I need Computer Help!

[Degoo78]

I just got a new dell desktop from my mom's boss. It seems to be in pretty good shape, other than the fact that the monitor randomly shuts off for no reason what so ever! I don't know much about computers but I'm pretty sure it's not supposed to do that. It goes into "Power Save Mode" but it won't turn back on when I wiggle the the mouse or press a button. Nothing happens. And it's only the monitor that turns off, not the entire system.I usually just hold the power button until it shuts off, then I restart it. Can someone help me? Like I said, I know virtually nothing about computers so keep it simple with me?[: thanks!

In addition, the monitor shuts down when I go to certain sites or when I try to do something on a site. For example, when I try to view a video on youtube, it will freeze for a few seconds and then randomly shut down.

[Dioz]

The video is fucked. Monitors dont just turn off at random.

Where do you plug in the monitor cable to the pc?

Click THIS LINK and tell me if it's either in the area of 8 or 9, or in the area of 3 or 4 on that image.

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If it's 3 or 4, then bad news, you need to buy a video card for your PC.

If it's 8 or 9, then not so bad news, if you can plug the monitor cable into the 3 / 4 area of your PC (Should be a blue port) then you can remove the video card and use that instead.

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If none of that works, try a different monitor. Same problem happens, just give the computer back, it's a piece of shit and dont buy second hand dells ever again. Simple.

[Degoo78]

It plugs into 9 but how would I connect that into 3/4? O_o

[Dioz]

If there is a blue port in the area of 3 or 4 on that photo then your pc may still work.

If thats too much work, buy a new video card from newegg,com

[XsrdX22]

There's a way to disable the power save mode. You shouldn't need that since you're using a desktop.
Go to the control panel, hit power options, then the option to turn off power save mode should be under monitor options or something along those lines.

About the youtube, you might want to try borrowing a friends monitor or picking one up for free from the "Free" section of Craigslist. Hook that one up to your computer instead and see if it still crashes. If it does, then you might need a new video card, although when I had that problem the image on my monitor would get all messed up and the computer would crash.
Have you tried resetting the computer to factory condition? What operating system are you running (XP, Vista, Windows 7)? What antivirus are you using?

[Degoo78]

I have disabled the power save but it still shuts off. I have honestly no idea. My mom's boss gave us the computer so I know like... nothing..

[imkira]

Can I ask what model Dell it is? You can usually find out if you click on start, then right click Computer (Or My Computer, if it's running Windows XP) and selecting Properties.

On that note, what version of Windows is it running?

[Dioz]

I have disabled the power save but it still shuts off. I have honestly no idea. My mom's boss gave us the computer so I know like... nothing..

Click Start, then click Control Panel, then System Recovery or an option like that. A list of recovery points should appear, click the very first one listed. It might delete some programs on your PC, but should fix the problem.

[imkira]

I was thinking it could be a graphics driver problem.

[JamesL_16]

I know the exact problem. Your graphics card in your desktop is clogged with dust, which is preventing the fan to move at its potential speed. While the fan is moving at slow speeds, your graphics card overheats which explains the random loss of video. So go ahead and open your computer, take a look at the graphics card and try your best to clean out dust out of the fins of the graphics card fan. If this is not the case then your computer is just crap lol

[Dioz]

I know the exact problem. Your graphics card in your desktop is clogged with dust, which is preventing the fan to move at its potential speed. While the fan is moving at slow speeds, your graphics card overheats which explains the random loss of video. So go ahead and open your computer, take a look at the graphics card and try your best to clean out dust out of the fins of the graphics card fan. If this is not the case then your computer is just crap lol

^ This could be it. I didnt think of such a simple problem as dust. Check if it's all dusty. Clean if so. A hairdryer on cold setting works best.