weird monitor problem

[psp83]

I've got this weird banding problem on my monitors, its only happened within the last month

You can't see it on white backgrounds but on blue and grey it shows, not tested other colours.


http://www.psp83.co.uk/pics/mon1.jpg


http://www.psp83.co.uk/pics/mon2.jpg


http://www.psp83.co.uk/pics/mon3.jpg

Any ideas what it could be and how to fix it?

[Steve]

Wild guess mains interference?

[psp83]

Dunno, nothing really has changed with my setup. I'm really stuck on this one and its very annoying.

[zappaDPJ]

It looks like interference on the video signal rather than any major hardware failure. I don't think it's anything like a graphics card failure as that would more likely show solid colour banding rather than the type of ghosting displayed. It looks like break though from somewhere. Do you perhaps have a source of electromagnetic radiation close by, speakers might be a possibility?

Short of trying another monitor or PC to rule things out, it's hard to know what to suggest.

[kinmel]

If that is a cathode ray tube monitor the problem is the need for degaussing, it is often caused by a large magnet being sited near the monitor; loudspeakers, or a transformer perhaps.

[psp83]

I have my PC speakers mounted behind the monitors on the wall, they've been there for 2yrs now.

The only change I have made is put my NAS drive ontop the tower, was below my monitors and I've put another tower under the desk at the back (my server)

[psp83]

If that is a cathode ray tube monitor the problem is the need for degaussing, it is often caused by a large magnet being sited near the monitor; loudspeakers, or a transformer perhaps.

No my monitors are HP LP2475w

My desk :



Pic taken last october (had no problem then)

[kinmel]

Follow the Wikiguide on degaussing methods.


ps  Sorry I posted that while you were posting that they are LCDs, so that won't do any good

[Steve]

Any use http://www.techmind.org/lcd/index.html#phasing

[psp83]

Any use http://www.techmind.org/lcd/index.html#phasing

I have no idea! lol

[psp83]

ok, its nothing to do with my PC.

I have to just connected my laptop to one of the monitors by HDMI cable and still get the problem.

[Technical Ben]

Oh, I was going to say it's the graphics card... Is the wire twisted? If there is damage to it, then it will garble the signal.
For some deduction...
1) Does anyone else have access to the room? (Could they have been polished, VACUMED?! or worse by mistake?)
2) Are the lines directly in front of the speakers? Have they vibrated the pixels apart? 
3) Are they near the sun or a radiator?

Or is it this...
To rule out analogue interference you have to use a DVI cable and graphics card (what card and model number do you have, you have dual monitors, so it must have DVI connectors right?). HDMI could still be running through an analogue adapter (like S-cable etc).

[zappaDPJ]

As you've ruled out the PC it shouldn't be too hard to track down. You have two monitors, are both equally affected?

[Rik]

What make are the monitors, Paul. That looks like 'burn in' which I experienced on a pair of Viewsonics. Check whether windows you regularly have open long term correlate with the marks.

[psp83]

Oh, I was going to say it's the graphics card... Is the wire twisted? If there is damage to it, then it will garble the signal.
For some deduction...
1) Does anyone else have access to the room? (Could they have been polished, VACUMED?! or worse by mistake?)
2) Are the lines directly in front of the speakers? Have they vibrated the pixels apart? 
3) Are they near the sun or a radiator?

Or is it this...
To rule out analogue interference you have to use a DVI cable and graphics card (what card and model number do you have, you have dual monitors, so it must have DVI connectors right?). HDMI could still be running through an analogue adapter (like S-cable etc).

1. No one touches my PC without me being there, as my job relies on the PC I keep a very close eye on it.
2. I have 5 speakers behind (shielded logitech speakers)
3. Monitors get no direct sunlight and radiator is about 7 ft away on the other wall.

Monitors are connected by DVI cables. Graphic card is a GeForce 7950 GT 512mb.

[psp83]

As you've ruled out the PC it shouldn't be too hard to track down. You have two monitors, are both equally affected?

1st monitor on the left, has the problem on the left going across to half way and the 2nd monitor on the right starts on the right and comes across half way also.

[psp83]

What make are the monitors, Paul. That looks like 'burn in' which I experienced on a pair of Viewsonics. Check whether windows you regularly have open long term correlate with the marks.

They are HP LP2475w. I have my windows mainly full screen.

These monitors wasn't cheap and still not cheap.. I paid £425 each for them. So going to be rather annoyed if I can't fix this problem.

[Rik]

If you do a screen grab, do the marks disappear on the resulting image (when viewed as a print, to eliminate any screen issues)? If so, then it's after the graphics card and can only be screen or DVI lead.

[psp83]

Heres a pic of both monitors with a grey bg

http://www.psp83.co.uk/pics/mons.jpg

If you do a screen grab, do the marks disappear on the resulting image (when viewed as a print, to eliminate any screen issues)? If so, then it's after the graphics card and can only be screen or DVI lead.

Will do a screenshot now.

[psp83]

If you do a screen grab, do the marks disappear on the resulting image (when viewed as a print, to eliminate any screen issues)? If so, then it's after the graphics card and can only be screen or DVI lead.

Lines don't show on a screenshot.

[Rik]

I'd bet on a panel failure then, Paul.

[psp83]

But whats the odd two going at the same time but the left monitor has the problem on the left side and the right monitor has it on the right side of the screen.

When I get up tomorrow/today I might take the monitors downstairs onto the dining room table and connect my laptops to them.. one windows 7 and one vista, see if the problem happens then just incase there's something local causing it.

[psp83]

Just a thought, I have loads of connections on these monitors. two dvi, 1 hdmi, 1 display port, and a few more.

I might try them all just incase one is failing.

[Rik]

Or swap left to right and see if there's any change (which would suggest local interference).

[psp83]

I think your going to be right about a panel failure on both.

I just connected my vista laptop by hdmi and that had the lines in the same place.

[Rik]

Bummer.

Are they in warranty? If not, use your rights under the Sale of Goods Act against the retailer.

[psp83]

Warranty standard statement

    * Limited 3 years parts, labour and on-site service, including backlight. Availability varies by region. Certain restrictions and exclusions apply. For details, contact HP Customer Support or Service

I bought them on 08/09/2008

[Rik]

Go after HP then. 

[psp83]

Go after HP then. 

I've only got the receipt/invoice for one of the monitors, I've lost the other one, would that be a problem ?

[Rik]

It could be, but if you registered them, it shouldn't be.

[psp83]

It could be, but if you registered them, it shouldn't be.

Hmm, good question 

Just looked on the back off the monitors, they have a date of June 2008 on them, so not even 2yrs old.

Doing a warranty search on HP site gives me an invalid product number when entering the product number from the back off the monitor 

[Rik]

I often find that with HP. They seem to have a public and internal product ID, which are completely different.

[zappaDPJ]

I think your going to be right about a panel failure on both.

I just connected my vista laptop by hdmi and that had the lines in the same place.

That doesn't sound too good 

I'd be inclined to hook up one of the displays to your laptop well away from its current setting just in case it is interference and not a failure.

By coincidence, yesterday I decided to watch TV for the first time in around 2 years. I noticed the Sky menu had become burnt into the panel which is only around 3 years old 

[Rik]

 

That's not good. The panel manufacturers all warn about fixed images burning in, the broadcasters all adorn the screen with them and say it's not their fault.

[psp83]

I've emailed HP support with links to pictures, will wait to hear what they say. even though it says on my invoice that 3 yr warranty thing I bet they come back with some excuse!

But I will still try a monitor downstairs away from speakers etc.

Right, time for bed, gotta be up in 6hrs

[Rik]

Same here. 

[psp83]

That's not good. The panel manufacturers all warn about fixed images burning in, the broadcasters all adorn the screen with them and say it's not their fault.

That's why my monitors turn off after 15mins not being used.

[zappaDPJ]

I often find that with HP. They seem to have a public and internal product ID, which are completely different.

It seems to be unavoidable although I thought it was only CRTs and plasma screens that suffered this problem but that's clearly not the case.

And good night to the pair of you 

[Rik]

You off too, Zap, or are you still too excited at the prospect of sausages?

[zappaDPJ]

I'll be floating around for an hour or two yet, daydreaming of sausages no doubt 

[Rik]

 

I'm off, savoury dreams.

[zappaDPJ]

 

[psp83]

And of course, being that I contacted HP at 2am, I used the form that goes to the USA support  

Lets try again!

Oh and I powered down everything last night at the mains, left monitor doesn't seem to have it at the moment but the right one does (not as bad).

[Steve]

Did you try a monitor in a different location with the laptop?

[psp83]

not yet. going to do that after the aerial fitter has gone.

the lines are coming back now as the panel warms up.

[psp83]

Just got an email back from HP.

Hello,
Thank you for contacting HP e-Solutions. This e-mail is in reference to the case number: **********.
We have arranged for an on-site engineer to visit the address mentioned in the case, to replace the Monitor.  The on-site engineer will contact you to schedule the repair.

Regards,
Technical Support Engineer - HP e-Solution

[Simon]

Result! 

[psp83]

Looking at the case ticket it is only "qty 1" so I best tell them that its both of them.

But they should see that as I sent them the pics from this thread.

[Rik]

I'd still spell it out, Paul.

[Glenn]

Tell them Paul, otherwise te engineer will turn up with only 1 monitor.

[psp83]

Yeah I have, I replied to the ticket stating both had the same problem and gave them the product number and serial number for the other monitor.

So far I like HP support but I suppose its there job to replace the monitor if the panel fails within 2yrs off the date on the back on the monitor (June 2008) also they have a zero dead pixel policy, which is good.

[Rik]

HP are generally good at support in my experience, Paul. They completely re-built a Laserjet for me once.

[Den]

They had to, it said so in the small print 

[Glenn]

HP are generally good at support in my experience, Paul. They completely re-built a Laserjet for me once.

Of course they are, they employ me. 

[Rik]

Say no more.

[Rik]

They had to, it said so in the small print 

6pt Avant Garde Light.

[Technical Ben]

So lcds can burn in to?! I thought they were practically burn proof?
I still would guess it's a phase problem (as the link suggest) but as it happens on all types of connectors, it's probably something broken or loose inside that's caused it to go out of phase. Only a replacement will fix that. 

[Rik]

They can sometimes be 'exercised' out by cycling the monitor through all the colours...

[Niall]

No my monitors are HP LP2475w

My desk :



Pic taken last october (had no problem then)

My mate used to get that sort of interference from the spire on the church next door, causing ghosting on his TV. I've also seen it when a wireless router was sitting directly behind a monitor.

On a side note (thread hijack alert!) that chair you've got looks like something I'm after. Do the arms move on that, or preferably are able to be detached? I'm looking for a chair to sit in to play my guitar, which I can't do if there are arms on it. My current one cost me a fortune so I don't want to pull the arms off

[psp83]

Yeah the arms move up/down, the arm rests move forward/back and turn left/right slightly, back of the chair moves in/out, also tilts.

I think the arms come off. not sure thou, never tried. There's a catch under the seat on each arm to move it in and out.

Its not cheap, when I bought it I paid over £350, its down to £259 now.

Its called Stealth Shadow II and can be bought from http://www.intercounty.com/S15SH-stealth-shadow-office-chairs.html

It gets delivered built and is heavy.

[zappaDPJ]

They can sometimes be 'exercised' out by cycling the monitor through all the colours...

I was wondering about doing something like that with my TV panel. The burn almost seems to be a memory which I think might decay a little over time. That implies it might not be permanent if I can find a way of resetting the LC's that form the panel. As I never watch it I've been a bit lazy about researching the problem so far.

[Rik]

If you can drive the panel from the computer, there's a freeware app called UnDeadPixel which will give it a work out.

[Niall]

Yeah the arms move up/down, the arm rests move forward/back and turn left/right slightly, back of the chair moves in/out, also tilts.

I think the arms come off. not sure thou, never tried. There's a catch under the seat on each arm to move it in and out.

Its not cheap, when I bought it I paid over £350, its down to £259 now.

Its called Stealth Shadow II and can be bought from http://www.intercounty.com/S15SH-stealth-shadow-office-chairs.html

It gets delivered built and is heavy.

That'll be on my to buy list then! Although it'll be a while as that's £259 before VAT, making it £304.

[psp83]

Well the HP bloke just came, no questions asked, looked at the screen, said "I don't know whats wrong" and replaced the monitor, Just the left one he replaced as he told me to log another fault ticket for the other one, I guess they didn't see the updated ticket in time.

[Rik]

It's a start, Paul.

[zappaDPJ]

That's the sort of service that would encourage me to take a good look at their monitors the next time I'm in the market for one.

If you can drive the panel from the computer, there's a freeware app called UnDeadPixel which will give it a work out.

Thanks Rik, I've heard of that before, I'll take a look 

[psp83]

That's the sort of service that would encourage me to take a good look at their monitors the next time I'm in the market for one.

The monitors I've got from HP aren't cheap. They are top of the range H-IPS panels ( still not as good as rik's ), you are looking around £470 for this model.

But yeah, HP support gets the thumbs up from me so far. 48hr turn around is pretty good for a monitor replacement.

[Rik]

 

Eizo for Prime Minister! 

[psp83]

Eizo for Prime Minister! 

If and when I take photography to a serious level, then I would think about getting one with the hoods on.

[Rik]

You wouldn't regret it.

[psp83]

HP just contacted me again and sending out another engineer to replace the 2nd monitor.. very good support at the mo.

[Rik]

 

It's a firm I trust, Paul.

[psp83]

Engineer just came and replaced the 2nd monitor. These new ones are much better, have newer firmware aswell that also gives extra options like more power management settings.

Top service from HP 

[Rik]

That's good to hear.

[zappaDPJ]

I'm very impressed and glad to hear you've got it sorted satisfactorily 

[Ray]

That's good, Paul. 

[Glenn]

I booked an HP engineer this morning, saves me a 88 mile round trip to Amersham on Monday 

[kinmel]

Excellent service, good to hear

[psp83]

A firm called ACL came out for mine. Never heard of them until this week.

[Rik]

Me neither, any idea what it stands for?

[psp83]

Me neither, any idea what it stands for?

Absolute Computing Ltd - http://www.acl-uk.com/

[Rik]

Interesting, worth keeping a note of...

[psp83]

They seem ok, the one that came out today lives in Devizes so he came around at the end of the day on his way home from Wales.

[Rik]

Fair old journey...

[psp83]

Fair old journey...

That's what I thought when he said, surely they could of got someone more local to go, but oh well, he gets paid to drive there & back

[Rik]

HP engineers used to have quite big areas too.

[Glenn]

I used to cover the GU, RG & SL postcodes as a field engineer, 10 - 15 calls a day was common then.

[Rik]

They called you Luggrs?

[Glenn]