Monitor troubleshooting!

I know I should just ask my fiance this stuff but he works on computers all day and the last thing he wants to do when he comes home is troubleshoot.


Keep in mind that I use dual monitors.
He recently (well 2 months recent) brought home a nice 19 inch monitor from work to replace the smaller 17 inch I had. I hooked it up DVI style of course. I first used it as my primary monitor but it was having issues. The screen kept shaking when any window was maximized on it, it would also show lines and the resolution would switch to something horrible. However, when windows were minimized, no shaking issues. (A little hard to describe). That obviously made it hard to play my MMOs so I switched monitors and have been using it as a secondary. Ok no problems for a while, then it started doing it again. Now, however, even with no windows open, the screen shakes and lines come through it. So, it got worse. I now just have it turned off because it got pretty bad. I do have another monitor but it is a 15 incher and well...I'll live with it if I have too. My desk would look a little lopsided.

I am thinking of trying to hook it up with VGA instead. However, I need to wait until I can find a DVI to VGA converter piece since my video card has two DVI plugs. (I'll call him during his lunch to see if he can get one.)

Any one have any ideas? He could bring home another monitor but they set some new rules in place that made it harder to do that. (People were taking too many things home. lol)

I had this issue occur while playing a game, I believe it was LOTRO back when. I had installed a new video card, and my screen would slowly get what you described, then continue to degrade over a period of 3-4 minutes to something almost indecipherable.

Upgrading/instlling the card's latest drivers fixed the issue. Now how this helps you in your case with 2 monitors I don't know exactly , but at least it's a starting point and not too difficult to mess with.

I have never had the shaking issue that you described and I don't know if this will help or not but at work I use dual monitors and if I want to run them both at their native resolution I have to turn the refresh rate down a little bit. otherwise one of them doesn't even have a picture at all.

The shaking and wavy lines does sound like a refresh issue. Did you swap out the monitor while the computer was still on or did you restart it? Also you said your using the DVI connector on the 19"? So i guess it had a native DVI connector from the monitor cable itself? See if its crimped or bent really bad near the connector.
Makes me wonder why they would rid themselves of a perfectly good 19" monitor

Brakkish wrote:I had this issue occur while playing a game, I believe it was LOTRO back when. I had installed a new video card, and my screen would slowly get what you described, then continue to degrade over a period of 3-4 minutes to something almost indecipherable.

Upgrading/instlling the card's latest drivers fixed the issue. Now how this helps you in your case with 2 monitors I don't know exactly , but at least it's a starting point and not too difficult to mess with.

Did that and it didn't work. lol I'm wondering if they were going to throw this out at my fiance's work for a reason. hehe Other monitors he's brought home have been fine though.

Mpire wrote:The shaking and wavy lines does sound like a refresh issue. Did you swap out the monitor while the computer was still on or did you restart it? Also you said your using the DVI connector on the 19"? So i guess it had a native DVI connector from the monitor cable itself? See if its crimped or bent really bad near the connector.
Makes me wonder why they would rid themselves of a perfectly good 19" monitor

I switched the monitors about a month ago so it has been restarted and all the jazz. It got worse with vista.

I'll check the connector when I test to see if VGA will fix it.

You should see the stuff they get rid of at his work. He works for a hospital so they are constantly upgrading their computer equipment. We got a few laptops, monitors, and 5 computers from there. They are not the fastest systems but not bad at all for free! We use one for the TV to watch instant netflix on. But XBOX live now has the same feature.

Ooh hospital explains it.. They have to use their budget up, or else
they dont get the same amount of money in next years budget. Hey helps
you out and the economy To bad its all made in China/Taiwan/Korea though. Catch 22.
Sounds like you and hubby got the hook up!
Maybe
a moot question but is it a CRT or LCD screen? (even though i really
dont see to many crt's with dvi connections) and who makes the monitor?

Mpire wrote:Ooh hospital explains it.. They have to use their budget up, or else
they dont get the same amount of money in next years budget. Hey helps
you out and the economy To bad its all made in China/Taiwan/Korea though. Catch 22.
Sounds like you and hubby got the hook up!
Maybe
a moot question but is it a CRT or LCD screen? (even though i really
dont see to many crt's with dvi connections) and who makes the monitor?

It's LCD, Gateway FPD1810 to be exact.

Huh..looking at the specs i cant see why other then maybe a crimped cord. It is an older LCD, but it does go up to 80hz and 1280x1024 max reso. Could be as simple as the LCD is itself is failing. They do tend to go by hours of use on LCD, Plasmas. VS. CRT/Tube monitors. If you feel froggy you could check the manufacturing date on the back near the label...course now were just guessing lol.

Vista does also have bad experiences with certain monitors. Some monitors actually require drivers in vista b/c generic doesnt work well. Could be the case here. I dont see a vista driver for it on Gateways site, nor does it say its Vista compatible. Again all this is speculation. Could monkey with it and tell it what it is. Change the driver to a Generic Plug-n-play 1280x1024 monitor (or what ever reso you run)

Well I tried switching from DVI to VGA and the screen condition got worse. We then tried it on fiance's computer with no avail. Therefore, we are just scrapping it and I am going to use an old 15 incher. My desk looks very lopsided now. This will be fine for the time being.

Thanks for taking the time to help. I guess the monitor was just no good.

Sorry to hear it.

On the upside, the price of LCD monitors is falling faster the Circuit City's stock. I have seen 19" LCD monitors on sale at TigerDirect and NewEgg for about 100 bucks. Live with the 15" for now and keep scouring the couch for loose change and you should be able to afford a new monitor in next to no time.

Breygon wrote:Sorry to hear it.

On the upside, the price of LCD monitors is falling faster the Circuit City's stock. I have seen 19" LCD monitors on sale at TigerDirect and NewEgg for about 100 bucks. Live with the 15" for now and keep scouring the couch for loose change and you should be able to afford a new monitor in next to no time.

Lol true. If I do end up actually paying to upgrade (as opposed to the fiance being able to find another one at work), I'll go for the 24 inch flat screens.