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[ Installations Plus+ PC Forum ] [ Archive 061298 ] Posted by: Louis Bruno (Forum HOST) on September 11, 1998 at 00:07:54
Homepage: Installations Plus+ (websites, upgrades, PCs, repairs, training)
In Reply to: Monitor blinks on and off posted by Bob Mobley on September 10, 1998 at 23:43:43Subject: Re: Monitor blinks on and off
First off, let me say this: You only have one set of eyes. You should pamper them with the best monitor you can afford! All too often we stint on the monitor when selecting computing equipment and pay for it by impairing our vision! End of lecture!
Now to the business at hand.
Yes, it would be worthwhile to repair your monitor, since obviously it works -- most of the time -- and there is an intermittent problem -- probably minor -- which can be economically set to rights.
There are two areas you can investigate for yourself.
(1) The first is the data cable connecting the monitor to your processor. Disconnect the cable, straighten it out by drawing it through your hands, then reconnect it. A cable with a sharp bend in it can become defective (one or more conductors can open due to a sharp bend) and cause the type of problem you describe.
(2) Monitors, like any other electronic component, are affected by heat and humidity. High humidity can create short circuits. High heat can cause circuit boards to expand, causing open circuits. The acceptable operating range of temperatures and humidity is much smaller for monitors and computer equipment than you would imagine. Check the specs in your manuals! You can keep track of the temperature and the humidity to see if these are related to your problem. (Remember: Your monitor naturally heats up with use.) You could also try cooling or heating the environment, if you can.
It's also possible, although not very likely in our experience, that your "monitor" problem is caused by the video card in you processor, and not by the cable or the monitor itself. In your case, the best way to check this possibility is to try your monitor on another (good) PC. (Perhaps you can swap monitors for a few days with a buddy?) In the shop, we would bypass the existing video card and run the monitor using another good card to test for a bad video, but this is not likely to be a real possibility for you.
Hope this information is helpful. Let us know how you make out.
Good luck!