How I learned about computers
 

My friends are always asking me how I learned to fix PCs. Did you go to school? The answer is, no. I learned from experience, trial and error making use of the Internet when I face a problem and a little logic.

I remember my Pastors wife saying her scanner would not work. One day, after a long time, I was talking on the phone and I asked out of curiosity if the light for the scanner was on. She said no. Logically that means no power. So I said, unplug it and plug it into another outlet you know works..bingo

Just today my monitor would not work. So I plugged the VGA into my laptop and it worked fine. So I thought "video card?" yeah but first I tried the cable. It was a DVI cable, so I used my VGA cable with a DVI adapter, plugged it in. Didn't work. I took the adapter off, plugged it into the vga port, works great.

Card works but somethign is wrong with the DVI port. Pretty simple. Pretty simple right? I think most people can trouble shoot their own PCs if they wanted but their afraid of breaking something or they think it's too complex

Re: How I learned about computers
 

Same here. It is basically logical trial and error. Not unlike a Doctor! LOL

Re: How I learned about computers
 

Prax, I am nowhere near the expert you and many others are on here. But I agree - what I do know, I learned because I jumped in with both feet and wasn't afraid I was going to be the death of the system. Trial and error. And listening to those who know more than I do. That's the biggest key!!

Which brings me to my question: We turned the computer on today at our youth center and the monitor is SCREWED UP! It looks like we are getting a double picture. I've tried going to Control Panel and changing every setting I could find. I tired messing with the adjustment buttons on the monitor itself. Nothing is helping. Any suggestions??

Re: How I learned about computers
 

If this is an old tube monitor it sounds like the refresh rate might be set to some number it doesn't support. Either that or you have a speaker too close.....

Re: How I learned about computers
 

...or she needs new glasses. :lol
...or she needs new glasses. :lol

Re: How I learned about computers
 

LOL, Timmy. I think you are closest to the right answer today.

Actually, thanks for all of your answers. We did figure it out. It is a new monitor (less than 2 months old), so we knew it shouldn't have problems. Turns out that one of the guys came and "borrowed" the projector for Power Point to use at the church tomorrow (don't ask me why - we already have two there. But he must need a third for some reason). Anyhow, when he unhooked the projector, it somehow messed up the monitor. All we had to do was unplug it from one port and plug it into a different one and voila! It worked fine.

Re: How I learned about computers
 

Is it an older monitor? It sounds like a bad monitor

Re: How I learned about computers
 

Oh yeah, like Randy said. Some speakers are not shielded and they can do that to a monitor...I had that problem years ago but most speakers are shielded today.

So is that port bad? What did you mean by double picture? Do you have both the projector and the monitor plugged into the PC at the same time?

Re: How I learned about computers
 

I pretty much learned the same way, trial & error.
I do believe though that there are far more advanced users on here such as Prax, Randy Wayne, Pel, Nick, & others that thier names escaped me.

All were a great help to me in my recent hassle with my computer for which I am grateful.

I get to reinstall Winders on my computer--Woooo Hoooo!!!!!!

Re: How I learned about computers
 

well it may not have been my video card after all. It's either the monitor or the cable. I replaced the video card (I was wanting to upgrade anyways). Using the old cable it did not work...I thought it was a power supply problem since the cards I bought require me watts.