For some time now I have had a problem where the brilliance and the red colour fade in and out. This is brief and may last for a day or so, and you can have a number of months without any signs. About 2 days ago it started again, but this time the red has virtualy disappeared permanently! I have downloaded the latest graphic card driver and tried the monitor settings, but the red level doesn't alter. I say it's a monitor problem but I'm not 100% sure, because when the comp starts up the first screen I see is a small window,which I presume to be motherboard, which say's "Input Diagnostics" and there are 3 small squares, red, green and blue. The red is there perfect. But, the next screen is the windows start up screen and the red has gone! I've just got back into Bryce after a 3 month block and this is making it impossible. If anyone has any idea's I would be very grateful! John.

If it's a CRT, I'd say the red gun has gone out. At todays' prices, it's probably a replacement (unless it's under warranty). If it's Plasma, LCD, or whatever, I dunno..
I take it back. If it shows up in your boot scren, but disappears in the later screens, it could be a video driver. You might try reloading the driver first.

Message edited on: 03/14/2006 12:03

When I've seen this happen, it's either the red gun (mostly likely) or perhaps a loose cable connection. I had a OEM Trinitron CRT monitor years ago that had this intermittent behaviour and after spending money getting its electronics fixed, ended up having the problem again and replacing it. You could try booting Windows hitting the F8 key just before it gets going and choose the VGA boot option. That will load Windows with the default VGA driver and you could see if that fixes it - that could point to a driver problem. If you find red fades in and out while you work, that probably means the gun is gone and it's time to get that LCD panel you've always wanted.

Recently had the very same problem with my monitor, on my Net PC. Red totally disappeared and remained that way for a few months, until I could be bothered replacing it:)

Yeah,........I've had this happen also,.......try fidding around with the cable(once had a cable I had to put a bend in and then used gaffers tape to hold it in place), so try messing with the cable in all sorts of positions,.......if you find no solution in this manner, I'd say it's the red gun(if a CRT) and you're pretty much screwed. Good luck.

I had the same problem with a cable -- seems a common problem.

Same here as well.
TV in the main room went red just over a week ago.

Decided on a new one though 'cos the old one didn't have Freeview in it - and I hate boxes'n'cables all over the place.

About 10 years ago we had a Grundig that developed the same fault 6 times (no kidding) and at the time it was 'supposed' to be a classy piece of kit.

To that end I agree, unless it's under warranty - I think you'd be better off going for new. That's certainly a fault that can get annoying (and expensive).

hmm..only times I've seen a cable problem like that (and I go back a ways), was when someone bent the @#$% pin for red..;) unless you've been disconnecting the cable a lot, I dunno..;)

Thanks all. Tried everything and still no good. I guess I'll just have to start saving my pennies! John.

I'd also check for a loose cable or bent pin (I've seen it happen a few times).

It's not dead, it's only resting. :-) Sorry, yeah, a replacement is in order. The electron gun is a fiddly piece of hardware and nobody wants to fix it. Or the fix might be more expensive than a new monitor. Unfortunately, most of the manufacturers are switching to LCDs, even if the technology is not completely evolved. OTOH, a 19" or even 20" CRT might be quite cheaper than a comparable LCD.

Have you tried 'De-Gauzing'....?

Bryster....tried that, no good I'm afraid. Also, played with the cable.
I appreciate all your responses!

John.

Message edited on: 03/14/2006 19:12

the red gun is inside the tube..if it's bad, then it's 'chucked out'.

I had a TV that did that once too but the red went out with a bang. I used it for a year after that . . .
to this day I still think of T'Pol as having green skin.(Imagine how confused I'd be if I'd been watching Farscape back then.)

Strangely enough one of my summer field studies in college was near Mountain Pass,CA. where the mineral for the red color in TVs was or is(??) mined.

You might check around if you're strapped for bucks. People throw away or store perfectly good CRTs in favor of the newer FlatSreens. Also thrift stores sometimes sell smaller used monitors for ten bucks or so.

It could also be a wiring problem or a bad connection on the video card itself where it attaches to the plug. I have one video card that is like that. to test for that move the monitor cable back and forth slowly. If the color changes with that movement it's probably the video card's plug. slowly

Message edited on: 03/15/2006 01:26

John you need a new monitor. I had an old 15" go like that and for ages it was ok then the red would go out of it for days at a time.

Main cause for this happening is Speakers to close to the monitor or anything that has an electric current running through it, also anything with magnets can cause damage like this.

I have 5 surround sound speakers and the sub-woofer sits on the desk, it use to sit close to the monitor but now i have it at least 12-18" away from the monitor...Big desk helps me with that..6 foot long :)

Message edited on: 03/15/2006 09:04

CrazyDawg, are those surrounds of yours magnetically shielded?

I ask because ANY manufacturer that thinks a surround system doesn't need to be shielded, are a disgrace to technical evolution!

...it's sad, but they DO exist.

CD; that might explain it. I've got one sitting on top and one either side, virtually touching.

usually that'll cause the monitor to shake, and you'll get some rainbow effects at higher voltage (once had a call at the local Nuke plant; someone put their monitor next to a 115KV line, and I showed them how moving the monitor made the 'pattern' change. Went out to make a call, came back, and the guy was moving the monitor over the wall's surface to great hilarity of his co-workers..engineers..;)

Message edited on: 03/15/2006 11:34

LOL - time for those men in white coats as they say ;-)

LOL...after 2 full days without red, it's just come back!!! Fingers crossed it stays that way...but I wonder for how long! John.

@Pakled- Actually it's reassuring to know that Homer Simpson is a real guy!

Must be a boring job just sitting there splitting atoms....!

Duh'oh!!!!