Starlogic MJ7BBA with power and VGA cable not plugged in the monitor first show RGB in the upper left corner then a white box with red border stating that it is disconnected. I have tried four computers now two laptops and two desk tops. all four with the same results. using linux ubuntu 8.04, 8.10, and windows XP. every time when the monitor gets a signal the power light starts to flash at a one sec on/off and the display goes blank. I don't get any responce from the three menu buttons ever.

reduce the screen resolution and then connect the monitor

This AC adapter works with that Starlogic 17 model.

http://www.ccl-la.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=48

Yes.

The area on the back of the computer, that has two ports to connect a monitor, is a Graphics Card.

It is a PCI-Express graphics card, and is plugged into a PCI-Express x16 slot on the motherboard.
(Expansion Slot)

It has a blue VGA port, white DVI port, and black S-Video port.

The area on the upper left with a blue outline around a VGA port, is a VGA port connected directly to the motherboard. It is Integrated Graphics.

You CANNOT use Integrated Graphics, and a graphics card at the same time.

It's either use the Integrated Graphics VGA port, OR use the graphics port/s on the graphics card.
BIOS will Not support using both Integrated Graphics, and a graphics card.

HOWEVER, you can use the VGA port, and the DVI port when using two monitors.
You will be only using just the graphics card.

Example of a VGA port, (Connector), and VGA cable,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VGA_connector

Example of a DVI port, and DVI cable,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DVI_connector


1) Whatever monitor you have that has a VGA cable, plug it into the blue VGA port on the graphics card.

(There are VGA monitors {CRT} that resemble a small TV. VGA cable is usually attached.
There are also LCD flat screens that have a VGA connector, for a VGA cable, and may also have both a VGA, and a DVI connector.

To digress for a moment;
VGA is Analog. It uses an Analog video signal.
DVI is digital. It uses a Digital video signal.

A computer naturally puts out a digital video signal. This digital signal has to be converted by the computer, into analog for an analog monitor. This slows the graphics process down. This is one reason it is best to use digital )

2) Plug a monitor with a DVI cable into the white DVI port on the graphics card.

3) Turn the monitors on.

4) Turn the Inspiron 531s on.

5) When Windows has loaded, right-click on an empty area of your desktop computer screen.
Now left-click on Properties at the bottom of the list.
Left-click on the Settings tab.

6) You are now looking at a small window that has two monitor icons in it.
Monitor 1 icon, and monitor 2 icon.

Monitor 1 icon is your Primary Display.
Monitor 2 icon will be for the Secondary Display you are adding.

Note how monitor 1 icon is sitting to the Left, and monitor icon 2 is sitting to the Right.
This is how your monitors are supposed to be arranged on your computer desk.

If the second monitor is on the Left on your computer desk, you need to move the icons around.
Move monitor 2 icon to the Left.

Left-click on the icon, hold the left mouse key down, and drag the monitor 2 icon over to the left side of monitor 1 icon. (All the way over, or it will snap back to where it was)

It may matter to you how your monitors are arranged. It may not. Once you read the following it may help you decide.

7) Left-click on monitor icon 2 if you have not already done so.
Go down to where it states, "Extend my Windows desktop onto this monitor"

8) Left-click once in the empty square, to the left of Extend my Windows desktop onto this monitor.

9) Now left-click on Apply at the bottom Right corner.

10) Finally left-click on OK at the bottom Left corner.

You should now see your desktop screen on both monitors.

When using the internet on both monitors, you have to drag the screen from the Primary monitor to the Secondary monitor.

Go to the left side of the screen. Left-click right on the edge of the blue frame. Hold the left mouse key down after you click, and drag the screen across to the left.

Doesn't work?
Go to the right side, click on the blue frame, and drag the screen to the right.

This is why it may matter how the monitors are arranged on your computer desk.

It's kind of eerie your first time dragging the screen across.

You will also find out why it is best to use two similar monitors, when using dual monitors. The pixel resolution is different for both monitors, if they are different from each other.

For additional questions please post in a Comment.

Regards,
joecoolvette

Just to add:

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/inspd531/en/OM/appendix.htm

If your Dell Optiplex GX745 came with the ATI Radeon X1300 graphics card, that has One - DVI graphics port, and One - VGA graphics port, it's no problem.

This link shows an ATI Radeon X1300, and the two above mentioned graphics ports,

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=5550932&CatId=28

(Please scroll down to the larger photos for more detail.
The Radeon X1300 graphics card in your computer, is a Low Profile graphics card. It will not look exactly like the one shown.

Low Profile means shorter in height. Your graphics card is shorter in height, in order to fit in your SFF computer case. {Small Form Factor}

The longer white connector shown on the left side of the view, is a DVI port. (Technically it's a Dual DVI port)

The shorter blue connector shown on the right side of the view, is the VGA port.

1) If one of your monitors has a DVI connector plug, simply plug it into the DVI port.
If the other monitor also has a DVI connector plug, you will need an adapter to plug it into the VGA port.

2) If both of your monitors have a VGA connector plug, one will plug into the VGA port on the graphics card.
The other will need an adapter to plug into the DVI port, on the graphics card.

This link shows an adapter for connecting a monitor with a DVI connector, to the VGA port on a graphics card,

http://www.directron.com/dviadapter.html

The adapter to connect a monitor with a VGA connector, to a DVI port on the graphics card is opposite of this.
[ I have found them at Radio Shack.
This = Expensive! $14.99
Not advertising for Radio Shack, or the above website in the link]

NOTE*
Use care when selecting the adapter you need.

A monitor with a VGA cable connector has the Male pins.
Your adapter must have the VGA Female sockets.
The DVI side of the adapter must have the Male pins.
It goes into the Female socket holes on the graphics card.

Same with a monitor that has a DVI cable connector.
The adapter must have Female DVI socket holes.
The other side will have Male VGA pins.

If your ATI Radeon X1300 only has One - graphics port, I Do Not advise using a splitter.
This is an adapter cable that has a connector on one end, and splits into two cables.

The graphics quality will be poor.

If you have No graphics card the situation is worse. This is Onboard, or Integrated Graphics.
(OnBoard. On the motherboard)

Using a splitter cable will result in very poor graphics.

How to tell if your Optiplex GX745 only has Integrated Graphics?
Look at the back of the computer. Come down from the audio ports. (Green and Blue)

Look under the USB ports.
The Blue VGA port is the Integrated Graphics port.

If you have an ATI Radeon X1300 graphics card, you will see a blue VGA port in an adjacent slot, also.

(Your computer can have Integrated Graphics, and a graphics card.
You CANNOT use the Integrated Graphics port, and a graphics port on a graphics card, At The Same Time!
It will Not work)

Once the two monitors are attached.

1) Turn both monitors on.
2) Turn the computer on, let Windows load

3) After Windows has loaded, Right-click on any empty area of the desktop screen.

4) Go to the bottom of the drop down menu, and Left-click on Properties

5) There are tabs across the top. Left-click on the
Settings tab.

6) You will see two rectangular icons. These icons represent monitors.

The one on the left side with the white border around it, is your Primary monitor. The main monitor you have always had.

The grayed out icon on the right side represents a Secondary monitor. This is for the second monitor you plugged in.

Note how the two monitor icons are sitting.
Primary on the left, Secondary on the right.
This is how your monitors should be sitting.

If it is Not, left-click on the Secondary monitor icon. Hold the left mouse button down, and drag it over to the left.

Now scroll down this window with your eyes.
Under the resolution settings you will see -

Extend my Windows desktop onto this monitor

There is a square box to the left of it.

Left-click in the square box. Go below to the right, and left-click on Apply.
Now go to the left, and click on OK.

Your monitors will now both be showing your desktop screen.

[Note* When doing this procedure, you have clicked on the Secondary monitor icon. Clicking on the icon activates it]

When you open the internet, or have a program going.
Go to the right side of the screen to the blue border,
of the Primary monitor.

When the mouse cursor turns into a double-headed arrow, hold the left mouse button down, and drag the screen to the right.

(You will note that the mouse cursor changes quite easily. It has to be double-headed in order for this to work)

If this direction does not work, go to the left side of the screen, drag to the left.

(You have to drag in the direction your monitors are actually sitting, in relation to each other)

Need some clarification, or have further questions? Click on Comment.

check the unit/CPU to the others monitor or open then make a clean the VGA card and Memory..good luck

yes a dvi to VGA converter is available they are available online and over the counter at an electronics or computer store

Did you plug in a sound input into your monitor? It will be a separate wire from the video input.

If it has a 3.5 mm stereo input jack then it probably has speakers, and you should connect that jack to the green headphone jack on your PC. If it has no input jack then it probably has no speakers.

Of course, the sound input might be included in the VGA cable, in which case that would divide near the PC with a green jack-plug on the end. Again, plug that into the green socket on your PC.

take it back to the local store where you bought it. or

check their website to know where to take it to

If you are getting a "No Signal" message, someone may have inadvertantly pressed the wrong button on the monitor. Use up arrow of button #5 below to cycle through RGB (normal VGA connection) and DVI sources. Down arrow will result in "No Signal" message.

There are five buttons at the bottom of the screen on this monitor. From the left:
1 - sound volume
2 - degausser
3 - power on/off
4 - monitor set-up
5 - RGB/DVI source