Display problem

I have a display problem that comes and goes. - The worst kind of frequency.

Occassionally, my display gets spread out and warped (top and bottom wider than the center that is also spread out but less. It happened just after I started to make this thread. It comes and goes by itself. When it is spread, I cannot access the full width of the commands and can only hit contro/alternate/delete to close the operation and hope it works. If not, I just wait.

I have an hp pavillion a1210n, running windows XP - service pack 3. I have minimal ram (512), but have ordered 2 GB to fill out the capacity (give the old 512 to my son with an identical machine). My monitor is an very older hp pavilion mx70.

It has been working well and no changes were made except using the normal delete functions for programs not used. - It just went back to normal display as I was entering the new thread.

Could my monitor be dieing of old age?

Could my deleting programs have created the problem?

The area I use computer in is cool (about 65F) and not hot.

Any thoughts?

Dick

 

Well...does turning off the monitor and turning it back on help?

With the age of it, it probably is going bad. You can find a reasonable 19" LCD monitor for prob $150 or so. Even saw some 22" for about $200. My wife has a 24" and its just incredible.

 

I have tried turning off the monitor and gives variable results just as waiting does.

I lean toward a new monitor (doesn't everyone like toys?). My problem is that I have a nice compact setup with a convenient printer/scanner/copier and my main laser printer and a bigger monitor will mean a complete change of layout, since i also have two other specialized scanners. I can close the doors to the credenza/office without cleaning up the post-it notes and other things.

Replacing my monitor with a larger will mean a major change in my habits, that I am trying to put off.

Thanx for what I did not really want to hear, but you may be right.

Dick

 

Dick, the great thing about the LCDs is they really take up much less space than a comparable CRT, depthwise at least.

 

The description points to the monitor going bad, but before you buy a new one spend a half hour to reseat the VGA connector (unplug, replug) and the video card (pull it out of its slot and put it back in).

 

Gunguy45 -

After shutting the monitor off, the screen resumes a normal appearance for a while. It must be a monitor dying slowly, so I will have to face a new monitor (an improvement) but a major re-configuration of equipment (I hate wires). I want a bigger monitor, but have fit in what is available into the space I have. - I do not want to buy new pieces of furniture and re-arrange my office space. Maybe a new monitor and a card/software could make the TV/DVD situation better.

The decreased depth of an LCD should help with the fitting into the space I have for all the equipment (scanners & printers).

I am also in the process of upgrading my ram to 2 GB, so it might fit into my plans, since I also am incorperating a 1TB external drive to back up my old 160 & 200 internal drives. - Please, no suggestions on Vista to replce XP, because I have some unique, important programs that may not be compatible without upgrading.

Thanx to all for the suggestions.


P.S. - A couple of raps on the side of the monitor also seems the help the aging monitor for a minute or two. - Sounds like a dying animal!!
Dick