Is my monitor dead? [Archive] - WinDrivers Computer Tech Support Forums

guitarizt

May 5th, 2002, 09:13 PM

It made some weird noises kind of like when a light goes out, but they lasted for about five seconds. When I turn on my 17" gem monitor all it does is may a weird clicking sound and the on/off light keeps going on and off. I don't think there's a loose solder joint anywhere, and I can't even get the menu up. Is it dead? I just need some closure.

DANIMAL

May 5th, 2002, 10:51 PM

The last monitor that did that to me was dead but that was quit a while ago.
normally the monitor either works or it doesn't unless of course its a bad connection IE; crushed cord or something

guitarizt

May 6th, 2002, 02:16 PM

Yeah I've tried different power outlets too. This sucks it was the only 17" I have. =(
All it does is keep clicking on and off but it never really turns on.

Platypus

May 7th, 2002, 06:15 AM

Sounds like the monitor's power supply is in a protective shut-down mode, which produces an effect like you describe, it's called "hiccups". Something has failed and is overloading the p/s, the monitor would have to be put in for repair.

+Daemon+

May 7th, 2002, 10:42 AM

if yu turn the monitor on and its a black screen but and/or clicks then you have aabd monitor I get this at work alot on our old monitors

guitarizt

May 7th, 2002, 07:12 PM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by All Mighty Daemon:
if yu turn the monitor on and its a black screen but and/or clicks then you have aabd monitor I get this at work alot on our old monitors<hr /></blockquote>Is it easy or dangerous to try fixing myself? There's no one around me that does monitor work anymore. Some places used to but they stopped doing it. How long would it take? I don't have anything to lose if it's not dangerous.

Vette

May 7th, 2002, 08:29 PM

It does sound like a semi-fried monitor. I wouldn't even try to repair it. You have to be extremely careful because monitors can contain enough juice to premanantly put your lights dim even after they are turned off for a long period of time. In my A+ class, in the section about monitors they claim some monitor parts can still hold up to 32,000 volts even unplugged. Still wanna chance it? <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="eek.gif" />

guitarizt

May 7th, 2002, 09:05 PM

I know monitors can hold a lot of charge. That's why I was wondering if I should try to fix it myself. Otherwise I guess I'll just have to wait until I build myself the computer I want which should be a while. Like 2-3 years. This sucks.

Quiet Thunder

May 7th, 2002, 10:00 PM

How old is it? Usually they carry fairly long warranties, several years at least. I wouldn't crack open the case, unless you definatly know what you're doing. From what I've been told, there's enough charge to kill you pretty quickly.

Platypus

May 8th, 2002, 02:49 AM

It's not likely you could do much, unless you have test gear and possibly service data (circuit digram etc). You would need to be able to use a meter to check for shorted Line Out Transistor or similar.

As others have said there are dangerous voltages present (and can be for some time after the monitor is turned off) so unless you're confident dealing with this, it's probably best left to professionals.

On thing you could check for yourself is if the fault is an arc-over in the HV (High Voltage) unit. If the click you hear is a fairly decisive "snap" sound, look inside the monitor with the room dark, if you see a blue flash with each click, this discharge may be the only fault. If this is so, post or PM me and I might be able to help you do something about it yourself.

Outcoded

May 8th, 2002, 11:22 AM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by guitarizt:
I know monitors can hold a lot of charge. That's why I was wondering if I should try to fix it myself. Otherwise I guess I'll just have to wait until I build myself the computer I want which should be a while. Like 2-3 years. This sucks.<hr /></blockquote>You'll pobably end up killing yourself if you open it and start poking about.

No, really, its the risk you run.

Lycia

May 8th, 2002, 12:59 PM

Soudns to me like a signal problem. Have you tried hooking the monitor to another PC or at least trying a different video Card?

guitarizt

May 8th, 2002, 02:02 PM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by Lycia:
Soudns to me like a signal problem. Have you tried hooking the monitor to another PC or at least trying a different video Card?<hr /></blockquote>That's not it. It's making a clicking noise.

Platypus

May 8th, 2002, 04:55 PM

If the clicking sound occurs immediately at switch-on and is in complete sympathy with the power indicator flashes, that would indicate a power supply hiccup.

Lycia's suggestion is that many monitors flash the power indicator if no signal is getting through. In an older model with no standby mode and multiple input connectors, there may be a regular click every few seconds as a relay switches searching between inputs. Since your monitor has OSD control, I assume it is not this type, but that mightn't be so.

If it is this slower click not related to the lamp flash, the monitor likely has alternative input connectors, like BNC terminals as well as the D-connector. Thus the problem could be signal-related as Lycia suggests.

guitarizt

May 8th, 2002, 05:52 PM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by Platypus:
If the clicking sound occurs immediately at switch-on and is in complete sympathy with the power indicator flashes, that would indicate a power supply hiccup.

<hr /></blockquote>It's doing exactly what you wrote here, but it's not a connection problem. I've seen what it does when it isn't connected right before, but I've never seen it do this. It's a newer monitor, and even though it goes on and off it never actually turns on.

DSTech

May 8th, 2002, 11:31 PM

Monitors aren't really something you wanna mess with unless you are trained for them. As Vette and others have said, the stored voltage can kill ya. Also as others have said, they usually have pretty long warranties, like 5+ years sometimes. I'd contact the manufacturer about RMAing it. Otherwise, you can get a pretty decent new monitor for a decent price nowadays, might be the best (least hassle) way to go.

guitarizt

May 9th, 2002, 01:27 PM

I am thinking about buying a new 21" when I get a new computer. I'm gonna get some guitar stuff and a guitar first. I just bought an amp and got a speaker system. It'll be a while. I think it's past warantee, but I'll check. What should I do with the monitor if it's past warantee? Should get rid of it? Anyone want it?

Platypus

May 9th, 2002, 04:22 PM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by guitarizt:
What should I do with the monitor if it's past warantee? Should get rid of it? Anyone want it?<hr /></blockquote>If you want to get rid of the monitor, try to give it to someone to use for parts, or fix up. A community computing or computer recycling organisation would be good if there's anything like that near you. If it has to be thrown, try to get it to a recycling centre, monitors have quite a bit of hazardous material in them, lead etc, and shouldn't go in landfill.

A 21" monitor sounds nice...

imaeditedbysowulo

May 9th, 2002, 05:24 PM

If you're in the midwest, I'll take it!! I used to work on monitors, it's true there's a lot of voltage in them, but unless you're wearing a groundstrap or have a weak heart it PROBABLY won't kill you.

When I first started repairing them, I used to get shocked fairly regularly until I learned where/what not to touch. If you have some cajunas, a digital camera and a multimeter I could probably talk you through fixing it.

guitarizt

May 9th, 2002, 07:27 PM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by imarolan:
If you're in the midwest, I'll take it!! I used to work on monitors, it's true there's a lot of voltage in them, but unless you're wearing a groundstrap or have a weak heart it PROBABLY won't kill you.

When I first started repairing them, I used to get shocked fairly regularly until I learned where/what not to touch. If you have some cajunas, a digital camera and a multimeter I could probably talk you through fixing it.<hr /></blockquote>Where do you live? I live in Michigan. I'll sell it to you for whatever shipping and handling costs. I need a better monitor anyways. I don't have a mulimeter but I could use one for biasing the tubes in my amp if you have an extra one.

imaeditedbysowulo

May 9th, 2002, 09:38 PM

I'm in good ole cowlumbus ohio, sorry I don't have an extra multimeter :) If you want to ship it to me, I'd be happy to take it off your hands as long as shipping isn't outrageous...

I wouldn't have to worry about you just keepin my money either since you're a fellow guitar player.

:D :D

WebHead

May 9th, 2002, 09:45 PM

Yep. Just get a new monitor. They're cheap anyway. And if you can't afford much, then go look in the yellow pages for a used monitor shop. There used to be one by my old job, so I know they exist. They had some decent 17"+ monitors for like $25.00+ at that place. Anyway, that would hold you over until you could get the 21" you want.

guitarizt

May 10th, 2002, 02:22 PM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by imarolan:
I'm in good ole cowlumbus ohio, sorry I don't have an extra multimeter :) If you want to ship it to me, I'd be happy to take it off your hands as long as shipping isn't outrageous...

I wouldn't have to worry about you just keepin my money either since you're a fellow guitar player.

:D :D <hr /></blockquote>You can e-mail me at guitarizt@hotmail.com. Are you a guitar player too? I still have to find out how much shipping is.
--------------------------------------------------

$25 for a 17"? Over here they're like $100, lol. All I have is a local shop and it's in grand haven, michigan if you know where that is.

Poseidon

May 10th, 2002, 02:32 PM

Do the symptoms persist even if you try to turn it on without it connected to a computer?

guitarizt

May 10th, 2002, 05:21 PM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by Poseidon:
Do the symptoms persist even if you try to turn it on without it connected to a computer?<hr /></blockquote>yeah