Monitor troubles

[MillyFan]

I have a small but annoying monitor problem with my offline computer that I use for writing.

The monitor I use is a 17 inch Princeton CRT.

Whenever I open any program that has an as yet empty white background/screen (i.e. WordPerfect 10, WordPad, Paint) or a light grey screen (i.e. PictureIt aside from the photo I'm working on), little lines appear on the screen. They're just barely noticable and look like water ripples on a lake.

These really annoy me, because they are just there enough to distract me, but are not THAT visible-and in fact, not visible at all when the screen isn't one color (i.e. a page in one of the writing programs that is full of text, watching anime, playing a game, etc)

I've tried several things: adjusting the picture, degaussing/demagnetizing the monitor with the button on the front of it, closing and re-opening my program-and none work to get rid of this quite unwanted "ripple effect."

[andyroo]

How old is this monitor? Another question: Do you leave your monitor on even though you have turned off your computer?

[MillyFan]

I bought the monitor in February 2003. It's not even a year old. ^sigh^

And no, I don't leave the monitor on when I turn off my computer. In fact, I turn on the computer before I turn on the monitor.

[Fsiphskilm]

It might be from a magn

[MillyFan]

I've demagnetized it and that doesn't help. ^sigh^

[madphilb]

But is there a magnet (or magnets) somewhere nearby? Speakers for instance... The boom box that I use to keep my dog somewhat happy while I'm away has a strong enough magnet in it that if I where to set it on top of the hutch part of my computer desk it would warp the image onscreen.

[MillyFan]

Oh yes, my speakers are right next to my monitor. I never even knew speakers were magnets. What can I do about that? Is it reversible?

[TheMelodyMaker]

If your speakers are shielded (that is, inside some sort of casing--and almost all are nowadays), it shouldn't affect your monitor. Even if it does, the most that would happen is that the color would go funny. (I know this because I tried putting an unshielded speaker on top of my own monitor once long ago, and while the effect was kind of cool to look at, I didn't think it was a good idea to leave it that way. The monitor fixed itself once I removed the speaker and it still works fine to this day.) If you want to try moving the speakers, go ahead; but I don't think it'll help.

I have two ideas up my sleeve. The first thing I would check is to see if your monitor's cable (not the power cord) is being stretched at all. If it is, it may not be properly plugged in to the back of the monitor and/or computer. Try to make sure that there's enough slack that there's no strain on it. Even if the cable isn't being stretched, maybe check to see if it's properly connected anyway. (Turn off computer and monitor, disconnect monitor and reconnect.)

If all that doesn't help, my other idea is that you may simply have your monitor's refresh rate set too low in Windows. In your Display properties (right-click the desktop and choose Properties), click the Settings tab and press the Advanced... button. Depending on which version of Windows you use, you should find the refresh rate settings under either the Adapter or Monitor tab. If there's an option in the drop-down box that says "Optimal", and it isn't already selected, choose that. (If it's already selected, my apologies--there's nothing else I can think of that might help.) If there is no "Optimal" setting, keep trying the next available rate higher than the one you have selected until you find one that works.

I do hope my lengthy post helps you out. ^_^

[MillyFan]

Thanks! Yeah, my speakers are shielded.

[Mithrandir]

Did you try what MM said? It makes since. The other thing you might want to look at is if you can change the gun position at all. It may be that they are slightly out of alignment. Here's what I'd recommend...

1. Change the resolution. Go to a smaller resolution (for example, if you are at 1024x768, switch to 800x600) and see if that changes anything. If not, it's likely that you won't get any bennifet out of changing the refresh rate either.

2. Check your guy alignment. If have the red just a bit off from the others, you can get some lines that run horizontally across the screen, just bairly visible and going up as they move right.

3. If your monitor has a "factory default reset" option, see if using that get's rid of it.

4. If possible, plug the monitor into another computer, and see if it does the same thing. That would help tell you if it's a software problem.

5. Post back and tell us if any of this helps.

[MillyFan]

I've tried changing resolution. The smaller resolutions are too small for me to read text in, which makes using it for writing impossible because I can't reliably judge my font size or the font size of documents I'm reading.

Hence, I *have* to use a large resolution so I can see what I'm doing in 9 and 12 point fonts.

Also, it didn't have this problem until recently, and I've used it at the larger resolution since I bought it.

I can't plug it into another computer-the only other comp we have is my sister's here, and she does not want anything done to it. At all.

Otherwise, I'll try what you said.

[Mithrandir]

If all else fails, smack it.

(You think I'm kidding, don't you? I used to routinely fix "cheap" monitors by doing that!)

A question, though. Is it under warrenty? Where did you buy it? If it is, I'd return it quick and ask that they ship it to the manufacture and give you a new one!

edit: A few thoughts.
1. Did you try changing the refresh rate (70 or 80 hz as opposed to 60)?
2. Have you tried using different color depths? Like thousands vs millions?

[MillyFan]

Bought online, and no warranty-it was $55 dollars in the same auction where I got my computer.

Hmm, "my monitor works better when I hit it"? Hehehe. I don't think I'm ready to try that just yet, space cowboy