Monitor Problem

BombJack

Ok folks, for the last few months - say last 9 or 10 anyway, I have been using a Dell desktop machine with an LG L1811S 18.1" monitor. (I should add that this is a TFT (and I also think it's analogue)) No problems. In the last few weeks I have been using the computer, occasionally the screen will dim slightly and then fix itself. Last week for the first time it actually completely cut out and the screen went black. In that case, I just powered everything down and rebooted - problem solved. Until yesterday...
Yesterday same thing happened. After the machine ahd been switched on for say ten minutes, I spotted the screen dim maybe two or 3 times, and then it cut out. I rebooted the machine switching all the power off as usual, but this time it won't fix itself. Interestingly it looks as though the screen doesn't completely cut out. You can't actually see anything relating to the work you are doing - the screen is totally black, but it does appear to be a slightly backlit black - ie when you switch off the power you can see the monitor dim.

Any ideas what might be the problem?

BillScarab

Your best option is to try the monitor on another PC and try another monitor on your PC. That will enable you to determine if it is the graphics card or the monitor.

Reading your post if it was fixed by rebooting the PC that would point more to the graphics card than the monitor. I would expect a hardware fault with the monitor not to be affected by rebooting.

I'm no expert on LCD's though.

BombJack

It doesn't fix by rebooting any more tho...
The small light on the front seems to have changed also from a green colour to something a more like amber...

philnicandamy

I had a similar problem on a HP 1530 flat screen monitor, after much investigation turned out to be the power connector on the monitor shorting out causing the screen to dim/flicker

BombJack

So maybe just need a new monitor cable then to fix it?

philnicandamy

Mine was the mains connector to the monitor, when I wiggled you could hear a shorting noise (buzzing) & the screen would flicker madly and eventually cut out...have you had the chance to try the screen on another pc? to know if it really is a monitor fault or a graphics card prob

BombJack

I've been able to test my machine out, and it looks like it's the screen that's faulty, not the computer or graphics card. The question is, are these things cheap and easy to repair?

nickcardwell

BombJack wrote: »

I've been able to test my machine out, and it looks like it's the screen that's faulty, not the computer or graphics card. The question is, are these things cheap and easy to repair?

no.

Very expensive to repair (i dont think anyone actually repairs them due to the price)

We did have in work a few laptop screens go, and was quoted £360 for a new screen (on a laptop that cost £550)

foreversomeday

So have you tried testing the cable?

Don't forget you can get secondhand screens for computers.

BombJack

I have tried an alternative cable, and this doesn't seem to solve it, so unless my test cable is also faulty, it ain't that...