Author Topic: My Tale O'Woe (Read 328 times)

Simaril · « **on:** February 21, 2007, 02:29:45 PM »

Not long ago, I built my first computer rig. To save money, I hung on to an old Gateway 17" monitor, hoping to get a new one when I had the cash. Well, after a particularly hard week, I decided the time had come, so I ordered a Samsung 20" LCD (non-widescreen). I was really looking forward to it...and to finally getting bigger images, and finer detail, than these middle aged eyes had been putting up with.

Well, last night I got home after work and found the box had arrived. Then it turned out that the Mrs. had plans for the evening....and I was free mess with the computer without risking matrimonial abandonment complaint syndrome. As they say across the pond, "WOOT!"

Grab a quick bite of reheated whatever, pop the monitor box open, and head on upstairs to make the switch. Plug this in here, that in there, and we should be good to go!

Boot up the machine, and press the brand new power button..but nothing happens. The monitor stays completely black, no screen flicker, no button lights, no nothing.

OK, no reason to panic. These things are almost always simple and easy. Double check all connections....nothing. Completely disconnect, and reseat the cables....nothing. Change the outlet used in the surge suppressor...nothing.

OK, now I'm getting that peculiar combination of frustration and desperation. I really want something to go right here, I don't want ot have more problems to deal with...etc, etc.

So teetering on the brink of panic and despair, I do the unthinkable -- and actually look at the installation guide. Have to flip the thing 7 differenct ways to pick out the English version from the 43 other languages....but yeah, I did everything the way they say, and I didnt leave anything out.

So I completely disconnect monitor, move to far side of CPU and plug the thing into a different wall outlet. Still the black screen, silently mocking me.

Sigh.

Now fighting the early stages of depression, I pick the monitor up and do a careful inspection of every surface. Right there, under the arm connection, there's a little rocker switch. I press the "1"....

And my monitor works beautifully.

1cemanVS · « **Reply #1 on:** February 21, 2007, 02:35:31 PM »

i hate that, seems whenever doing something to a PC the simplest things always go wrong, and the more complicated things, although may take more time, generally work first time

good job on getting it together, now u need a big lazy boy to recline in as you play now you no longer have to put your nose up to the screen

Simaril · « **Reply #2 on:** February 21, 2007, 02:38:02 PM »

Well, its not THAT big! I remember somebody's rig is hooked up to a 60" widescreen projection

.

And in fairness, i checked again and there's no mention in the documentation of a second power switch. Doesnt help the "I'm SUCH an idiot" feeling -- at least not much.

john9001 · « **Reply #3 on:** February 21, 2007, 02:59:30 PM »

ah, the evil hidden secret on/off switch.

Eagler · « **Reply #4 on:** February 21, 2007, 03:25:35 PM »

I had a brief sense of doom when my new dell did not autosense the digital connection. The default was the vga conn.

Dichotomy · « **Reply #5 on:** February 21, 2007, 04:03:46 PM »

Gee Sim if I'd known you were having as frustrating an evening as I was I would have called....

to laugh at your misery