How can I troubleshoot the issue of an ‘out of range computer monitor’?

How can I troubleshoot the issue of an ‘out of range computer monitor’?
I recently encountered a problem with my computer monitor displaying an ‘out of range’ error message. Although my computer and monitor have been working fine for a while, this issue suddenly appeared without any clear reason. When I turn on my computer, the monitor either remains black or shows the out of range error, making it impossible for me to access my desktop. I’ve checked the connections and even tried restarting both my computer and monitor, but the issue persists. I’m unsure about the exact cause – whether it’s related to the monitor’s settings, the graphics card, or something else entirely. This has been quite frustrating as I can’t get any productive work done with this problem in the way.
7 Answers

One effective way to tackle the ‘out of range’ error involves resolving a fault with your video card settings. Here’s how I approached this:
- Restart your computer and access Safe Mode by pressing F8.
- In Safe Mode, open the Control Panel and find ‘Device Manager’.
- Uninstall the current graphics card driver and restart the computer.
- The system defaults to a basic display driver, making the screen viewable.
- Download and install the latest graphics card driver from the manufacturer’s website.
- Reboot once more to ensure all settings work in harmony.
This solution rectifies driver issues and re-syncs the monitor with the graphics card.

The ‘out of range’ message can be a head-scratcher, but sometimes purely external tweaks can work. Here’s how I navigated this issue:
- Simply wait on the error screen and press Ctrl + Alt + Del.
- Use the arrow keys to select and open ‘Task Manager’.
- Once opened (though invisible), navigate blindly to Output settings and revert resolution.
- Pressing Enter repeatedly with guessed cursor movements can shift incorrect display settings.
Though unconventional, this method relied heavily on patience and keyboard navigation, which eventually worked.

To resolve the ‘out of range’ error on your computer monitor, it’s often necessary to adjust the screen resolution to a setting that your monitor can handle. Here’s a quick method to fix it:
- Reboot your computer and repeatedly tap F8 to enter Safe Mode.
- In Safe Mode, right-click on the desktop and choose ‘Display settings’.
- Navigate to ‘Advanced display settings’ and lower the resolution.
- Restart your computer normally to allow changes to take effect.
This should match the display settings to your monitor’s capabilities and eliminate the error.

I faced the ‘out of range’ issue when my display adapter settings went haywire. Here’s my step-by-step guide to fix it:
- Connect an alternate monitor temporarily to gain access to your system.
- Open Device Manager by right-clicking the Start button and choosing ‘Device Manager’.
- Locate and expand ‘Display adapters’, right-click on your graphics card, and select ‘Update driver’.
- Opt for ‘Search automatically for updated driver software’ and follow the prompts.
- After updating, reconnect your original monitor and verify if the issue is resolved.
This approach updates the graphics driver and syncs it with your hardware configuration.

When I encountered this problem, I learned it’s often due to incompatible refresh rates. Here’s what worked for me:
- Connect a different monitor or a TV if available.
- Open ‘Settings’ > ‘System’ > ‘Display’ on Windows.
- Go to ‘Advanced display settings’ and tweak the monitor refresh rate to 60Hz, which is generally safe.
- Disconnect the alternate display and reconnect your original monitor to see the changes.
Adjusting the refresh rate provided immediate relief and restored my display.

Addressing an ‘out of range’ monitor message typically hinges on matching refresh rates. My effective solution involved these steps:
- Boot the computer in Safe Mode by pressing F8 during startup.
- Navigate to the Control Panel, and open ‘Display’.
- Click ‘Adjust resolution’ and then ‘Advanced settings’.
- Under the ‘Monitor’ tab, set the Screen refresh rate to 60 Hertz.
- Restart the computer to apply these changes.
Aligning the refresh rates restored functionality and cleared the error.

Experiencing an ‘out of range’ error, my investigation led me straight to resolution and driver updates as the key fix:
- Reboot into Safe Mode with Networking by tapping F8 on startup.
- Right-click the desktop in Safe Mode, select ‘Screen resolution’, and lower it to a native mode, like 1920×1080.
- Update your graphics driver in ‘Device Manager’ by using ‘Search automatically’ online options.
- Reboot normally to implement the adjustments.
This resolved compatibility issues and restored the monitor’s usual display.