Bad Monitor

[DarkSerge]

Greetings.

 

I have a bad monitor and a friend who's good with electronics and circuitry who's interested in trying to fix it. So I was wondering if anyone would have some idea what the problem is with this monitor and what to look at once we get it opened up.

 

The monitor turns on just fine. The problem is when it it connected to a computer. Once I plug in the VGA cable, the computer desktop shows for a few seconds then the monitor just goes blank and that's it. When tested, the computer still detects that another monitor is been connected, but the monitor itself shows no image after a few seconds.

 

It's a standard 15 inch LCD Dell monitor, VGA input. It's just an old monitor and if it can work again, that would be great. If not, no big deal.

[Guest LilBambi]

Have you tried any other computers?

 

What OS is this happening in, or is it in all OSes?

 

At bios screen or within the GUI only?

[Guest LilBambi]

It's an LCD so the problem is most likely the back-light inverter board.

 

Take a flashlight and shine it directly into the screen from the front. Can you see the image on the screen now?

 

If the image is there but you can't see it without the flashlight than the inverter board needs to be replaced.

 

This is a VERY common problem.

 

This from FixYa. Certainly could be something to try out.

[DarkSerge]

It's done from within the GUI after the computer's been started up. Windows XP and Windows 7 with no prior monitor issues. May test on Linux when I have the time later.

[zlim]

Does this same behavior occur in safe mode?

Have you tried a different VGA cable?

[DarkSerge]

Haven't tried any safe modes.

Have used different cables.

Same results in Linux - picture for a few seconds, then just goes blank.

 

An electronics-savvy friend wants to open it up and look at the circuitry and tinker with it. I'm pretty sure it's an about-dead monitor. Luckily it's not needed for anything right now.

[zlim]

Probably a resistor needs replacing.

I have a 19" Samsung that goes dark after an undetermined period of time. I like the monitor and not yet ready to part with it. I'm hoping to find someone who can replace a resistor.

[V.T. Eric Layton]

Sadly, Liz, that is probably a very oversimplified guess as to what the problem is . There are hundreds of different components in a modern computer monitor. The issue could be in the monitor's power supply, or its own central processor, or even a cracked trace on a circuit board somewhere.

 

Most monitors are NOT worth repairing. A shop is going to charge you $45 or more just to check it and give you and estimate for the repairs. It's just not economically feasible anymore in this world to repair equipment like this. You can by a new 19" LCD monitor for less than $100.

 

This is the main reason I no longer have a career. My job was component level repair of electronics equipment. Those days are gone. When new equipment is cheaper than repairing old equipment, the landfills start getting more deposits. It's a throw-away world. The real tragedy here is that it's been planned this way. Manufacturers do NOT make to last. If they did, they'd lose their shirts. They must manufacture items they know will break or become obsolete so that they can sell a new batch of items next time... and the next after that, etc.

 

The Chinese have perfected this.

 

Ain't it great?

[ross549]

I don't this it's a case of planned obselecense... I think it has more to do with producing a product a cheaply as possible. The profit margains are razor thin out here right now as a result.

 

Adam

[V.T. Eric Layton]

Cheapness is an integral part of planned obsolescence, Adam. You can't have one without the other and successfully increase your bottom line.

[sunrat]

Older monitors are worth next to nothing. I have a 19" LG here, 1280 x 1024 which is in good condition and has great picture. I now have a 27" Samsung so thought I'd sell the LG on Ebay. A quick search revealed a local charity had acquired a large batch of similar monitors and was selling with a $20 starting price and had very few bids. So mine is still sitting in a cupboard waiting for a call of duty.

[V.T. Eric Layton]

Local charities here won't even take computer CRT monitors anymore, and only LCDs that are nearly new.

[sunrat]

Local charities here won't even take computer CRT monitors anymore, and only LCDs that are nearly new.

The ones I was talking about are LCD. Mine was only 4 or 5 years old.