Monitor question

**skitterbug** · 2006-02-15 00:15

All of a sudden my monitor will just go to a black screen. By moving it about, I was able to restore the picture enough to reboot the computer and the monitor came back on with 800x600 instead of the 1024x768 that I was accustomed to. That worked for awhile and then bingo, black screen again. This time I messed about until I realized that if I tipped the monitor up so that it is on an angle and set the front of it on a fat Sharpie, it keeps my desktop viewable. (see picture below)

So my question is this - Why does this work? Does a monitor develop lose parts or does the wiring become lose for some reason? I haven't figured out why tilting it up and back would make it work as apposed to it sitting as it should on the desk. It isn't as if I have dropped it although tonight I did bash it a good one to see if it would shape up! This one is a CRT from around 1998 so I know it is probaby done for and not worth messing about with but I am curious what might be causing this problem?

**DaveA** · 2006-02-15 03:14

<P ID="edit" class=small>(Edited by DaveA on 14-Feb-06 20:14. Add note aboyt coffee.)</P>I would plan on replacing that CRT with a NEW LCD flat screen. I have been getting the 17 inch ViewSonic for about $299 at Fry's here in town.

Edit: Have you been spilling your <img src=/S/coffeetime.gif border=0 alt=coffeetime width=32 height=48> in the air vents?

**Leif** · 2006-02-15 06:47

I've no idea what a 'Sharpie' is, but unless it has some strange electromagnetic property, I doubt if it is relevant.

From your description of the cure, I would suggest that it is a mechanical issue. Unless you were moving the monitor about violently, I suspect that it is not a fault at component level, but more likely to be with the cables and/or connectors as these would flex with movement of the monitor. I would check that both ends of both the power and signal cables are securely seated. Where applicable, unplug and refit the connectors to their sockets a couple of times to help clean the contacts.

When you say "...it keeps my desktop viewable" I assume you mean that the monitor displays something other than a blank screen, as opposed to it behaving differently when you have an application open on your screen? (I can't believe you mean you can actually see the top of the desk your monitor is sitting on...)

**Argus** · 2006-02-15 08:05

I agree with Leif, check cables or how they are placed. Sometimes if there is a wall behind the monitor the cable can become "bent" between the monitor and the wall, thus maybe connectors are not seated.

But maybe it is getting a bit old; as you already know they DO start to behave funny then.

<img src=/S/whisper.gif border=0 alt=whisper width=29 height=17> Thanks Leif, Sharpie or a fat Sharpie, can not tell either.

**HansV** · 2006-02-15 08:39

<img src=/S/whisper.gif border=0 alt=whisper width=29 height=17> A Sharpie is a marker pen, see here

**Leif** · 2006-02-15 08:52

<img src=/S/whisper.gif border=0 alt=whisper width=29 height=17> Ah! Perhaps Skitterbug needs to check to see if there is a hole in the underside of the monitor causing the pixels to leak out, and it's a Sharpie Metallic with it's tiny metallic flecks reflecting the picture back into the hole and onto the screen?

<img src=/S/grin.gif border=0 alt=grin width=15 height=15>

**Jezza** · 2006-02-15 09:07

Skitter

Yes, this is a very serious problem. If the cable checking works, then fine but Leif did touch upon pixel leak which is a major cause of monitor faults. The link will provide you with some remedies.

**bigaldoc** · 2006-02-15 10:37

And IF the cable-checking doesn't pan out and IF you decide to spring for a new LCD, there are always "specials" floating around where you can get known-brand 19" flat screens for somewhere close to $300. I got mine at Buy.com - LCD Monitors and didn't even bother to check local superstores. The most difficult question for an un-trained person like me was the differences in contrast ratio. I have no idea what the difference in a 500:1 compared to a 600:1 would look like to the human (untrained) eye! Keep us posted and be very careful of Jezza's pixel dust... <img src=/S/anigrin.gif border=0 alt=anigrin width=19 height=19>

**WyllyWylly** · 2006-02-15 14:25

The resolution changed, you say? Monitors don't do that, only video cards change resolutions. Check your connections there, including making sure that the card is properly seated inside the case. If possible, connect the display to another working system and see if the problem persists.

**skitterbug** · 2006-02-15 16:39

I'm back! Whew! I ended up reconfiguring an old Win98 ME computer so I could access the net! I had to install a NIC card so my cable connection would work! <img src=/S/yep.gif border=0 alt=yep width=15 height=15> My little packard bell monitor would not display properly on my Win XP box even though I had gone into safe mode and set the resolution to the lowest possible setting. Not sure where I went wrong with that idea. Anyway.................here I am! Thank you all for your ideas. I tried them all except the "leaking pixels" idea! <img src=/S/laugh.gif border=0 alt=laugh width=15 height=15> and WyllyWylly's. I'll check inside the case and see if the adapter is loose and later, I'll try that monitor on this system and see what happens!

I'll post back - I promise! <img src=/S/grin.gif border=0 alt=grin width=15 height=15> I am finally going to get my <img src=/S/coffeetime.gif border=0 alt=coffeetime width=32 height=48>

**JohnGray** · 2006-02-15 17:45

The "leaking pixels" problem could be similar to the problem we had very many years ago with badly terminated "bus and tag cables" on mainframe disk drives, where we told the MD that the reason for the false flooring in the computer room was so that the data had somewhere to go when it leaked out of the ends of the cables. We had an IBM hardware engineer arrive very quickly (and he was sworn to secrecy as soon as he got in the door...!).

John

**skitterbug** · 2006-02-15 18:09

And who says the IT department doesn't have a sense of humor? <img src=/S/laugh.gif border=0 alt=laugh width=15 height=15>

**gdrezek** · 2006-02-16 05:57

<img src=/S/evilgrin.gif border=0 alt=evilgrin width=15 height=15> Sounds like when I was in the Army (wow THAT was a long time ago!!) as a radar/computer tech. We were continually sending newbies for "doppler grease" (I was a tech on a continuous wave radar), "video paint" for the CRT's and a couple of other job specific items.

**DocWatson** · 2006-02-17 13:23

<hr>I can't believe you mean you can actually see the top of the desk your monitor is sitting on.<hr>

</center>Why not ?????

**HansV** · 2006-02-17 13:40

Yes, but that's a Mac!

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