Need techie help

[dwilli]

I have a Sony Vaio 1.4 ghz computer with an Alltel dsl connection running Windows XP.

When i start my computer and the desktop icons appear everything is fine, but as soon as I open a browser my monitor goes into rest (dark screen). The browser will never let the monitor stay illuminated on full screen but if I minimize the screen after several monitor restarts, the images will remain viewable.

I have reinstalled XP, did a system restore, tried IE, Navigator and Opera. Same thing, after a few seconds the screen simply goes into rest mode.

The computer itself is fine, just a glitch is turning my monitor off. I've adjusted the appearance level down to 800 x 600, if the level is higher the screen goes blank.

I have the power conserve settings set to never turn off.

I have no formal computer training but have learned by trial and error over fifteen years of computer and internet use but I am stumped.

Anyone have any suggestions?

[Auntie Mame]

Try to find a different monitor to hook up, and see if it does the same thing. If it acts normal, problem is your monitor. If it does the same thing, next suspicion should fall on your video card as being faulty.

[stylin_geek]

Sony Vaio...Sony makes great computers, however, they are incredibly proprietary. I would go to the Sony website, and check for any video card driver updates they might have. Also, are you running a Sony monitor? You possibly might want to check the monitor properties, and see if you can install exactly the same kind of monitor you have, and not just a generic plug and play monitor.

[dwilli]

I bought the Vaio and 19" Sony monitor at the same time a couple of years ago and everything has been fine until a couple of weeks ago.

I will check the Sony site about updates on the video drivers. Hadn't thought about that but I had downloaded a Divx Codec viewer. I removed it and the problem remained.

Thks, I will check on video driver updates.

[dwilli]

Don't think it's the monitor because at desktop the monitor
doesn't go into sleep mode. It only goes into sleep when I open a browser.

Will ckeck on the video card, hadn't thought of that

Thks much.