Is My Monitor About The Plotz?

[Jingthing]

Is My Monitor About To Plotz?

I've been using PCs since they were invented and I don't remember having a monitor that died on me, usually I buy a new one before that happens.

Anyway, that's why I need advice on my current monitor. It's a ViewSonic and have been using it a lot for some years now. Recently, when the screen saver kicks in and I want to turn it on again, I have had to power on and off the monitor a number of times before it starts up again. In the interim, I usually see a very quick flash on, but then off, until eventually turning it on actually turns it on.

On startup from an off computer, sometimes the monitor just starts normally, and sometimes I need to go through the multiple on/off sequence until if finally turns on.

I am guessing the monitor is just dying and I will just have to buy a new one soon. I could put up with the current symptoms if that's all it is, but it seems like it is trying to say bye bye. What do any techies think? Is there a fix? If it's dying, do you think soon or could it go like that for a long time?

Edited October 5, 2010 by Jingthing

[dave_boo]

Could be your monitor, or perhaps your cable, or even the videocard on the fritz.

Reason I suggest those other culprits is your mentioning of problems from when the computer is on. Sounds like it's not getting the wake from sleep signal...

[BB1950]

My friend was complaining last week about a similar problem. A few days later. Before I got over to check it out, the monitor had permanently died (RIP). It was only about 3 years old. The cost to repair was more than half the price to replace. Not worth repairing. Monitors are very inexpensive now.

There is a probability it could be the video card. If you have a spare monitor. Check and see if the symptom is replicated with another monitor.

Doubtful it's the cable.

You mentioned "multiple on/off sequence until if finally turns on" was that the monitor or computer? If it was the monitor you were sequencing on/off, then most likely the monitor is on the fritz.

Edited October 5, 2010 by BB1950

[samuijimmy]

My 5-6 year old Acer, puffed smoke & sent out pops & sparks the other day....

Took it to two shops, more to repair than buy a new one!

That's life I guess, but think 5 - 6 years not bad...except on the expense~!

[RKASA]

The nice thing about having several PC's is you can just switch monitors and see if the problem moves to the other PC. Or maybe you have a vga input to the TV you can use and see if things work OK. handy to have vga hdmi and dvi choices on everything - PC mother board, video cards, monitor and the TV.

Something has gotta work.

[flash77]

I had similar symptoms with my 4 year old Samsung LCD monitor a couple of months ago. I would turn the monitor off overnight (although computer still on) then the next morning when I turn it on and the desktop would be briefly displayed then went black. The monitor wasn't actually off: looking very closely I could see an image. Apparently shining a light (e.g. torch) on it will make it easier to see the image.

Searching the web for indicated it is a common problem, perhaps due to bad capacitors. There are guides online as to how to identify and replace faulty capacitors, but I don't have the tools nor patience to do it myself. I asked my IT technician at work and he knew about the problem. He replace 4 or 5 capacitors and my monitor has been working no problems for the past 1 month. Fingers crossed it will stay that way for a year or two. The capacitors cost 60 Baht.

If this sounds similar to your problem I suggest you try a local computer market (e.g. Pantip, Zeer Rangsit). I'm sure a repair shop would be able to diagnose and fix for you. Maybe for a few hundred baht.

[Jingthing]

Sorry for the delay in thanking for your responses.

Well, it turned out it wasn't related to the monitor after all.

The problem got worse, the monitor was always blank on startup, and it took more and more on/offs to get the thing working over time. Then I started to see no signal messages, and finally got a super colorful active test pattern type screen. Turned out the motherboard (which was indeed due for it) had died.

[mokwit]

I had similar symptoms with my 4 year old Samsung LCD monitor a couple of months ago. I would turn the monitor off overnight (although computer still on) then the next morning when I turn it on and the desktop would be briefly displayed then went black. The monitor wasn't actually off: looking very closely I could see an image. Apparently shining a light (e.g. torch) on it will make it easier to see the image.

Searching the web for indicated it is a common problem, perhaps due to bad capacitors. There are guides online as to how to identify and replace faulty capacitors, but I don't have the tools nor patience to do it myself. I asked my IT technician at work and he knew about the problem. He replace 4 or 5 capacitors and my monitor has been working no problems for the past 1 month. Fingers crossed it will stay that way for a year or two. The capacitors cost 60 Baht.

If this sounds similar to your problem I suggest you try a local computer market (e.g. Pantip, Zeer Rangsit). I'm sure a repair shop would be able to diagnose and fix for you. Maybe for a few hundred baht.

Amorn on the top floor [at back] of Fortune Tower fixes monitors. Highly recommended oasis of competence - fixed what Samsung themselves and Panthip's finest couldn't.