screen hell
 

ok having a bad pc week (bit like a bad hair week/day but with regards to pc).. ok my screen broked the other day.....the green standby light came on but the screen wouldnt light up...so we changed to another screen...however this screen is incredibly dark... tried fiddling with the buttons but to no avail..... is there anything i can do? or do i just have to fork out for a new monitor?

(i know it sounds a totally blonde question but hey, im a women ;) )

Re: screen hell
 

I'll point you to this thread next time we're on about blonde's :p

As for the monitor, sorry I think you may need to buy a new monitor if the brightness dial/button doesn't work :(

Re: screen hell
 

yes please do :p
(i was born blonde i cant help it)

yeah i think i might need to, the screen also seems to have a bit of a green tint (not good for someone who is colourblind :bigcry: )

Re: screen hell
 

Have you tried double checking all the connections at the back of the PC?
If the cables not in tight you can occasionally get a darker picture than you should do.
Also make sure the Fuse in the plug is 13A not 3A or 5A, most monitors wont even work with lower amp fuses but some do and cause a dimmer screen than you should get.

Now this may sound obvious but If it is a new screen double check that you havent left the protective Coating on the screen, its normally just a thin near translucent plastic panel that protects your screen during transit. (My uncle left his on his laptop and nearly returned it thinking it was faulty)

You could also Try adjusting the brightnes settings on your graphics card, I will need to know what version of windows you are using and what graphics card it is though before I can help you with that.

And failing all of the above it sounds like you need a new monitor :D

EDIT:
Green tint Eh?? deffinatley sounds like a loose wire now, if you move it to the other side it will go blue :D try sitting it just right in the middle and tightening it with the screws (IF yours has them) and that should sort it, if it doesnt it sounds like your monitor may be missing a pin in the VGA lead.

Re: screen hell
 

firstly it is not a new monitor, it is an old one dad had (we have some many monitors and parts of pc's round the house that it is amazing) so therefore there isnt a film on the screen (i may be dumb but not that dumb)

secondly i wouldnt know how to change the brightness on the graphic card....

windows 98 (very old pc) and no idea what type of graphics card i have :confused:

Re: screen hell
 

ok you have lost me now :confused:

Re: screen hell
 

I wasnt implying you where dumb ;) my uncle isnt either but we all make silly mistakes from time to time so I thought I would say it anyway :angel:
Have you tried Tightening the VGA cable like I said above in my edit?

Re: screen hell
 

ok now i am going to sound dumb..whats a vga cable? :confused:

Re: screen hell
 

Dont worry I typed it in a rush, Looking at it I would be confused :D

Step 1: take the Monitor cable out of the back of the computer (Not the power)

Step 2: Take a look at the pins and make sure non are bent (There will also probably be a few tiny hole wich make it look like some of the pins are missing but they arnt ;) )

Step 3: If no pins are bent or broken try putting the cable back in, make sure its in tight. (Some monitors have screws on the cable to secure it to the case to make sure it doesnt slip out)

does that help?

Re: screen hell
 

Thats the cable wich sends the picture from the PC to the monitor, im sorry, was rather ignorant of me to say VGA without making sure you knew what it was first :o

Re: screen hell
 

:tu: thanks that makes more sense...will have a go at that in a bit....:D fingers crossed
ta Z for that edit......:D

Re: screen hell
 

????????? Erm no - sorry m8 but that is incorrect and could be dangerous to the user.

A normal monitor only draws 120-250w that is only 1 amp at the most.

If the device was suplied with a 3 amp fuse then it was for a reason.

Replacing a fuse with a fuse of the wrong rating will degrade protection.

Re: screen hell
 

so no changing/checking fuse then????

Re: screen hell
 

Ok, My bad, im sure its higher though, since pretty much all monitors use kettle leads anyway most people dont use the lead they come with so that bit about it being for a reason is niether here nor there though.
If the Machine is as old as Bexy says she may well be using a cable to the PC's PSU anyway and thus wouldnt need to change the fuse.

Thanks though :tu: I prefer it when people point out my mistakes rather than criticise me behind my back :D

Re: screen hell
 

No, they do not use "kettle" leads. They do use IEC connectors, but if you take a close look at a kettle lead, you will see that the IEC connector has a groove cut into the underside of it, so you can't use the lower rated design used for computer equipment etc.

DO NOT insert a 13A fuse in a monitor power lead. This is very bad practice. It can lead to fires etc. The fuse is there for a reason.

Sorry for this "rant", but I've seen the results of using the wrong protective device in an electrical circuit.

Re: screen hell
 

There are sometimes extra brightness and contrast controls (potentionmeters) on the board inside the monitor. It may be just a simple job of getting this adjusted, but please don't attept it yourself. Get someone with the knowledge to do it.

Monitors and TV's sometimes "bite" even when disconnected. OUCH!:eek:

Re: screen hell
 

Just for your ref...

A kettle lead is known as a hot cable and usualy has a fuse rated at 13amps as a normal kettle will use about 3kw (around 11 amps)

As abailey152 states - pc systems use lower rated cables. These cables are often known as cold cables and dont have any thermal protection. Most of these cables are rated at 6amps so if you inserted a 13amp fuse into the plug and then proceded to draw 10 amps of current the cable will overheat and may cause a fire.

Hope this gives you a bit more info.

Re: screen hell
 

:D :D I know - I have had the (benefit) of the wrong end of the ht coil !!! :shocking:

Re: screen hell
 

Me too!!!

Re: screen hell
 

thanks, looks like i will leave the problem till i can get hold of a man who knows how :D the montior is usable, just doing my head in

Re: screen hell
 

You say the screen is dark -- You have not forgoten to take your shades of have you :D

Re: screen hell
 

Just a thought. If the first monitor has no picture, and the second monitor has a dark picture (possible bad connection) could the fault be on the graphics card ?. Have you tested the origanal monitor on another PC ?

Re: screen hell
 

hmm now there is a point stuart :confused: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:
funnily enough not wearing any shades considering it is the middle of winter and sunlight is a bonus...... and before you ask yes i do have the lights turned on, and no im not sitting in absolute darkness :p

mrm the screen was totally dead on the other pc......not sure if dad tested it elsewhere.... as for my graphics card it was only put in and sorted a few weeks ago, so dont think it could be that

Re: screen hell
 

No probs, just a thought. :)

Re: screen hell
 

:rofl::rofl::rofl:

Re: screen hell
 

What - no shades - I thought you were a cool hip person :D

Dont they have shades on all the time ? :rofl:

:cool:

Re: screen hell
 

cool and hip? now who have you been talking to :eeek: :naughty: