mballai
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posted on October 28, 2000 07:55:18 PM
Maybe one of my fellow computer mavens might know what the problem is:
Yesterday my PCs monitor flashed bright for a second or so. This happened twice. I returned to it awhile ago and it seems DEAD. It's a big 19" monitor not very old --two years or so. The LED is lit , but no adjusting seems to make it light up. Does this sound like the monitor or the computer's video? Right now I am using my Mac, but I need to get back into my PC where all my auction goodies are stored.
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abingdoncomputers
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posted on October 28, 2000 07:57:42 PM
More than likely the monitor. Do you have an extra monitor that you can try? If not, can you try the monitor on another PC?
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chococake
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posted on October 28, 2000 08:00:30 PM
Ah oh can't help you but sounds bad to me. Hope someone can give you an answer. Good luck!
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mballai
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posted on October 28, 2000 08:10:22 PM
I have an adapter to use it on the Mac, but I am a bit leary about messing with my only backup. I am thinking about picking up a small monitor at a store with a liberal return policy -- unless one of my computer colleagues at work can bail me out.
The flashing sounds like the tube went south right? I am trying to find the warranty on this thing--it is two years old and I think it has another year left.
I'd say it has paid for itself, but aren't they supposed to last a lot longer?
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rosiebud
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posted on October 28, 2000 08:21:11 PM
It sounds like the monitor, rather than your computer's video card. Depending on the monitor.. the standard, for warantees are about 1 year~ unless you bought an extended warantee.
How long they last, seriously depends on who made it ~ how long it runs on a daily basis ~ if you've moved it.. how gentle you are with it ~ how much *dust* has gotten into the monitor through it's vents ~ etc. I've had good, namebrand monitors last only a year.. others have lasted 3+ years. It'd be nice if they lasted for a long time.. but that isn't always the case.............. and .. these days, it's typically cheaper to replace one than to repair one... at least IMO.
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Islander
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posted on October 28, 2000 08:28:24 PM
rosiebud's right  Monitors are verrrrry expensive to have worked on. Used ones can be very reasonable to buy. If you're a little short on $$$ you could get a small monitor (14" really inexpensively and save for a 15" or 17" later.
As far as reliability and longevity goes, NECs have been very long-lived for us.
Good luck!!
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Islander
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posted on October 28, 2000 08:28:35 PM
Repeating myself! 
[ edited by Islander on Oct 28, 2000 08:33 PM ]
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mballai
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posted on October 28, 2000 08:43:08 PM
We use NECs at work--they do seem to have best rep. This one was a store brand, probably made in some Chinese sweatshop to make it less expensive.
I think it's a shame they can't make a long lasting monitor. Should be the most dependable part of the computer system from what I gather
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dman3
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posted on October 28, 2000 09:14:34 PM
Keep in mind it is better to try your monitor on another computer then to try a new monitor on your computer as a bad video card will kill a new monitor in seconds.
but a bad monitor on any computer will just not work.
WWW.dman-n-company.com
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abingdoncomputers
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posted on October 28, 2000 09:14:36 PM
It sounds like something in the high voltage section is shot, not the CRT. Better plan on getting a new monitor unless this one is under warranty.
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mballai
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posted on October 29, 2000 05:34:50 AM
As it turns out this puppy is still under warranty, and as long as I can bring it into the store where I bought it for that, that's good. I can't imagine coughing up the dough to ship this beast for repair.
As I have auctions closing tomorrow night and a huge bunch of stuff to auction off, I will probably still end up buying another monitor while this one sits in the shop.
Heaven help those running a big auction biz on one machine; you do need backup. Worse comes to worse I can get web access at a local library, but that would not work well for me. Plan ahead folks!
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rarriffle
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posted on October 29, 2000 05:43:12 AM
Good morning to all. Just wanted to input a little note about library web access.
We have web access at our library But!!!...if they catch you doing any type of buying or selling on their machines you are automatically suspended from their computers for a period of sixty days.
Second offense is permanent suspension.
So, check your library policy before using as backup for auction tracking.
 
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Powerhouse
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posted on October 29, 2000 05:49:56 AM
Sounds like the fly-back transformer went south for the winter. Not expensive.
Good luck with the warranty repair!
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MrJim
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posted on October 29, 2000 05:59:46 AM
When the video card goes dead, the power light on most monitors changes from green to amber indicating that the monitor is not receiving a signal. ( this will also occur if you disconnect the monitor from the computer and power it up ) If the light stays green, but there is no display, it generally means that the monitor is your problem.
Most monitors come with a three year warranty from the manufacturer. Which is actually kind of strange, since their TV's only come with a 90 day warranty.
Average Computer Parts Warranties:
Monitors: 3 to 5 years
Hard Drives: 2 to 3 years
Modems: 5 to 10 years
CD Rom Drives: 1 year
Zip and Jazz Drives: 1 year
Zip and Jazz Disks: 5 years
Most Tape Drives: 2 years
Most Data Tapes: Lifetime
Smart Media & SanDisks: Lifetime
Digital Cameras: 1 year
If something in your computer dies, be sure to "Check it out before you throw it out"
The landfills are full of computer parts that are still under warranty. (this is not a recommendation for a new source for your auction items)
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abacaxi
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posted on October 29, 2000 06:56:21 AM
Before you panic:
1. TURN OFF POWER!
2. Open the case and unplug and re-install the video card.
3. Unplug and reinstall the cables leading to the video card and the monitor.
That fixes a LOT of problems.
If not, buy a CHEAP used monitor to use while yours is in the shop.
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mballai
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posted on October 29, 2000 09:29:13 AM
Well I did call the techies on the 800 line:
Sose you know, this is a big national computer store/mail order firm.
This was a store brand monitor. After about 15 minutes on hold, the tech guy answers and he tells me that this particular machine was made by a company that is no longer in business and that I would need to email them, get an RMA number, box from them and ship it in for repair. Who knows how long all this might take. However the tech said the warranty will be honored.
I think it is wacko that one would have to email someone for an RMA number. After all the computer has no monitor. If I didn't have some backup, I'd be up the creek. (See my previous post).
Anyone know what sort of weirdness I face if I hook up a new monitor ;is this something built into Windows setup? The beast that died was plug and play and didn't seem to need any more than some minor adjusting and sizing. After two years, one forgets this sort of thing.
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dman3
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posted on October 29, 2000 09:41:30 AM
if it was a Normal color monitor you should be able to plug any Vga monitor in and be fine just be warned that if it is the video card that is going bad and over clocking the monitor every one you plug in will burn out
best to have both the computer and monitor looked at any real repair shop would tell you never hook up new monitor to your computer untill you are sure most with check out your computer and dead monitor let you know and have you going in 1 hour even on saturday for about $200 to $250
I had a computer the montor burnt up on christmas time turned out the video card went nuts and burnt up the monitor had I went and got another monitor I would have cooked that one in 20 mins and the warenty dont cover this type of damage to new monitors .
WWW.dman-n-company.com
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captainkirk
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posted on October 29, 2000 12:51:11 PM
If you do hook a new monitor up to your machine, make sure to boot into SAFE mode at first, which starts out in standard VGA video mode, which all monitors support. Then you can set the video mode to whatever your new monitor supports and/or install the driver for your monitor. Otherwise, if you have the mode set to one that is too much for your new monitor, best case, you won't see anything, worst case, you may start to damage it.
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mballai
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posted on October 29, 2000 05:30:54 PM
It looks like the monitor was indeed the culprit as several of you hinted at and I suspected but couldn't verify.
I picked up a new 17" NEC FE700 monitor--man is this thing sharp--even better than the one I use at work and I like it better than the 19". It took very little time to set up. This appears to be one of those blessings in disguise.
I'll see what's up on getting the other one fixed. However the NEC is a little charmer and I think I will stick with it long term.
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