white line across middle of screen

Not sure if this is the right Forum. Running XP Pro SP3 and after a few mins get narrow white line across screen rest blank, shut down computer boot up again and everything OK and after a few mins the same thing happens. Hardware, software or virus? Hope nothing too hard as I am ill and I don't mean just flu or something and cannot cope with much so easy answers please thanks.

It did it again so have come back to add more. It first happened whilst I was on a shopping catalogue site. Been OK for the past few minutes. I know it is the computer and not the monitor. Too ill to carry spare machine from spare room to here so must solve it as I am virtually housebound at the moment and rely on the Internet. Never seen this before.

This morning it did it about half an hour after firtst use of the day but strangely as soon as I pressed the button to close it down the video came back and I was able to see the Windows logoff screen.

Sorry to hear you're not so well MorseLady.

If the monitor is the old heavy CRT (picture tube) type rather than an LCD, then I'd say the description sounds very much like a monitor fault, like this:

http://www.overclockers.com.au/wiki/...s_001small.jpg

But if you can establish that it's the computer that's at fault, then I think the video card is the most likely problem. It would be an unusual symptom for a driver fault. What colour is the remainder of the screen that is blank, black like above, gray?

Hello Platypus,

Thanks for your reply and I regret to tell you the not well is cancer.

My monitor is a modern digital CRT and I am pretty sure it is not that.

When I get this shining very narrow white line which changes colour presumably in line with what the computer is doing, the rest of the screen is black.

Well I am sad to hear of your health situation. I'll keep you in my prayers.

Your computer fault does sound very consistent with failure of vertical deflection in the CRT monitor, your description is exactly what happens.

When it happens next, instead of shutting the computer down, try turning off the power to just the monitor, maybe even leave it off for a few minutes to cool down, then switch it back on again. If it comes good again for a while after doing this, that would confirm the fault is in the monitor, without having to carry anything to another location and swap.

I tried that after the machine had been on some time no problem then got line again. Switched off monitor for half an hour, switched back on and OK but now keeps going to the line every minute or so and only needs a few seconds off to work again.

Keeping page open and will report how many minutes to next gone to line and it would seem to be an intermittent problem as it is sometimes OK for over half an hour and other times just a few minutes.

It is a ViewSonic digital CRT monitor with three settings for brightness and they are all working OK. All colours, gamma etc are as they should be and my photo editor responds to colour manipulation as usual.

OK that was five minutes on and then it kept going off after a few seconds. Test interrupted by old school friend phoning so switched monitor off whilst we talked.

It is now happening regularly five to ten minutes of screen time and less than a minute monitor switched off to restore.

I had a look in Device Manager and I have generic monitor drivers. Should I try and find and install the ViewSonic ones?

It seems that the longer the monitor is off the more time I get before it happens again.

I am now running in safe mode with networking to see if it still does it but the set refresh rate flickering is making me ill.

Some of those came with both a DVI and a D-Sub (analog) connector.

If yours has both, try swapping over (if you have the cables/connectors).

Cannot remember which way rounbd but monitor output is different to socket on back of computer, sorry too ill to bend down to look. Have to use an adaptor between computer and monitor.

Been running in safe mode and just did it again so back to the monitor theory.

So, in Safe Mode, uninstall the graphics drivers using Add/Remove Programs (if XP) or whatever Vista uses.

Then, you should boot into the main OS OK and be using VGA drivers.

It was running VGA drivers anyway I think, sorry I am in some discomfort from my illness and have flu too and beginning to feel frazzled. I installed the proper drivers for the monitor but made no difference. The video seems to last longer in safe mode. Although I should not I am going to try and drag my other Evesham out of the spare room into here and see what happens but will have to put an OS on it.

I found a D socket but the screen is completely blank so I guess my graphicsd card is only connected to the DVI socket. The monitor terminates in a D plug. Changed the DVI adaptor.

Still holding out after over an hour so looks like the DVI adaptor was the culrpit.I will leave it there and many thanks for your help

Angie, I am very very sorry to hear you have cancer. Please keep in touch and I hope you go into remission very soon.

Thanks Noo will do.

Re the problem, changing the DVI adaptor seems to have done the trick

Glad to hear it was something cheap!

Noo I was more concerned about how to move my spare machine or monitor into here as I can barely pick up my cat at the moment. Yes very cheap as I had a spare one lol! Isn't it funny how we geeks seem to find the easiest solution last!

tell me about it!!

It just did it again so I will have to find a way to get the other very big and heavy machine in here so I can do some diagnostics to determine if it's the monitor. I know a nice young man who walks his dogs past here lol!

You could just swap the video cards between them.... they are pretty light to carry :D

I cannot get down on the floor where both are to do it nor can I pick either up as apart from being ill I have disabilities and now have a blue badge for my car. If I drop anything I have to use a helping hands wand. I am hoping as both are on the floor I can drag the other one along the hall on a mat and put it beside this one somehow or take the bag off my shopping trolley and tip it on to that. I am inclined to think it is the video card. If so I will have to get the shop to come and do it or collect and deliver. I wonder if they upset my card when they transferred the machine from the old midi tower to this one when the PSU went. The video is intermittent, it can happen three times in five minutes then go an hour.

It's a shame I don't live closer... but that nice young man with the dog... might be fun to watch bending down to pick up the box to bring it next to the other pc!

Actually I only know him to pass the time of day and being a widow living alone I would never invite a man into my house I did not know well unless he was from the Council or something, prior appointment and identity card. I wonder if I could harness my cat lol! I have family friends but they are older than myself and most of them are not strong.

Are you entitled to any home care? Home Help type thing?

No you have to be really old and on your last legs here. Even a lady up the road who is 90 and nearly died a few months ago and recently had a mild stroke only get community meals but that is just frozen stuff she has to warm up. In any case they would never be allowed to lift a computer, 'elf and safety you know!

I have just realised the obvious. If switching the monitor off for a few minutes restores my screen then it must be the monitor doh! So I think instead of bringing the spare computer in I will try the spare monitor first and leave it on a soak test.

That sucks....

I have now proved it is the monitor because shaking it brings the screen back, any ideas what might be wrong with it? I have checked the lead and it is in securely. However I do not do monitors so guess it's a new one.

Noo if you want to move this to the video Forum that is OK by me :-)

Nearly two hours now since I shook the monitor and still going - knock on wood!

I did some reading around and the consensus seems to be failure in 'vertical deflection circuits'.

This is NOT a user-servicable item.

Certainly, a bad or loose connection at the crt dvi/vga plugs or bad cable could cause problems, but I think the nature of the display tells the tale.

TRhank you CCT. Since I gave it a good shake four hours ago it has been holding up but as you have seen on the other thread I am buying a new flat panel monitor anyway if only for backup if this one has settled for now.

Thank you everyone, guess we have sorted this issue.

The fault may be straightforward to fix, typically a bad solder joint, bad contact on the yoke plug or similar. But the technician's time involved in finding it and proving it is the sole cause and the repair will hold, means the cost may be out of proportion. Do you have any ham radio contacts who may be able to go over it for bad solder joints, without it costing you?

I now have my spare monitor on my desk. I was chatting to the lady who brings my catalogue orders and she offered to move it for me. So I can choose my new flat panel monitor at my leisure.

I rang the shop and they don't do monitors and did not know anyone who did. They said not cost effective and best discard it and buy a new one.

Platypus I do have two ham radio friends who could probably do it but they are both extremely busy so I will just mention it and see if they offer. Both were electronics experts in the RAF, one a retired Squadron Leader who was on radar and has a degree in electronics.

Thank you everyone,

Frankly MorseLady, if you are happy getting a new LCD, then I would do so, since LCDs weigh a fraction of a CRT (no huge chunk of glass!).
That way you won't be reliant on someone moving it for you.

Yes I agree it's time to get a flat screen panel.

Thanks for your help Noo and everyone.