Tech Help: Monitor Problem

Subject: Tech Help: Monitor Problem
From: PaulM
Date: 25 Jan 02 - 10:58 AM

This might be a little hard to explain, so please bear with me.

I'm running Win 98 with a 800x600 screen. Everything is fine on bootup, the screen is bright and clear.

When I start a program up, strange things happen...

* The screen resizes itself slightly, to a different shape (longer and taller). When I say 'screen' I mean the overall picture that Windows produces

* The contrast also changes so that, in, for example, Internet Explorer, pages becomes decidedly hazy. This is a lot more noticable if I have the window full screen, 1/4 size windows look fine

* The screen changes shape and size when I scroll down a long page, and when I click on a menu

When I say 'resizes', it isn't anything dramatic, but it's enough to be really annoying.

If anyone possibly understands what I'm talking about, I'd be grateful for an explanation. Please tell me that it's a software problem... I can't afford a new monitor.

If you don't understand what on earth I'm talking about, let me know too, and I'll try to explain more clearly.

Many thanks

Paul

Subject: RE: Tech Help: Monitor Problem
From: Musicman
Date: 25 Jan 02 - 11:02 AM

sounds like a monitor problem, although i'm no techy... can you borrow a monitor and try it.. see if it does the same thing with a different monitor? best way to eliminate problems.....

Subject: RE: Tech Help: Monitor Problem
From: PaulM
Date: 25 Jan 02 - 11:34 AM

good point, Musicman

should have thought of that myself....

there must be a good quote about eliminating the obvious before attempting the ridiculous, I don't know it if there is

Paul

many thanks anyway

Subject: RE: Tech Help: Monitor Problem
From: MMario
Date: 25 Jan 02 - 11:36 AM

could be your resolution - a lot of montiors and programs expect you to have 1024 by 840

Subject: RE: Tech Help: Monitor Problem
From: PaulM
Date: 25 Jan 02 - 11:38 AM

no, MMario it's not that

Thanks for posting anyway

Subject: RE: Tech Help: Monitor Problem
From: Mr Red
Date: 25 Jan 02 - 12:04 PM

Sounds like the monitor is ageing (spelling?) If the picture area is altering with the white space you could try changing the appearance to mostly dark colours, use black screen with light text. I can't see it helping with web sites, and Mudcat especially. Try the test, estimate the area of white or bright colours (pure R G or B count 1/3 each, yellow cyan and magenta 2/3) It's gonna be obvious if the brighter the general causes more of the problem. In which case the only things you can do yourself is (switch off) checking the connectors, wiggling the video card, blow any dust out of the computer (don't brush unless you have an anti-static brush) have a vacuum nozzle near by and not touching to suck away the detritus. I think dust will be unlikely from you symptoms but connections are an outside possibility.
You could bump the monitor a little just in case there is a gun loose or wire etcetera but knowing how hard to HIT is an art & I don't have it. Still it wouldn't stop me if the alternative was buying a new monitor. Happytapping!

Subject: RE: Tech Help: Monitor Problem
From: GUEST,JohnB
Date: 25 Jan 02 - 12:09 PM

And I always thought that the problems with the monitors were the sound guys fault. JohnB

Subject: RE: Tech Help: Monitor Problem
From: GUEST,Mad4Mud at work
Date: 25 Jan 02 - 12:09 PM

Hi PaulM, I'm running Windows2000 here at work so am not sure if you will have the same Troubleshooting information but try this: under Control Panel select Display. At the second window, select Settings and then click on the Troubleshooting button. Under Index type in "Monitors, refresh frequency". It has some tips which may help.
Good Luck!

Subject: RE: Tech Help: Monitor Problem
From: PaulM
Date: 25 Jan 02 - 12:12 PM

Thank you, Mr Red

If it were my machine I'd do everything you suggested.

Unfortunately, it 'belongs' to my girlfriend, so fucking up isnt an optoin...

Subject: RE: Tech Help: Monitor Problem
From: NicoleC
Date: 25 Jan 02 - 01:11 PM

Paul -

That's definately wierd. How much memory does the video card have? If it's an oldie, it might not have as much video memory as the software programs are expecting.

#1 -- Is it EVERY program that this happens? If the answer is yes, this probably isn't your problem. if the answer is no, see question #3

#2 -- Did it start happening after a software or OS upgrade or addition? If the answer is no, it's probably not software related.

#3 -- Does modifying your refresh rate make the problem better or worse, or does it stay the same? If it stays the same, it's probably not your settings. If it changes, play with your refresh rate and color depth until you find a level your monitor and video card are happy with. (Right click on an empty spot on the desktop and choose "Properties")

#4 -- If none of the above solves your problem, it's probably hardware. Try a different monitor on your system as Musicman suggested. Also try your monitor on a different computer. If one retains the problem, you know the culprit.

I kinda doubt it's the monitor. Usually when monitors go bad, they're totally kaput or die very quickly. Video cards are more likely to get strangely screwy, but fortunately they're cheaper :)

Good luck -- if nothing works keep us posted and I'll ask around with some of the hardware folks.

Subject: RE: Tech Help: Monitor Problem
From: PaulM
Date: 25 Jan 02 - 03:26 PM

Thanks a lot, Nicole

The video card is perhaps the culprit. I've go a really busy weekend, but I'll try to swap things around with another machine on sunday night. I'll let you know the results

Thanks again

Paul

Subject: RE: Tech Help: Monitor Problem
From: Mary in Kentucky
Date: 25 Jan 02 - 03:46 PM

Paul, the same thing happened to mine. It seemed to be OK when I first turned it on, but with time would resize. Eventually, after a few weeks, it would do it all the time, and finally just died.

Hooking up a different monitor is probably the first and easiest thing to do.

Quote: If you hear hoofbeats behind you, don't expect to turn and see a herd of zebras.

Subject: RE: Tech Help: Monitor Problem
From: Mr Red
Date: 26 Jan 02 - 12:50 PM

what happens when you alter the brightness control and contrast pot. If it gets worse (relatively speaking) as you increase the brightness my comments stand. If the brightness has no effect on the symptoms (per se) other than doing their avowed job look to the PC and connectors and video card. I would be happy to make the symptoms worse if it told me what was sensitive, but if it is the domestic situation that is the sensitive component, you have my sympathy. Ultimately you can ditch the PC without much angst. Give us some details when you have tried simple things like Desktop colours or brightness control.

Subject: RE: Tech Help: Monitor Problem
From: folkmonster
Date: 26 Jan 02 - 09:21 PM

1. Try changing your color depth to 16 bit. It sounds like your card/and/or monitor cannot cope with the number of colors you are chicking at it. If that fails, try 256 colors.

2. Check the refresh frequency. If it is higher than 75Hz then this could be the trouble.

3. Clean the connectors! Seriously, this has fixed things for me in thepast.

4. Degauss the monitor - there should be a setting for this in the monitor setup buttons.

FM

Subject: RE: Tech Help: Monitor Problem
From: GUEST,Paul M
Date: 27 Jan 02 - 03:18 PM

Thanks a lot everyone.

Adjusting the Refresh rate / Color depth has almost solved the problem.

A Refresh Rate of 75hz and a Color Depth of 24 bit High Color, gets rid of all the haziness, and reduces the resizing to a minimum. It's still there, buts it's not a huge problem.

I really appreciate all your help.

Thank you

Paul