the same physical location? Desktops or laptops using an external monitor? Good luck tracking the problem down.

Those are good suggestions, I'll try them. The two PC are acutally about 5 miles apart, one is a P4, the other Athlon. Totally different systems, but possibly PM and monitor settings similar. Thanks, Dave