Bad Monitor?

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell (More info?)

A few days ago, my wife noticed that her monitor (Envision purchased five
years ago) with her Dimension 4400, would sometimes have a darker display
that would sometimes again have normal brightness as she is working on it.
Five years ago was when the prior monitor just suddenly quit working.

I have the Refresh rate set to 85.

Does this current problem suggest a problem with the monitor itself, or
perhaps the video card?

I just set the monitor to a brighter setting to see if that makes a
difference (it doesn't seem like it would). I think I will also change
monitors with another system to see what effect that has on either system
(helping to determine whether it is actually the monitor having the problem).

If someone is familiar with this particular problem and therefore the likely
cause, I would appreciate being forwarned - my wife has to use the machine on
a daily basis, preparing for her teaching.

--
Tom McCune
http://www.McCune.cc

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell (More info?)

On Sun, 11 Sep 2005 23:38:13 GMT, Tom McCune
<news1@DELETE_THISmccune.cc> wrote:

>A few days ago, my wife noticed that her monitor (Envision purchased five
>years ago) with her Dimension 4400, would sometimes have a darker display
>that would sometimes again have normal brightness as she is working on it.
>Five years ago was when the prior monitor just suddenly quit working.
>
>I have the Refresh rate set to 85.
>
>Does this current problem suggest a problem with the monitor itself, or
>perhaps the video card?
>
>I just set the monitor to a brighter setting to see if that makes a
>difference (it doesn't seem like it would). I think I will also change
>monitors with another system to see what effect that has on either system
>(helping to determine whether it is actually the monitor having the problem).
>
>If someone is familiar with this particular problem and therefore the likely
>cause, I would appreciate being forwarned - my wife has to use the machine on
>a daily basis, preparing for her teaching.


I had that problem once. Somehow the graphics card had worked loose.
Reseating the card fixed the problem. It could also be caused by a
failing monitor or video card (as you said), loose or failing video
cable, or a corrupted device driver. Maybe even a failing power
supply? Swapping the monitor, cable, etc., with another system is a
good way to isolate the problem. Try reinstalling the graphics
device driver.

Good Luck.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell (More info?)

After checking the connection of the monitor cable to the computer, try another
monitor. Odds are it is the monitor. Second on the list of likely
possibilities is the graphics card, especially if it is a card with a\n nVidia
chip, known to run hot and known to fail if improperly ventilated (like if the
card's fan stops). There is a low probability that the graphics driver is the
cause... Ben Myers

On Sun, 11 Sep 2005 23:38:13 GMT, Tom McCune <news1@DELETE_THISmccune.cc> wrote:

>A few days ago, my wife noticed that her monitor (Envision purchased five
>years ago) with her Dimension 4400, would sometimes have a darker display
>that would sometimes again have normal brightness as she is working on it.
>Five years ago was when the prior monitor just suddenly quit working.
>
>I have the Refresh rate set to 85.
>
>Does this current problem suggest a problem with the monitor itself, or
>perhaps the video card?
>
>I just set the monitor to a brighter setting to see if that makes a
>difference (it doesn't seem like it would). I think I will also change
>monitors with another system to see what effect that has on either system
>(helping to determine whether it is actually the monitor having the problem).
>
>If someone is familiar with this particular problem and therefore the likely
>cause, I would appreciate being forwarned - my wife has to use the machine on
>a daily basis, preparing for her teaching.
>
>--
>Tom McCune
>http://www.McCune.cc

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell (More info?)

Thanks for the replies - I appreciate it. I've switched monitors for her
this evening, and so far all is okay - but it is too early to be sure. If
the other monitor continues to be okay for her, I'll set up her monitor on my
machine and see what happens. I don't really want to have to purchase a new
monitor, but it would otherwise be nice to find this takes care of the
problem.

--
Tom McCune
http://www.McCune.cc