Due to a bug in our IT department, my email address no longer works with Plug, so I cannot reply until I re-subscribe with my new email address…  So, I’m replying directly to you.  Feel free to re-post this to the PLUG list if you want.

So, lets start at the top.

First, if you plug a monitor in to a running machine, the machine may or may not notice the change and change its output resolution to match the max available on the monitor.  If the current output mode is beyond the capabilities of the monitor, SOME monitors will say ‘no signal’ while others will say something about ‘signal out of range’ (or frequency out of range, or something).

My guess is that this is what is happening.  If you can boot up with the flat monitor connected and see that, as it boots, you have output on the monitor then the first stage of debug is complete – the monitor works at ‘normal low text mode’ resolution.  (This is the POST stuff someone was talking about).  If you see nothing here then there is something deeper wrong than resolution issues, stop and seek professional help ;-)  Otherwise:

Once the computer has booted, my guess is that one of two things will happen.  Either the monitor will ‘tell’ the computer its max mode and the computer will adjust, or it won’t.  If it does, then you should see the login screen once your computer boots.  (And you are done, assuming the monitor resolution is high enough for you J)

If it doesn’t, and you are running Linux, you can try hitting ‘control-alt-<minus>’ using the left control and alt keys, and the – on the keypad.  That is supposed to lower the output resolution.

If still nothing, hit ‘control-alt-F1’ to switch to the console mode on console 1 and see if you see text (there should be a login prompt near the top).  If so, then you may have to do some sort of ‘x reconfigure’ (which I think depends upon your distribution the exact command.  I think I did something like dpkg –reconfigure X to force the X window system to figure out my monitor).  If not, then again you may need ‘professional help’….