Annoying TFT flicker

Chuffy

Hi folks, I 've just bought a 17" HP 1703 TFT monitor from staples for £80. It was cheap because it was ex display and there are no speakers. I have checked how many hours it has been on and it is a passable 283 hours.

My question is, when I have installed the monitor, the picture is clear and stable, but there is what I would describe as a rolling shadow.
I have tried different resolutions and refresh rates, and I have installed the HP drivers over the windows one, but the image is unchanged. I have also tried powering the monitor from a different socket in case there are power fluctuations in the multigang I am using, but still there is a flicker.

Does anyone have any ideas what this could be and how I could rid of it.

Nelly.t

Return it from where it came for a full refund if changing resolutions and refresh rates does nothing to cure this problem.

Chuffy

any chance it could be because I have an integrated GPU?
The 'noise' seems related to the processor activity.
Re: getting another - it was dead cheap cos it's discontinued model and I got the last one.

simes

Use the manufacturer for the warranty then you should get a swap out for a working model.. Staples will just refnd you and this would mean no bargain monitor..

Integrated graphics should not be the problem ( assuming there was no trouble on the previous monitor) ..

Loobeylou

Just a word of warning here - this may not apply to your purchase, but I have previously had great difficulty in returning goods to Staples.

I had a fairly expensive mouse (with a one year guarantee) that went totally defunct on me after nearly seven months of use, and was advised that it was not Staples policy to replace after the first two weeks of purchase. They suggested they should send it away for repair. I checked with places like Currys, Comet and PC World who all stated that they would not have quibbled the point and would just have replaced it.

I stood my ground in Staples (after several trips in there, and raised voice within hearing of other customers) and eventually had a refund, went next door to PC World and purchased a new mouse. I even wrote to Staples HQ with my complaint, but they were adamant.

Outcome - Staples lost a customer.

Paul_Varjak

Loobeylou wrote:

I had a fairly expensive mouse (with a one year guarantee) that went totally defunct on me after nearly seven months of use, and was advised that it was not Staples policy to replace after the first two weeks of purchase.

Surely, that is their policy on returning unwanted goods - that is goods you purchased and not used - does not apply to faulty goods!

Chuffy

They were fine about the 14 day bit - almost begging me to bring the monitor back as a member of staff wanted it.
As they had no more to swap, I have had to contact HP direct to sort out a repair. Now it gets iffy - their system shows the monitor out of warranty even though brand new it would come 3 years and the build date on the back is August 2003 so it should have nearly 18 months left. Staples confirmed it only had a 12 month manufacturers warranty as it was ex-display. I have had to scan a copy of my receipt and email it to HP support before they will consider carrying out any work on it. Not holding my breath though.

We'll have to see where this one goes....

Loobeylou

Re the comments made by Paul Varjak regarding Staples - yes, that was my understanding also, but they would not budge on the replacement - they just kept stating that it was their company policy to send it off for repair, which I was totally unhappy about. I had the receipt to show when it was purchased.

I went in there a total of five times and really made a nuisance of myself, fairly loudly and finally in front of other customers! I stated that the other stores had told me they would have replaced the mouse as a matter of customer goodwill, and Staples response was, "well they would say that wouldn't they!" Needless to say I was gobsmacked. As previously stated they eventually gave me a refund, but I now go elsewhere for my home office supplies.

For what its worth, my opinion is that I think Staples need lessons in customer care.

Chuffy

Well I contacted HP and after much to and fro-ing (is that a word?), they decided that the monitor is not covered by the warranty as it was ex-display and therefore they could not say the date it was put on display. As such the warranty began from the day it left HP not the date I bought it.
I'm now waiting for Staples to contact me re: getting it repaired as for £80 (if it works), it's a bargain.
Anyone out there any good with consumer rights?
The monitor was sold with a 12 month warranty that no-one will honour.

avantra

Why not plug it to a different pc at list to check it is not your GPU that cause it?

Chuffy

I tried it round at a friends and the result was the same. The only thing that was the same was the power unit - could this cause a problem?