Monitor seems to be very dark

12-07-2004, 10:55

I got an old Hewlett Packard Ergo Ultra VGA monitor, and it seems to be very dark even with the contrast and brightness at max. I have to use my graphics cards contrast settings to get it to look right, and it's a bit of a pain. I think the cathod may be going in it, any others have any ideas?

I got to get a new monitor soon any way, most likely an LCD screen

dilli-theclaw · 12-07-2004, 10:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Electrolyte

I got an old Hewlett Packard Ergo Ultra VGA monitor, and it seems to be very dark even with the contrast and brightness at max. I have to use my graphics cards contrast settings to get it to look right, and it's a bit of a pain. I think the cathod may be going in it, any others have any ideas?

Yup.....

Quote:

Originally Posted by Electrolyte

I got to get a new monitor soon any way, most likely an LCD screen

...But you already thought of it

zoombini · 12-07-2004, 11:03

Most likely getting old & tired.

Although you have to be very careful because of the high voltages inside, what can be done is to take the case off, ensure that nothing is getting shorted (place it on a phone book if the base is not fitted), connect it up to the PC that already has a page of text in a document on screen and then.

Turn the monitor on, after 5 minutes it should be nice & warm enough to be stable.

At the rear of the monitor there is the big red hi voltage lead that goes to the tube back (and I mean "high" voltage so dont touch) and it comes into a big black "thing" (a transformer) which should have 2 turnable adjusting screws on it, these are usually marked as "FOCUS" & "SCREEN".
With a screwdriver, slowly adjust the "SCREEN" one until it becomes a bit brighter. If the text is a bit blurred, adjusting the "FOCUS" can often improve it a bit.

It may help to place a mirror at the back of the desk & face the monitor towards it, so that your not reaching over the top to do this.

But beware the high voltages, do not touch anything else while doing this (stick your other hand in your pocket).

12-07-2004, 11:09

Hmm, I'l have to see if my dad can do that for me. Or he will probably get another one from where he works.

zoombini · 12-07-2004, 11:14

I get all my monitors from where I work, usually because they are like that or have blown up.
Free 17-19" monitors are very nice to have, especially when you only have to replace either a fuse or a transistor or turn a pot to return them to a usable state.