Monitor failure

BrianM · May 12, 2011, 18:40:11

Been having trouble with the LCD monitor for a few weeks. When switched on the screen slowly goes blank, well when i say blank i mean it goes very dark and can just see a faint image. Anyway i'm assuming it's the monitor that's given up the ghost today (it's over five years old) as i've connected a borrowed CRT monitor and everything seems ok.

Will try it for a few days and if everything goes well it's a new one.

Rik · May 12, 2011, 18:41:35

Sounds like a backlight failure, Brian.

BrianM · May 12, 2011, 18:48:38

Yes Rik, not very knowledgeable on pc's but Googled and that does seem to be the problem. Maybe it's fixable but i think i'll go for a new monitor, i'll break it gently to Christine

Rik · May 12, 2011, 18:51:46

It's probably almost as cheap to buy new these days, Brian, a sad commentary on society.

BrianM · May 12, 2011, 18:56:52

Yes it seems like we're a throwaway society i'm afraid.

Rik · May 12, 2011, 19:00:11

Even if you wanted to repair it, you'd probably struggle to find someone who was willing to do the job.

BrianM · May 12, 2011, 19:11:47

True, after a few hours working with this CRT monitor i'm begining to warm to it, maybe that's the way to describe it, images and in general things seem to be warmer, but no it's going to be a new LCD

Not an expensive one but i think i'll try a Iiyama 19", the one which has just died came with the PC, a Veiwsonic. 17"

Rik · May 12, 2011, 19:14:00

I like Iiyama, Brian. I've had one good Viewsonic and one bad - so the jury is out there.

pctech · May 12, 2011, 19:30:49

When I ordered my current PC I ordered a Viewsonic gaming grade 19 inch LCD with it but sadly it arrived dead on arrival.

So it went back to Mesh for a refund (as I had to boot the system within 24 hours of receiving it to check for defects) so I went to PC World and bought a nice Xerox 19 inch one which sadly only lasted three years before it succumbed to some sort of white out condition (Xerox don't seem to market monitors anymore in the UK at least) so now using an Acer one which I got as cheap as I could.

Image quality is not as nice as the Xerox one but does the job.

armadillo · May 12, 2011, 22:00:32

Quote from: Rik on May 12, 2011, 19:00:11
Even if you wanted to repair it, you'd probably struggle to find someone who was willing to do the job.

About 6 months ago, I had a 19" CRT monitor repaired by these people
http://www.omi-monitors.co.uk/index.html

They also repair LCD monitors. They work on a fixed price based on monitor size, regardless of the fault, and if they cannot repair, they do not charge. Prices are on the website.

You can ring them first and describe the fault. You will talk to a technical person who will have a very good idea of what the cause is and whether it is repairable. They actually take the things apart and replace individual components - resistors and capacitors etc. They were great to deal with and returned my repaired CRT in about 3 days. Nothing to lose by ringing them.

Edit: remember to factor in the cost of sending the monitor to them. For my CRT, I considered it worth it as new CRTs are not available and I will not buy an LCD until my current CRT and spare CRT are no longer repairable! In the case of the OP (Brian), much depends on how much you like your current monitor compared to what you might buy instead.

Rik · May 13, 2011, 09:00:27

Thanks for that link, Dill, could be very handy.

Glenn · May 13, 2011, 09:09:00

I've used them to repair a Lilliput 7" touchscreen in the past. Apart from quoting me £45, then trying to charge £87 because they messed up (they did honor the quote though, once I emailed them the original) the service was first rate.

BrianM · May 13, 2011, 17:55:04

Thanks for that handy link Dill which might come in useful, will bookmark it. This CRT monitor i like, but it's only 16" corner to corner and the failed Veiwsonic had two dead pixels in bottom right hand corner which i've put up with so i think i'll opt for a new 19" LCD monitor but will save this CRT monitor just in case, but thank you anyway Dill.

Rik · May 13, 2011, 17:56:00

Everything go OK, Brian?

BrianM · May 13, 2011, 18:07:13

Wow a fast reply there Rik. Yes thanks, under the knife at 8.30 this morning and woke up at 10.00 home for 11.45. Quick result. Just a fair sized fatty lump removed and like a blood blister on a vein in my arm. No problems so far only an aching neck. Big softy me, all worked up for nothing. Surgeon and all the staff were brilliant. Thank you for your concern though Rik

Rik · May 13, 2011, 18:08:16

Knives are always scary, Brian, I prefer to avoid them whenever possible. Glad it went OK, though.

BrianM · May 13, 2011, 18:16:53

Yes, i volunteered for this op' though, i was getting to the stage where if i laid on my back in bed i could rock myself to sleep

Rik · May 13, 2011, 18:17:36

I do that if I lay on my front.

BrianM · May 13, 2011, 18:21:50