monitor scrammbled but TV works

[Theorbit]

everything was working fine, I could view my Dell computer monitor and see the CDG music on the TV. But I decided to try something different and now I can't see the Dell Monitor, it's as if the picture is overlayed on itself and off the screen 50%. Here's what I did. I was curious if I could start my computer without the computer monitor connected, so I turned on the computer with only the TV connected. When I did this the computer went through a long boot up (like it was changing settings). All seemed normal, but I didn't like the resolution I was getting on just the TV. (I was trying to see if Windows looked as good on the TV as it did on the monitor). So I turned off the computer and put my connections back to normal. When I turned on the computer I got this scrambled version on my monitor. I checked the forum and tried some of the things I read. I tried going to settings and setting the display for dual monitors but there is only 1 monitor to click on, not 2 like there used to be. So I did a ''restore to a previous date', and that made my monitor work correctly, but my TV won't work at all. And worse, I loose some of my files that I had saved. So I restored back to the other way and await your advise. I bought my computer from MTU preinstalled with Hoster. It has the two 80 gig hard drives in a Shuttle X case. (Administrator note: my system ID: is N4102101GA3TH0 if this helps you find what is in my system)
Any suggestions on how I can change my settings back to where they were?

[mindonstrike]

I had a similiar problem one time where when I booted up, my monitor was on the tv and the singer/tv screen was on my monitor. The only way I could fix it was cmpletely shut down, disconnect the tv and reboot - forcing windows to recognize my monitor as a monitor. Then reboot again with the tv connected (I may have had to resetup my display properties-I can't remember)
I've had a couple of similiar problems and I found that "restart"ing would not fix, but a complete shut down and reboot would.
You might give this a try, hope it helps.
I don't know why you would have lost files because of this though.

Sam

[gduns - with the Lord]

I had the same problem, Nvidea video. I did as mondonstrike, and it took care of it.

[Theorbit]

I tried as you suggested, I had the TV connected to the S-Video and I completely disconnected it and I turned off the computer, waited 10 minutes, then turned it back on. I still have the same problem, I then tried using the the 2nd monitor connection and there is no picture at all there. You said you didn't know why I would lose files, but the only time I would lose files would be if I restored to a date prior to me screwing up the computer. And I wouldn't have minded losing those files if it would have fixed my computer but it didn't comletelt fix it. So it wasn't worth the loss. Thanks for your advice. Any other suggestions?

[mindonstrike]

You turned it back on without the tv connected, correct? (and bottom monitor connection on shuttle)

As long as you had the monitor only connected it should have forced it to recognize it.

when you go to display properties what kind of monitor does it say you have?

Sam

[Theorbit]

I checked my display properties and it shows 'Default Monitor on NVIDEA'. I tried a different monitor but it didn't change anything, so I connected the S-video and 2 monitors to see if it would recognize a new connection as plug and play but it didn't change anything. It's very difficult to see the display because it keeps going black about every 4 seconds, then when it comes back the screen is off to the left midway and transposed upon itself from the right side, almost as if someone cut it in half and laid it over. You know, if I wanted to do this I couldn't ever figure it out. I appreciate the advice, keep it coming.
Rusty