Help please - my monitor's displays both stopped working :-(

 
I just posted this in the Dell forums, I wonder if any of you computer wizards have any idea of what's happened and how to fix it?
 
Cheers
 
 

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System:

• Inspiron 531
• AMD Athlon Dual Core 6000+ 3.01GHz
• Windows Vista SP2 32bit
• NVIDIA GeForce 6150SE nForce 430

Earlier on, the display on both monitors connected to my Inspiron (Dell 24" & Dell 22") went blank and entered Power Saving mode.
 
Both monitors are also connected to my XPS 8300 and they're working fine with that system. I also checked both cables and they too are working.
 
The monitors are usually connected to my Inspiron like this:

• The 24" monitor is connected to my Inspiron using a DVI-D to DVI-D cable
• The 22" monitor is connected via a DVI-D to VGA cable (the DVI-D slot on the PC to the VGA slot on the monitor)

However, if I run direct from the Inspiron's VGA slot, the monitor it's connected to is working fine.
 
The display showed an information screen that advised me to click OK to complete installation of the 'new' NVIDIA software. I have automatic updates switched off and I definitely didn't initiate any update procedure.
 
Anyway, I clicked 'OK' and reconnected the monitors as normal thinking everything would be ok, but they're still not working.
 
I had a problem not long after I had this PC when I updated the video drivers direct from NVIDIA - I could basically only run the display in 800x600 resolution; I contacted Dell Technical Support and they said it would be best to always get driver updates direct from Dell. I did this and the problem was solved.
 
I've tried to find the relevant video drivers on the Dell site, but for some reason my Inspiron no longer appears on my Registration details, only my newer XPS. I've tried to re-register but I keep getting told my Service Tag is no longer supported. I can't find anywhere else on this site where I can download the correct drivers from.
 
So I'm stuck - ideally I want to download the correct drivers to get my dual monitor setup working as it was before. I was tempted to do a System Restore but I don't know if that will work. In fact, I'm holding off on trying anything in case I end up accidentally disabling the VGA feed, then I won't be able to do anything with my system.
 
Why do Dell make life so bloody difficult for anybody who's bought a product from them once its warrany has expired
 

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Did you go to Device Manager - Hardware - get up your video card and instead of updating drivers - use the revert back to previous drivers? Is your video card done for?? I had a video card that worked under normal computing, but in playing a game it go dead - the grease between the GPU and the heat dispersement unit went bad and the video card would only work with a light load of video not a heavy load of game playing, I ended up buying a new video card that works. The video card went bad.

"I wonder if any of you computer wizards have any idea of what's happened"


Did you happen to click on one of my .mp3 links?

 Strummy, if I understand correctly you have one working? You may need to go to  the Nview setup and turn on the second again. Some Nvidia cards reset the monitor back to single display.  You should be able to right click on your desktop, away from any icons or toolbars> Nvidia control panel>"set up multiple displays>.....

Silly question: did you open up the computer?

I once "repaired" my neighbour's computer by removing all the dust from the video cards cooler.

Hey, you guys rock
 
I managed to attract the attention of a Dell employee on their forum and he gave me much the same information as you have Jon.
 
I've installed the driver he gave me a link to, and that failed to address the problem.
 
In the meantime I went to try a System Restore and noticed that Windows had automatically updated the NVIDIA driver, even though I have Updates set to notify me before downloading. This is exactly what happened to me before, not long after I got this Inspiron. Incidentally, that is exactly the reason I've turned automatic updating on the Inspiron since (and on the XPS).
 
Anyway, I did the restore back to a time well before the update, which failed. On rebooting I got a message screen advising that I needed to install NVIDIA drivers.
 
To cut a long story short, I undid the restore, still no joy so I did a full F8>Repair>Factory Reset. Once the process was finished and rebooted I got exactly the same message again telling me to install NVIDIA drivers I've since reinstalled the suggested driver and still no joy, my two DVI-D slots are still not working, just the VGA feed.
 
I'll see what the guy says over at Dell, but this is really starting to wind me up now
 
BTW, here's the Dell forum THREAD I started - you guys might be able to discern something from his reply that I've missed?
 

Strummy have you tried a driver from nVidia download page. nVida drivers

Or go to the Nvidia website and look up the archives there.

Maybe your source is mono but you're trying to display it in stereo?

(J/K!  I don't know what's causing the issue, so I'll just say good luck!)