I have a Dell Ultrascan VC8N 21 inch monitor which, because of its size, I
am reluctant to throw out. But the red has stopped working completely.
Nothing comes through at all. This isn't a driver or windows issue: When I
go to the screen settings on the XP desktop and try to check RED to adjust
it, all I get is black. Not even a minimal amount of red, and obviously no
red bleeding indicating that the tube itself is blowing

Is this sort of thing usually caused by something being knocked off the back
of the CRT like the red gun? Or is it likely to be more serious than that?
Is this a "Gently pull the CRT neck board off of the CRT and replace it"
problem? Or is it more likely an "if WHACK won't fix it (if only
momentarily), nothing will"

MFS