I recently had a mishap while moving my computer and accidentally dropped one of my dual monitors, which is now broken. The other monitor and the computer tower remained intact, but now, when I try to boot up my PC with just the functioning monitor, I get a diagnosing screen that eventually tells me it can't repair my computer. I ordered two new monitors since the repair for the broken one wasn't worth it. After hooking them up, they won't power on unless I keep the old monitor plugged in, which still shows the same error. I wonder if there was an issue with my PC due to the fall, but it seems physical damage is unlikely. Also, since the new monitors only have one HDMI port each and I have just one HDMI port on my PC tower, can I use an HDMI to DisplayPort cable to connect both? I want them to work as separate screens, not mirrored. Any help would be appreciated!
3 Answers
It sounds like the fall might have caused a voltage spike that could've damaged your motherboard. If not that, the impact may have affected your hard drive, especially if it's an HDD. Try using a Windows install USB to boot up and see if you can run a startup repair. You can make the USB easily from another computer if needed. If you get into the repair options, you can also access the command prompt to check your files in case you need to back anything up. Good luck!
Check the ports on your graphics card. If you're using the same HDMI port for the monitor that broke, it might be damaged. My guess is that port is fried. See what ports you have available and what your new monitors require. If both old monitors used DisplayPort, it might be worth getting the right adapters to get them both running smoothly.
Both of your old monitors used DisplayPorts? That could explain the compatibility issue you're facing with the new ones. Definitely look into HDMI to DisplayPort adapters!
You might be facing a Windows issue here. Try running an SFC and DISM repair. Just search for Command Prompt, run it as an administrator, and type in 'sfc /scannow' followed by 'DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth'. This could fix any underlying issues with the OS. By the way, does your PC have a GPU installed? You need separate ports for each monitor, so make sure you have enough connections!
If you have a graphics card, try removing it and booting the PC without it. If it starts up fine, you might need to replace the graphics card or have a driver issue.