Computer Problem

[Zubar]

We have an Acer Aspire computer at work and it is not functioning properly at the moment. When turned on a small oblong box appears in the middle of a black screen with the words 'Out of range' in the middle of the box. Anyone got any ideas as to how I can bypass this and get onto the desktop???
Many thanks.

[VHG]

Sounds like the monitor is either broken, or not plugged in properly.

Check the connection of the monitor cable and that it is secure in the back of the PC.

If may have half slipped out or is not squarely in its connector.

[ChuckFickens]

it's set to a screen resolution that the monitor can't handle

keep hitting f8 while it's starting up and when you see the menu select safe mode.

once windows has loaded in safe mode right click anywhere on the desktop, select properties, then click on the settings tab and make sure the screen resolution slider is right at the bottom and click ok a few time, then restart.

The computer should then restart in a lower resolution that the monitor can handle, right click on desktop again and select properties and settings again and move the screen resolution up one step at a time clicking apply each time until it looks ok, if it goes out of range press escape to revert back and leave it there.

[mattie]

There should be some buttons on the front of the monitor, one should bring up an onscreen menu, check the frequency settings.

If it is an old monitor, or there aren't any controls, press the F8 key when the PC starts to boot, if you time it right you will get a menu, select vga mode, or safe mode and change the display settings, specifically frequency as above - until you hit on one that works.

Hope this helps.

[ChuckFickens]

LOL enough answers for you within 7 minutes :)

[koster]

Yes, the message is coming from the monitor and not from the computer.

One of the buttons on the front of the monitor is probably marked "Menu". Press this and then navigate to the monitor menu item which says "Reset default" or words to that effect.

If that doesn't work, plug a monitor from another computer into the computer - preferably an old CRT monitor, not a flat screen. Right-click on the desktop and go on Display Properties in Windows XP or Personalization, Display Settings in Windows Vista. Change the resolution to a lower one.

Then reconnect the normal monitor.

[ChuckFickens]

with respect to and no offence to either VHG or koster but your monitor is not broken and you don't need use a different one to resolve the problem.

do as myself and mattie said and boot it into safe mode to reset the display settings and it will sort it out

[Zubar]

Thankyou all for your answers. I was attempting something similar to what Chuck is suggesting, but was obviously not getting it right. Will try Mattie and Chuck's suggestions tomorrow and hopefully remedy the problem.
Thanks guys.

[ACtheTROLL]

au quantreau
if the monitor is displaying a message - it's displaying - so it's not broken
resolution tends to just distort and there isn't a frequency setting in the monitor's menu

sounds to me that the refresh rate was wrong ....
do as chuck says and boot into safe mode

control panel | display settings | monitor
http://i33.tinypic.com/4iblh1.gif

there should be a tickbox hide modes this monitor can't display (top monitor settings -only 60Hz displays)

with the tick - or if the wrong monitor properties are selected - you can get at frequencies that your minitor can't cope with (bottom half)

go for 60 as a default.