LCD and CRT monitors: The fist things you should check

When having problems with any monitor the following are the first things you should check when troubleshooting:
1. Check to make sure the power source you are using is good. Since you should always use a good rated surge protector or a UPS (uninterrupted power supply) to protect your system from high voltage power surges and line sags. You should check to make sure that they are still good with a simple line tester that you can get at any lowe's or electrical supply store. They do sometimes go bad.
2. Check the outlet to make sure the receptical is still good as well with the same line tester.
3. Check all cable connections to make sure they are connected snuggly and they do not have any bent pins which could cause an array of problems. Make sure the cables do not have any defects or damages along cable itself.
4. Check to make sure the power button is one and functioning properly. This is a common sense thing, but you would not believe how many people forget to do this.
5.Check to make sure all the function buttons on the monitors, like the color, tint, vertical, horizontal, etc are set correctly.
6. Check to make sure the resolution is set properly in your computers control panel for the monitor's proper resolution.
7. If all else fails, swap the monitor out with a known good one to confirm if it is the monitor or the video card.