[Mara]

It's not severe, at least no yet, but I seem to be developing 'etchings' of images on my computer screen.

Afraid I'm not quite sure of the proper term but, for instance, there is now a full length horizontal line left along the top of the screen ... which matches up to the top of a page header I was reading.

Have a screen saver that kicks in after 10 minutes so I'm a bit baffled. Perhaps this mean the screen (flat screen ViewSonic) is developing problems or perhaps it's just another of those odd little things that happen with computers.

Thanks ever so much once again,
Mara

[BeeCeeBee]

Is there any chance of getting a screenshot of these "etchings" so we can rule out the obvious. Like demonic possession! :eek:

[Mara]

Good grief, it just may well be 'possessed'!! :(

The darn silly thing! I'm honestly not fibbing - there is a white 'etched' line running horizontally along the top of the screen (situated very slightly below the black line in the box that has the word Sydney written in the top section) - but I can't for the life of me get it to show up in the below screen shot.

And worse, well ... I can't explain what's been happening with my poor monitor right now - but the 'possession' seems to be apparent in the photo.

Really, really, really hoping this is just a passing thing as I'm more than baffled now - gentle sigh.

[BeeCeeBee]

Mara I can't find the horizontal line you mention but the repeating geometric patterns are quite obvious. Have you tried another monitor? I would hate to have you try a whole bunch of things only to find that it is a fault in the monitor itself.

Have you changed your screen resolution lately. What is the size and model number of the Viewsonic monitor?

[pchelp68]

I would try changing the resolution first.

1. right click desktop
2. go to properties
3.settings
4. change the resolution

This might clear it up. Like Barry said we need more information on the size and model of your monitor.

[Mara]

Tried changing the resolution (thanks so much for including the steps on how it's done, pchelp68) but I'm afraid it's still looking the same.

Re the horizontal line ... it's visible to the naked eye but for whatever reason isn't being picked up by Snag Screen (oddly enough, it shows through any icon moved on top of it) ... but suspect this line is the least of the problems right now.

Unfortunately I don't have another monitor I can switch it out with right now (shall try borrowing one this evening, though).

I wandered through the computer this morning and I hope this is the correct information needed:

17" flat screen View Sonic with Intel ® 82945G Express Chip Family

Really do appreciate the help ... the silly thing can work just fine and then do what's seen in the 'capture' and the go back to normal for a while. And now, where in the 'capture' the photo is only visible at the bottom with gray streaks, the photo often comes up now as a psychedelic scary image.

Gosh, who knew this hardware type stuff could be even more difficult than dealing with software woes - gentle smile and sigh.

Thanks again!

[Mara]

Did try borrowing another monitor but couldn't get it to work - likely because it's not the same brand and it takes specific 'drivers' to make it work?

Thanks Dougie for your below suggestions!

I double-checked that I hadn't loosen anything within the tower when I'd given it that thorough cleaning - at least nothing seems to 'wiggle' when I touch it.

Then used your instructions to open the Device Manager ( Press Win' logo key and 'Pause Break' key at the same time) ... after right-clicking on Viewsonic > Update Drivers and then using the Wizard, apparently the driver doesn't need updating.

(When I got the computer no discs of any sort came with it - no driver disc or Windows XP program discs - but I did burn a stack of CDs following Sony's instructions while computer was new. But, when I had to completely reformat the computer since, discovered there is no 'get to drivers only' section in those CDs I burned - apparently it's 'all or nothing', so that option is out).

What truly has me puzzled is why it does it sometimes but not all the time - and it doesn't seem dependent on whether I'm using a program or not. In fact, the screen shot was taken when the only thing open on my computer was 'My documents>My Photos' and I was viewing them on screen.

- - -
Aha, I really should spend more time rummaging through my computer as lo and behold, I found a section called 'Vaio Restore'! And one of the choices it gives me is "Reinstall Applications or Drivers' - wahoo!!

Off to create a Restore Point - and keep my fingers crossed that this restore section works and I don't manage to mess anything up while doing it!

[DSTM]

Hi Mara.I don't think the "Reinstall Applications or Drivers' from "VAIO" will be of much use,as the Drivers on that Disc,due to age of Computer, would be perhaps hundreds of updates, out of date.
The first thing, which you have done, is scan for Windows Drivers updates.

The next, is to go to the Manufactures web site, and download the lastest Drivers,as Windows can be many many updates, out of date also.

I updated my Graphics Drivers, moments ago with Windows,went to the Manufactures Website, and found Windows Version,to be many versions, out of date,but Windows is a good start,and normally enough if one isn't having any issues.

This post has been edited by DSTM: 12 Jul 2009 - 01:49 AM

[Mara]

Yes, although there are no 'discs', suspect Sony somewhere hides a back up copy of everything that was on the computer when it was new - but as you said, it would undoubtedly be outdated by now.

Will download new driver and keep my fingers crossed the silly computer stops doing these odd things with graphics and photos!

Thanks again.

[BSchwarz]

This sounds like burn in or ghosting. There is a way to fix it, but, I'll have to do some searching since I haven't had it happen to me in a while.

It also could be a screen refresh problem although if the line stays all the time I doubt that is the problem. I going to hunt for the solution I used on the last monitor I had that it happened to.

[BSchwarz]

With the replacement monitor do you have the same problem?

From what I found this could be caused by a bad capacitor that is leaking causing the vertical line. As it leaks more, more lines will appear.

[Mara]

First, thanks again Dougie for providing the below great instructions on how to download a driver for one's monitor:

Hold Windows Logo and Pause Break keys at the same time to open up System Properties

Click on Hardware

Click on Devise Manager

Left-click on the + Icon to left of Display Adaptors (your graphic card will appear)

Select Properties from the pop-up box

Click on the Driver box at the top (this will provide driver date and version that's installed)

Use search engine to find Manufacturer's site re 'Download Drivers'
At site, enter your Product Details to search for applicable driver

Compare your present driver number to the version available - and if version offered is newer, download and follow instructions when installing.
- - - - - - - -
The instructions worked perfectly but unfortunately the driver version offered is the same as what I have.

Thanks, BSchwarz, for mentioning it may be 'a leak' - drat as I imagine this means I'll need a new monitor soon. (Couldn't get the borrowed monitor to work with my computer at all).

[BeeCeeBee]

Quote

(Couldn't get the borrowed monitor to work with my computer at all).

Were they the same kind of monitor Mara? For example both VGA or both Flatscreen?

[Mara]

Perhaps I did something wrong but plugged in the borrowed monitor and zip happened. It was also a flat screen but a Dell rather than a View Sonic - perhaps the two aren't interchangeable? (Really don't know much about hardware at all, sadly).

The one 'high point' about all this is the cost of flat screens have come down a lot since I got this one. But if wishes were horses I'd be riding down to the nearest store to get one of the incredible 'back lit' monitors - lovely indeed.

But would really like to keep this one as long as possible so if it's not fixable, will still try to use it as long as the 'ghosting' doesn't interfere with editing images too badly. (I edit old photos for dear elderly people and each pixel is vital when trying to figure out what Aunt Mabel really looked like back in the early 1900s, unfortunately).

[allheart55]

Mara said:

Perhaps I did something wrong but plugged in the borrowed monitor and zip happened. It was also a flat screen but a Dell rather than a View Sonic - perhaps the two aren't interchangeable? (Really don't know much about hardware at all, sadly).

Hello Mara, Did you first shut down the computer?

• Shut down computer
  
• Unplug AC power from monitor
  
• Disconnect monitor cable from tower
  
• Connect new cable monitor to tower
  
• Plug AC power cord into outlet
  
• Turn monitor power on
  
• Reboot your computer

[pchelp68]

My guess is the electrolytic capacitors. But I could be wrong of course! :) That would make reddish brown lines on the monitor.

[Mara]

It's white lines rather than reddish brown -so that gives me hope! Thank you!

Gracious, I never thought of turning off the computer first, allheart55! Thank you so much for the great instructions and I'll see if I can borrow the other screen again this evening.

[allheart55]

Mara,

No problem, you're welcome! :) One good rule of thumb to remember is always shut down the computer before replacing any hardware.

[Dalo Harkin]

Mara - is this sorted now?
I would say its more of a driver issue than anything.
Lets not get the two mixed up - not a GPU driver issue, a monitor driver issue.
Most monitors are labelled as generic monitor by windows - you may want to pop the cd in that came with the monitor to configure the settings again.
Viewsonic monitors and extremely complex and often used for video editing and gaming.
I would say that one of the settings is askew

[Mara]

Never managed to borrow the other monitor again but have made a note to always, always shut computer off prior to installing hardware!

My poor monitor is still suffering woefully but the moment I read your post, Dalo, I zipped off and found my original 'ViewSonic Wizard' CD and now off I go with my fingers crossed to re-load it. I'd actually forgotten I had such a thing - thank you, thank you!