On Tue, 13 Jan 2004 22:53:43 -0800, "ectogamit"
Your monitor is probably not super VGA compliant.
Its max resolution is probably 640X480
XP's default resolution is 800X600
The problem may not be as dire; XP is clueless about old monitors and
tends to beat them to death with too-high refresh rates even when
using resolutions supported by the monitor. More later.
Every CRT monitor has a maximum dot rate it can handle. The dot rate
is increased by both higher resolutions and refresh rates, so for a
typical non-ancient, non-Brand-Name 14", the norms are:
640 x 480 at 60, 70, 72, 75 (and usually 85) Hz
800 x 600 at 60, 70, 72 (and usually 75) Hz
1024 x 768 at 60Hz only
Anything below 70Hz (i.e. 60Hz, or interlaced modes) will flicker++
What you want is for these 14" to run 800x600 at 70Hz at least (actual
refresh rates offered depends on the display controller).
Really old monitors would attempt any dot rate thrown at them, and
could literally beat themselves to death trying to comply. Less
ancient monitors (including all that are new enough to have digital
controls) will retreat to a suspend mode, as you describe; dark
screen, blinking or yellow power LED.
So when the screen immediately "suspends" in this way, it either means
the signal cable is loose, the display controller has crashed or died,
or the dot rate is too high for the monitor to cope with. The last is
almost certain to apply in your case.
Win9x has a clue about old monitors. It will attempt to detect the
actual monitor (a "what are you and what can you do?" dialog supported
in newer monitors) and go with that, else if no reply it will fall
back to one of the "(standard monitor)" types.
Like the "(standard modem)" types, "(standard monitor)" is
restrictive, dumbed-down, but at least safe. Your resolution choices
are restricted to the lowest common denominator - 640x480 for
(standard VGA) or 800x600 for (standard 800x600) - and the refresh
rates are set to the lowest possible (a headachey 60 Hurtz).
Only when you set a specific monitor (CTX 1451 is a good fit for most
14") do you get the ability to set specific refresh rates - and even
then, only of display drivers don't suck and it's at least Win95 SR2).
XP lacks this clue - all unrecognised monitors are treated as
"(default monitor)", a mythical beast deemed capable of handling ever
resolution and refresh rate the displ;ay adapter can throw at it
(right up to absurdities such as 2048 x 1600 at 120Hz).
Not only that, but XP tends to start off with 800x600 at the maximum
refresh rate the display controller can muster. Result; black screen
startup, bad exits, file system damage, bit-rot when ChkDsk /Forks up
your files, and so on. Unforgivable.
It's also a lot more difficult to knock some clue into XP, i.e. tell
it that hey guess what you really have an old monitor, why not treat
it as if it was a CTX 1451 even if your PnP hasn't a clue?
It would be a shame if this silly mess forced you to buy a new
monitor, but if you do, try for a 17" that can do 1024x768. New
software, XP included, will assume you have screen real-estate to
waste on sidebars, big dummy buttons, and "stylish" layouts that
involve large areas of do-nothing grey or white space.
