Monitor appearing to fail

[cecilieaux]

In my desktop computer, which runs Linux Mint 18.3, my monitor interrupts to go dark, then flash the letters for Dell (the monitor is a Dell), then it returns. I don't know whether it is dying, whether the card is dying or whether the system is suddenly choking on the monitor. I have no idea what commands would provide the information.

Anyone know how I can get the relevant information (probably from the command line)?

Thanks!

[Anoep]

Can you please post more detailed information about your desktop system (specifications). Posting the brand and model can be sufficient as well. Without any detailed info about your system we can only make guesses instead of helping you correctly. Neither of us owns a magical crystal ball

[all41]

This sounds as if the monitor is losing signal intermittently and displaying it's oem splash.
Try unpluggining the cables at each end and reseating them. Also try wiggling the cable.
If you have a laptop or another pc with the same video connector try using that to see if the problem is in the monitor or pc.
But yes, more info is always helpful

[cecilieaux]

This sounds as if the monitor is losing signal intermittently and displaying it's oem splash.
Try unpluggining the cables at each end and reseating them. Also try wiggling the cable.

This seemed to be the problem. Thanks!

C

PS: I don't know the commands to get specs. I will look into those.

[all41]

Good that you have it sorted.
The most important specs can be brought up in a terminal window by entering:

Code: Select all

inxi -Fxz

In a new post for help just copy those entire terminal results and paste them between 'code brackets' (</> icon below the subject field).
Note that this system spec inquiry will not reveal personal or sensitive information regarding your computer such as mac address, etc.
Cheers

[cecilieaux]

Good that you have it sorted.

It was solved, but now it's baaaack!!!

Here are the specs:

System:
Host: cecilio-MS-7924 Kernel: 4.15.0-48-generic x86_64 bits: 64
compiler: gcc v: 7.3.0 Desktop: Cinnamon 4.0.10
Distro: Linux Mint 19.1 Tessa base: Ubuntu 18.04 bionic
Machine:
Type: Desktop Mobo: MSI model: H97M-G43(MS-7924) v: 1.0 serial: <filter>
UEFI: American Megatrends v: 2.10 date: 07/28/2015
CPU:
Topology: Dual Core model: Intel Pentium G3258 bits: 64 type: MCP
arch: Haswell rev: 3 L2 cache: 3072 KiB
flags: lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 vmx bogomips: 12799
Speed: 3200 MHz min/max: 800/3200 MHz Core speeds (MHz): 1: 3200 2: 3200
Graphics:
Device-1: NVIDIA GM107 [GeForce GTX 750 Ti] vendor: Micro-Star MSI
driver: nvidia v: 390.116 bus ID: 01:00.0
Display: x11 server: X.Org 1.19.6 driver: nvidia
unloaded: fbdev,modesetting,nouveau,vesa resolution: 1600x1200~60Hz
OpenGL: renderer: GeForce GTX 750 Ti/PCIe/SSE2 v: 4.6.0 NVIDIA 390.116
direct render: Yes
Audio:
Device-1: Intel 9 Series Family HD Audio vendor: Micro-Star MSI
driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel bus ID: 00:1b.0
Device-2: NVIDIA vendor: Micro-Star MSI driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel
bus ID: 01:00.1
Sound Server: ALSA v: k4.15.0-48-generic
Network:
Device-1: Realtek RTL8111/8168/8411 PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet
vendor: Micro-Star MSI driver: r8169 v: 2.3LK-NAPI port: d000
bus ID: 03:00.0
IF: enp3s0 state: down mac: <filter>
Device-2: Broadcom and subsidiaries BCM4360 802.11ac Wireless Network
Adapter
driver: wl v: kernel port: d000 bus ID: 04:00.0
IF: wlp4s0 state: up mac: <filter>
Drives:
Local Storage: total: 931.51 GiB used: 306.28 GiB (32.9%)
ID-1: /dev/sda vendor: Western Digital model: WD10EZEX-08M2NA0
size: 931.51 GiB
Partition:
ID-1: / size: 99.74 GiB used: 33.49 GiB (33.6%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda2
ID-2: /home size: 814.66 GiB used: 272.79 GiB (33.5%) fs: ext4
dev: /dev/sda3
Sensors:
System Temperatures: cpu: 29.8 C mobo: 27.8 C gpu: nvidia temp: 32 C
Fan Speeds (RPM): N/A gpu: nvidia fan: 34%
Info:
Processes: 185 Uptime: 1h 03m Memory: 7.72 GiB used: 6.06 GiB (78.5%)
Init: systemd runlevel: 5 Compilers: gcc: 7.4.0 Shell: bash v: 4.4.19
inxi: 3.0.27

[all41]

It still sounds symptomatic of losing video to your monitor. You could try reversing the video cable connectors
(plug the end now connected to the computer into the monitor and vice-versa--possible witchcraft solution.

When the problem shows up give the monitor a slap on the top, start wiggling cable ends, etc.
If it's not a cable problem then you will need to isolate the problem to either the computer or the monitor.
Substitute either one to see if the problem continues. Highly intermittent problems are difficult to pinpoint
otherwise.