I have a 3 year old Gateway computer with monitor and for the past few
weeks at various times the monitor screen shrinks to where I can not
see the toolbar. It is all black on the bottom and about an inch above
there is a translucent 3D 1 inch wide bar that goes across the screen.
The screen slightly flutters when it's in this state. It happens from
time to time and sometimes goes back to normal itself. Other times I
have to restart the computer. What could this be? Could my monitor be
on the way out? Might there be some electrical interference nearby?
Does anyone have any ideas?

writes:

I have a 3 year old Gateway computer with monitor and for the past few
weeks at various times the monitor screen shrinks to where I can not
see the toolbar. It is all black on the bottom and about an inch above
there is a translucent 3D 1 inch wide bar that goes across the screen.
The screen slightly flutters when it's in this state. It happens from
time to time and sometimes goes back to normal itself. Other times I
have to restart the computer. What could this be? Could my monitor be
on the way out? Might there be some electrical interference nearby?
Does anyone have any ideas?

If it happens from time-to-time, it is most likely bad solder connections
somewhere in the deflection circuitry. Gently whacking the monitor will
probably induce it or fix it, which would confirm the diagnosis. Get it
repaired before the monitor ends up dead.

--- sam | Sci.Electronics.Repair FAQ Mirror: http://repairfaq.ece.drexel.edu/
Repair | Main Table of Contents: http://repairfaq.ece.drexel.edu/REPAIR/
+Lasers | Sam's Laser FAQ: http://repairfaq.ece.drexel.edu/sam/lasersam.htm
| Mirror Sites: http://repairfaq.ece.drexel.edu/REPAIR/F_mirror.html

Note: These links are hopefully temporary until we can sort out the excessive
traffic on Repairfaq.org.

Important: Anything sent to the email address in the message header above is
ignored unless my full name is included in the subject line. Or, you can
contact me via the Feedback Form in the FAQs.

"Sam Goldwasser" ha scritto nel messaggio
...

If it happens from time-to-time, it is most likely bad solder connections
somewhere in the deflection circuitry. Gently whacking the monitor will
probably induce it or fix it, which would confirm the diagnosis. Get it
repaired before the monitor ends up dead.

....or it maybe a defective electrolytic cap !!!

I.

Sam,
Hitting the side of the monitor fixed it. Thank you so much.

Hitting the side of the monitor fixed it. Thank you so much.

It won't last long.

Find someone who can inspect and resolder some bad connections.

If you don't get it fixed properly, there may come a time where
smacking it won't help and then the repair costs will be much greater.

--- sam | Sci.Electronics.Repair FAQ Mirror: http://repairfaq.ece.drexel.edu/
Repair | Main Table of Contents: http://repairfaq.ece.drexel.edu/REPAIR/
+Lasers | Sam's Laser FAQ: http://repairfaq.ece.drexel.edu/sam/lasersam.htm
| Mirror Sites: http://repairfaq.ece.drexel.edu/REPAIR/F_mirror.html

Note: These links are hopefully temporary until we can sort out the excessive
traffic on Repairfaq.org.

Important: Anything sent to the email address in the message header above is
ignored unless my full name is included in the subject line. Or, you can
contact me via the Feedback Form in the FAQs.

Sam:
Gee...
You need to add "smacking the side of the monitor" to your list of
FIXES in your repairfaq.
I guess rk73 didn't want to hear about the fact that he now needs to
get it repaired before it craps out all together and will cost more to
fix when smacking the side doesn't "fix" it anymore.
electricitym
..
..

wrote in message
oups.com...
Sam,
Hitting the side of the monitor fixed it. Thank you so much.


That didn't fix it, it diagnosed it. Find someone to track down and resolder
the cracked joint or it'll act up again soon, quite likely blowing out an
expensive component.

ha scritto nel messaggio
oups.com...
Sam,
Hitting the side of the monitor fixed it. Thank you so much.

Ahem, you didn't fix a monitor by hitting it. It only diagnoses a problem.
If you can properly resolder the connections, do it immediately, or get it
repaired by a tech. YOU MAY DAMAGE A MORE EXPENSIVE PART !

I.

Could the problem be with some electrical interference from others in
the building? I just heard a drill or something then the monitor
started to go black and such and when the drill stopped the monitor
went back to normal. Could this be the case? Maybe people using various
electrical devices are causing this?