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View Full Version : Anyone here who has built a computer

GoldenEagle
12-01-2003, 06:10 PM
Can you help me out? I was unscrewing the cord from monitor to the back of my computer and while doing so, I unscrewed the screw in the back. Now I dont have hardly any color on the display. What is the best way to get tht screw back in? I tried just sticking it back in but it did not work. Can anyone provide any help?
Sloan
12-01-2003, 06:20 PM
You mean the threaded-nut-hexhead-screw thing? That usually screws right back in. Those screws don't really do anything except hold the monitor cord in tightly. They aren't used for grounding purposes or anything like that. I usually don't even screw my cables in. Are you sure you didn't bend any pins on the monitor cable?
sabotai
12-01-2003, 06:24 PM
My first thought was that you might have bent one of the pins. I did that once and all I could get was 16 color, 640x480 resolution. EDIT: Each pin does something different, so you might have bent one of the pins used for color.
GoldenEagle
12-01-2003, 08:22 PM
ok, so is it in the cord or in the computer and how do i replace it?
cody8200
12-01-2003, 08:54 PM
OK goldeneagle heres what you gotta do. I'm a bent pin expert. All you have to do is look at the monirr cable. There will be a nuch of pins on the end of it. Dont worry if some are missing, they are supposed to be. Now look and make sure they are all straight. If one is bent...dont panic. Simply get some needle nose pliers and gently bend it back straight. That should do the trick. If they are all straight plug it back in and move the cable around a bit...I suppose the cable could have shorted out somehow but very unlikely. More than likely its merely a bend pin. You gotta get that fixed because you cant replace those cables. Those cables are actually part of the monitor...at least most monitors made in the last 5 or 6 years are like that. Hope that helps.
primelord
12-01-2003, 09:20 PM
Originally posted by cody8200
You gotta get that fixed because you cant replace those cables.

You can't replace the cable, but you can snip the end off and put a new DB9 connector on it and just rewire the pins. However I wouldn't suggest doing that if you ahve never done it before. :)
Franklinnoble
12-02-2003, 12:16 AM
A VGA Cable has more than 9 pins.
GoldenEagle
12-02-2003, 12:58 AM
Being the idiot I am I messed up worst. I bent more pins and now its probably impossible to fix. I am getting a new monitor for xmas I hope because now I dont have a computer. What about USB cords? Do they work any TV and how much do they cost?
primelord
12-02-2003, 01:13 AM
Originally posted by Franklinnoble
A VGA Cable has more than 9 pins.

Good point
cody8200
12-02-2003, 01:30 AM
It will probably still work eagle...as long as you didnt snap the pins off. Goto your local besy buy and ask them to fix it for you...theyll porobably do it.
Samdari
12-02-2003, 06:55 AM
The easiest thing to do is check and see if the cable can be replaced. Some monitors have the end of the cord at the display hard wired inside. Some have connectors and screws at each end. If its the second type, its easily replaceable. Even if its not replaceable, someone should be able to repair/replace the cable.
Gallifrey
12-02-2003, 11:08 AM
I do the computer building thing every day, it has been my job for many years....

If you can replace the end of the cable, then that of course would be the easy fix, outside of the new monitor you mentioned you were getting for XMas.

When you have the cable replaced, or plug in a new monitor, should you still have the problem you may have to re-seat your video card. I have see them come un-seated during such activities before.
GoldenEagle
12-02-2003, 12:50 PM
Would a USB cord that plus your computer into a TV be a good short term solution until I can get a new computer monitior? A friend of mine told me about this but I had never heard of it. Does anyone know anything that? How much do they cost? I have a USB port on my computer.
GoldenEagle
12-02-2003, 02:15 PM
bump
Sloan
12-02-2003, 02:49 PM
Not a USB cord, but if your video card has TV-Out you can hook either a S-Video or RCA connector up to it. This really isn't a good solution though unless you just want to watch DVD movies or play graphical games. Your TV just doesn't have a high enough resolution so text can be very blurry and hard to read.