ihula
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posted on May 17, 2002 09:45:34 PM new
I don't know if anyone has experienced this before. It's been happening to me about once a week for the last few months. I have Norton, and they have found nothing. What happens is: I'll be typing away - not doing anything special - and suddenly I'll have a screen full of fine colored lines running vertically down the screen. They're usually red (not that it matters) and they are so close together that I can't read anything anymore - they distort the picture somewhat - and I'll have to reboot. Anyone else get this? I have a Dell desktop if that helps.
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RichieRich
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posted on May 17, 2002 10:40:22 PM new
I am no an expert but it sounds like it might be time for a new monitor.
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bidsbids
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posted on May 17, 2002 10:59:20 PM new
Might be the video card or the video card drivers. The monitor should be easy to troubleshot.
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kyms
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posted on May 18, 2002 06:06:03 AM new
This happens to my PC too, but only when I try to access a few sites using Netscape 6.0... One PC is fine with 6.0, but the other just goes crazy.
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bluroks
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posted on May 18, 2002 06:22:45 AM new
I have a dell also. Happened a few times for me. What happens is sometimes the monitor runs hot. I bought a small household fan and direct it into the monitor and it keeps it cool. Been working fine ever since. Also, you may check to make sure your speakers are away slightly from the monitor in case the speakers are not shielded.
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ihula
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posted on May 18, 2002 06:56:12 AM new
Thanks for all the advice. Now that I think about it it is pretty cramped on the top of my desk, and I've been leaving my computer on all the time - figured the monitor goes into power save mode anyway. Maybe I'll start turning it off at night and see if that makes a difference.
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Libra63
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posted on May 18, 2002 07:59:44 AM new
Why not go into the Dell website and ask them that question. They must have an email address that you can write to. I have a compaq and when I have problems all I have to do is go in their website and email them my problem and they answer back. Good Luck
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dman3
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posted on May 18, 2002 08:40:50 AM new
If your monitor is older and has been turned on 24/7 depending on sleep mode to shut it off this is more then likely a heat problem.
The monitor will only stay off as long as the mouse is not moved during the time its not used but if you haveyoung kids and cats they will be bumping the desk and monitor and it will be coming on and off many times over each day this can cause more heat then just leaving it on full time.
as well the on and off of sleep mode is hard on your monitor as the heating and cooling off tends to wear on all the eletronic part very fast tends to make wire jumpers and boards brittle and easily cracked and broken fast.
many people leave there monitor turned on like this because they worry about the switch on the monitor wearing out and not working, if this is the case rather then depend on sleep mode to turn it off use a separt power lead just for the monitor with an on and off switch and turn the moniotr off from that switch saving the cost of repair to the switch on the monitor its self .
ANother thing that can cause exsesive heating iis if you monitor is older then six month it could be dirty inside with dust and dirt this can be taken care of carfully.
you will need to unplug your monitor for 48 hours or more this will help to insure the coils and componets are all discharged they can hold up to 24 thousand volt of electric for days after unplugged.
open the monitor back using a can of air clean out the inside of all dust dirt and hair and what ever else.
many desks are made To small your monitor and processor should have at least 6 inches of free air space on all sides the more the better should not be placed close to any heat source such as a window the sun shines in or registers for the heating system.
Just a note the heat from the suns rays coming in a window just right is very very hot glass acting just like a magnifying glass with the right fouce at certin points in the days has been know to cause fires and burn homes to the ground heat i the #1 enemy of your eletronics.
The monitor or processor should not have any unsheilded magnetic device near them at all.
if you have an older monitor that still works well but runs warm you can use a muffin fan to cool it they work very well and are low cost many desks today have he shelf the monitor sildes under usually the cooling holes will be on top of the monitor so cut a small hole in the shelf about the location of these cooling holes and mount the little muffin fanover it blowing down into the monitor, the fan can be plug into the same power lead as the monitor so it goes on at the time you power up the monitor every time to help cool it.
http://www.Dman-N-Company.com
Email dman3@nycap.rr.com
[ edited by dman3 on May 18, 2002 08:51 AM ]
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roadsmith
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posted on May 18, 2002 01:18:18 PM new
Hey, Dman! I don't have this problem but I just want to tell you how much I've appreciated your willingness to tell us what you know, on a variety of subjects, over the months. Your reply above is fascinating, and I'm filing it away in case my Dell computer ever has this problem.
You are much appreciated, my man. . . .
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jwoodcrafts
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posted on May 18, 2002 01:32:04 PM new
We have a problem similar to this that happens with the monitor on our laptop. I thought the computer was totally gone, then I reached out started to close the top one day and by pinching the sides it fixed itself. I guess it is a loose connection or something. Is your monitor one of those liquidy flat ones...LOL...I don't know what to call them...LED or LCD or whatever.
http://www.candlesandwoodcrafts.com
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ihula
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posted on May 18, 2002 01:50:21 PM new
It is a regular big, clunky monitor. I think it's about a year old. Of course I would love to get rid of it and get a flat monitor, but since ebay is slow my "business expenses" will have to wait. I also appreciate your help dman. That was a wonderful, detailed explanation. I'm pretty sure now that it's a heat problem. I do leave it on 24/7, and I have 3 cats  . Will it help to just turn the monitor off at night and leave the computer on, or should I shut everything off.
Thanks again for all your help!
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classicrock000
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posted on May 18, 2002 03:39:16 PM new
personally i think its elvis trying to get out
[ edited by classicrock000 on May 18, 2002 03:41 PM ]
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Valleygirl
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posted on May 20, 2002 01:41:26 PM new
I had exactly the same problem and it required me to reboot to fix it.
I tried Norton Utilities, scandisk, defrag, etc. I finally solved the problem by buying a new computer. I donated the old one to my school and received a $500 tax deduction.
Not my name on ebay.
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