E6400 stopped detecting Samsung monitor

Hi,

I have an E6400, Win 7, nvidia 160m, and an external samsung p2250 connected via VGA cable. I've had the monitor for about a year and in the past, as soon as I would plug it in and close the laptop lid, it would automatically send the video signal to the monitor at 1920x1080.

A couple of weeks ago, it stopped doing this. Instead, when I close the lid, it still sends the signal to the monitor, but at 1024x768. Right-click - screen resolution only gives "Display device on: VGA" and no other options. When I click on "detect," it does nothing.

But here's the strange thing... if I go into advanced settings, Windows knows that I have an nvidia 160m adapter and a syncmaster P2250 monitor (analog connection). But for some reason it does not detect the monitor and therefore doesn't let me choose a reasonable resolution. I have tried rolling back my video card and monitor drivers, but no change. Uninstalled and reinstalled both drivers, still no change. System restore also useless. I've also checked on the dell support website to make sure I have the most recent updates to my drivers and I do. So I'm fresh out of ideas here.

I appreciate if anyone has any insight into this problem. I've tried searching the forum for a similar problem but only this thread

http://forum.notebookreview.com/del...20-cannot-detect-monitor-type-resolution.html

about someone with a problem with a Vostro but he was under warranty and got a motherboard replacement. I'm out of warranty and hope that's not what I need...

 

Things to try:

In the "lid closed" configuration:
- make sure your nVidia card has the correct drivers under Device Manager,
- make sure the display properties isn't cloning the display (should say 1 on the monitor, not 1|2),

In the "lid open" configuration:
- try using Windows-P to toggle to the "Extend desktop" profile to see if you can get the other monitor to detect,

In either configuration:
- test with another VGA cable (check if the cable or ends are damaged, some pins transmit monitor information data),
- test with another monitor (maybe bad monitor),
- test using a DisplayPort-to-DVI adapter if you have one.

 

Thanks Alex, I appreciate that. Lid closed shows correct video card and gives "1. Display device on: VGA" Lid open - win+p monitor also fails to detect the monitor and gives me an off resolution.

The pins look alright just by me eyeballing them, but I know I have another cable somewhere and will try that way. If all else fails, hopefully its just a driver issue and I'll format/reinstall this weekend. I'll report back on that, but if anyone else has any ideas I'm all ears--or eyes.

 

Have you tried a known working monitor using the same VGA cable? Have you tried the monitor on another computer to ensure it is working?

 

Thanks for that. I tried a different VGA cable and hooked up to my LCD TV, same problem of not auto-detecting the display and not offering 1920x1080.

I thought it might be a driver issue, so I formatted my HDD and reinstalled Win 7. Then tried it out on my TV with the different VGA cable, same problem. Now I'm here at work with the original cable and Samsung monitor, and still viewing at 1600x1200.

Now I'm really at a loss. Since it's still not auto-detecting anything after a fresh install, I guess it it's a hardware issue and not software

 

It's the VGA port, so you'll need to replace the motherboard...your system still has warranty, right?

 

Sadly, no... it just expired in October 2011...

 

If you don't want to replace the motherboard but still want to use an external monitor, get a docking station.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/370572568929

 

Thanks Robin. What do you think about switching to a displayport to DVI adapter? Do you think the problem is just the VGA port itself, or could it be on the motherboard? I don't want to go out and buy a $10 displayport/dvi cable only to find out I'll have the same problem.

 

Since you've taken care of the software by reinstalling Windows 7, it's probably a hardware issue with the jack (broken pin that's not making a connection) and VGA on a dock should work.