computer help

[flake56]

i plugged a usb2 unit into a usb3 plug. i now have a pink tone to all my displays. no idea what happened but i cannot get it back to normal. any ideas? it is strange.

[kogi]

Courtesy of Gemini AI:


That's an unusual problem! While USB2 and USB3 are compatible, a pink screen tone isn't a typical symptom of any compatibility issue. Here's a breakdown of why and some troubleshooting steps:

**Why a pink screen is unlikely to be caused by USB2 in a USB3 port:**

* **Different Data Types:** USB primarily transfers data. While video signals can be sent over USB (like with a display adapter), the color information isn't affected by the USB generation.
* **Backward Compatibility:** USB3 ports are designed to accommodate USB2 devices without issue.

**Possible Causes for the Pink Screen:**

* **Graphics Driver Issues:** The most likely culprit is a graphics driver problem. Try reinstalling or updating your graphics driver.
* **Cable Connections:** Check all your video cables (HDMI, DisplayPort, etc.) to ensure they are securely plugged in at both ends. A loose connection can sometimes cause color distortions.
* **Monitor Settings:** It's possible your monitor settings were accidentally changed. Check the color settings on your monitor itself.
* **Hardware Fault:** There might be a problem with your graphics card or monitor. This is less likely, but possible if the issue persists.

**Troubleshooting Steps:**

1. **Restart your computer:** A simple restart often resolves temporary glitches.
2. **Check cable connections:** Make sure all video cables are securely plugged in.
3. **Update/Reinstall Graphics Drivers:**
* Go to the website of your graphics card manufacturer (NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel).
* Download the latest drivers for your specific graphics card model.
* Install the drivers.
4. **Adjust Monitor Settings:** Use the buttons on your monitor to access the on-screen display (OSD) and check the color settings. Look for options like "color temperature" or "color mode."
5. **Try a different USB port:** See if the pink tint disappears when the USB2 device is plugged into a different USB port.
6. **Try a different display:** If possible, connect your computer to another monitor to see if the problem persists. This will help isolate whether the issue is with the monitor or the computer.
7. **System Restore:** If the problem started recently, try restoring your system to a point before the issue occurred.

If none of these steps resolve the issue, it might be time to seek professional help from a computer technician. They can diagnose the problem more thoroughly and recommend further solutions.

[PoloMintGuy]

Hi there flake56!

Originally Posted by flake56

i plugged a usb2 unit into a usb3 plug. i now have a pink tone to all my displays.

USB3 is backwards compatible with USB2. They should work normally going either way.

You just won't get USB3 speeds with a USB2 device (like a hard drive) connected to USB3. Neither with a USB3 drive connected via a USB2.

That's why the form factor remains the same between them, there shouldn't be a compatibility issue if one is plugged into another.

Very rarely you could encounter some proprietary version of a USB cable that comes with something but that would likely have some odd plug at the other end that won't fit USB.

Originally Posted by flake56

no idea what happened but i cannot get it back to normal. any ideas? it is strange.

Quite odd.

I'm going to roll out the classic "Have you switched off & turned it back on?".

In this case it may actually help, completely turn off the computer (not restart or sleep, use shut down) & unplug from the wall. Unplug the monitors from the computer & unplug them from power. Leave for a couple of minutes (go make some tea!).

Cup of tea in hand, now plug everything back in turn back on.

Hope this is of help!


EDIT: I see kogi got in with good advice while I was still typing!

[flake56]

reloaded driver. disconnected everything and let sit. no idea which actually got it done but pink is gone. yea!!!! thought i might have to buy a graphics card. will remember both suggestions if needed in future. the help available here is fantastic. even for an old idijit like me.

[burpman]

If you've tried all these other options and have a desktop system, reseating the graphics card can also help.

[aegean]

That is indeed odd - normally I would say to the customer - what was the last thing you did?

I would say the USB effecting the display is next to impossible - but it is a computer.

As above, restart your computer - don't shutdown and turn on, a restart (as I understand it - which has a good chance of being wrong) is better than a shutdown followed by a powerup - restart craps out anything that windows will rewrite to itself to enable you to pick up where you left off. As I understand, restart is a colder start than a shutdown / turn on.

I still think the USB is a red herring. I feel your pain, I've been away from home for the best part of a year - I turned on one of my laptops - booted fine - windows told me I needed a few small updates, and guess what happened - it's stuck in a loop

[Scott T]

Originally Posted by aegean

I would say the USB effecting the display is next to impossible - but it is a computer.

It could always be that some malicious program hiding on a USB drive is activated when you plug it in causing weird effects on your pc. There are reported cases of this happening when people buy cheap USB drives off the likes of Amazon.