Samsung 226CW Backlight Issues

[Jforsyth]

I purchased a Samsung 226CW a few weeks ago, and it has been working fine. However, while I was navigating through the monitor's menu last night to turn the brightness up, (I had lowered it earlier) the monitor suddenly went dark. I thought it had turned off, but then I realized that the backlight had stopped functioning. It wasn't any easier to see the picture in a dark room, and I needed a flashlight to actually view anything with certainty.

The backlight and picture will work fine for 2-3 seconds after I turn the monitor on, but then it just shuts off again. I called Samsung support and performed the self-test feature on the monitor. Apparently, there's no problems with the monitor or its backlight. Basically, Samsung told me that "the problem you are having is probably with your video controller, video cables, video card, or computer system."

I installed the latest Nvidia drivers for my monitor, and the backlight actually worked....until I changed the screen resolution. Right now I have two monitors connected to my computer, and the 226cw will sometimes function after I restart my computer. But if I change anything in the video card settings panel that has to do with resolution or color or dual-monitor configuration, the backlight starts shutting off again.

Does anyone know what the problem is or what I could try? I will call Samsung later today, but I am afraid they will just tell me that the monitor is functioning properly, and in turn there's nothing they can help with.

 

[steveo88]

I am also having the same problem with a Samsung 2232BW. Only received today, the first few seconds the backlight is on, then off. I have tried it on 2 different computers, one running xp and one running vista 64, both with the same problem. Also have tried using the DVI and VGA inputes. No difference.

The vista pc is running a Sapphire HD 2900 XT, with the latest drivers. Also installed the drivers for the montior, tried both DVI ports, anything else I can try, or does anyone have any solutions to this problem?

Any help would be most appreciated and awesome!

Steve.

 

[bayon86]

I am having the same backlight problem with a 226BW. Out of the box the backlight was not working. I returned it to the computer shop that i bought it from to repair. The say they did. It worked for about an hour, then went dark again. At first, I just thought the monitor had gone to sleep. But quickly realized the problem had returned.

I am still waiting to see what the computer shop will tell me. I would love to fix this problem, not get a another monitor. Did you have any luck finding a solution?

 

[bayon86]

I have no idea what the computer shop did,but they fixed the monitor. It's been working now for two days. That would seem to indicate that it's not a driver or software issue.

 

[steveo88]

I returned my monitor and got a new one. Worked straight away. Must be a defective batch of monitors, as the new one was from another shop.

I'm glad all is well.

 

[Guest]

Hi. I had the same problem with my Samsung R510, bought Oct 2008. It was on but the backlight wasn't - luckily I found the Function/F11 button. It began after the screen flickered for ages. I thought perhaps a loose wire. I called Samsung who were very unhelpful and told me I'd have to send it in for review/repair at a cost of £80, and that was just for the courier!! I said that I didn't feel a machine under two years old was ready for the dump and to shove it if they thought I'd pay that. I was going to find another place to have it looked at but it started working again after a few months!!

It was fine until today.....again the flickering happened before it began to conk out and it's flickering now as though it's thinking about it.

I am furious as I spent quite a bit on this model.

I think it's wiring but yet I move the screen back and forth and it seems to stay on so who knows. Bad bulb?? I shall continue my internet research quest for the truth!

Davina

 

[yodaddy741]

I am also having the same problem with my SM 920NW. I will turn on the monitor and it will stay on for 2 seconds then go dark. I have looked to see if a cord was loose but have not found anything. Any help would greatly appreciated.

-Parker

 

[ErikWTN]

I have two Samsung SyncMaster 204B monitors on my system and the backlight on the second monitor wasn't turning on at startup. The screen was black but the power light was on and my computer recognized that the monitor was connected. If I turned the monitor off and back on again it would flash on for a second or so and then go black again, just like many of you described. BUT I found that after the system warmed up for about 5 minutes that I could turn the monitor off for a few seconds and then turn it back on and the backlight would then come on and stay on and everything seemed to function. Restart the system and it would come on like normal, but shut down and let it sit for more than 15 minutes or so and the monitor would not come on.

After a lot of googling, I bought a DIY backlight repair kit from CCFL Warehouse because they suggested that the problems I was experiencing were likely due to flourescent backlight tubes that were failing. So I got the kit and spent the better part of a day disassembling the monitor, replacing the fluorescent backlight tubes and reassembling the monitor, only to find that not only did it not fix the problem, but now the screen is a horrible sickly shade of fluorescent green. Not a little green--it was GREEEN. Massive adjustment of the monitor's color balance was needed to get it to look close to normal but even then the top of the screen is slightly magenta and the bottom slightly green, as if the tubes on the top and bottom are producing different color light.

So if the tubes were not what was causing the problem it has to be whatever is powering them. Whatever it is, it apparently needs to warm up before it works correctly.

 

[laurenth]

dunno how old this thread is but check out this one:
http://www.overclock.net/monitors-displays/636236-samsung-226bw-flickers-few-minutes-when.html
it might have your answers, especially if you have a 226bw.

 

[ErikWTN]

Hi laurenth,
Yep, I'm pretty sure the capacitors are the problem. Actually found some similar info a while ago but haven't had time to actually change out the capacitors yet, but I bet that will fix it. Thanks for posting the link - I'm sure it will help some people because that info is not very easy to find.

 

[Mousemonkey]

This topic has been closed by Mousemonkey