large dead spot on lcd monitor

marksson · Post by **marksson** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 6:57 pm

Anyone got some idea on this?
I have returned from holiday to find a golf ball sized dead spot on my monitor as well as vertical drag lines at the bottom.
Whilst I have obviously heard of dead pixels why would there be a cluster?
I would have posted a screen shot but of course the PC sees the correct image because I assume it's a monitor problem.

RichieP · Post by **RichieP** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 10:49 am

How are you sure it's a monitor problem and not the graphics card? Can you try a different monitor or that monitor on a different computer?

If the computer is OK, monitors aren't really repairable. If you could find someone who could repair it, they probably charge almost as much as it would cost to buy a new one.

Hoovie · Post by **Hoovie** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 11:42 am

you could take a photo and post it?

Richie is right about repair - if it is out of warranty, it is worthless when failed due to cost of repair compared to new ones.

FYI I bought a 22" ViewSonic screen from Staples for £140 which I think is a very keen price and the screen is REALLY nice

marksson · Post by **marksson** » Sat Jul 05, 2008 5:32 pm

Putting aside warranty or repair (in our disposable society it's a given that it'll be cheaper to replace).
I am mostly curious to see if anyone has come across this, as it doesn't look like pixel failure? Def the monitor not PC (1st pic).
Note the drag lines at the bottom of the monitor as well as the 'black hole'.
Now as a rare treat, may I introduce my daughter & her chosen emoticons:

:bs

Hoovie · Post by **Hoovie** » Sat Jul 05, 2008 6:09 pm

That circle looks too perfect to be a "trauma" failure on the screen

Try a couple of things ....

Using the monitor control, you shoudl be able to adjust the geometry of the screen - shift it left, right, up down, plus stretch and shrink it both vertically and horizontally.

Try those and see if the circle moves about and also changes shape - squeezes and stretches. If it does, then I don't think the fault can be with the LCD Panel itself, but must be the electronics in the monitor controlling it - which I reckon is the most likely fault looking at pic.
If this is the case, then a repair would be cheaper - whether 'cheaper' brings it within economical repair is another matter!

TheFuzzy0ne · Post by **TheFuzzy0ne** » Sat Jul 05, 2008 6:10 pm

That looks to me like a problem with your graphics driver. In my limited experience, I've never heard of pixels not working on LCD monitors. I'm sure this only happens on CRT monitors. Generally, they either work, or they don't work at all.

Do you still get the problem when you boot into Safe Mode?

To boot into Safe Mode you can do one of two things:

As the initial BIOS screen disappears, start hammering the crap out of your F8 key. If Windows starts to load, try the next option which is to simply pull the plug on your PC during boot up. Whilst this is not recommended, you will find that when you try to boot Windows next, you'll be presented with a screen whining that Windows didn't start up properly. From this screen you can tell it to boot into Safe Mode.

It is possible that there is some internal damage to your monitor, especially if it's wall mounted. I managed to bust mine from using screws that were about 2mm too long.

It seems that everything these days comes with a self-destruct timer. Once the warranty is over, things go wrong within a few months.

Hoovie · Post by **Hoovie** » Sat Jul 05, 2008 6:21 pm

Hi Fuzzy - you can often get faulty pixels on LCD screens.
Not what we are dealing with here though, as that would be mega sized pixel

On a LCD screen a pixel can fail in an off state - so you get a black pin-point, it can fail in an on state - so you get a white pin-point, or occasionally one of the transistors can get stuck on, so the pin-point is always a specific colour.

TheFuzzy0ne · Post by **TheFuzzy0ne** » Sat Jul 05, 2008 6:26 pm

Hoovie wrote:Hi Fuzzy - you can often get faulty pixels on LCD screens.
Not what we are dealing with here though, as that would be mega sized pixel

On a LCD screen a pixel can fail in an off state - so you get a black pin-point, it can fail in an on state - so you get a white pin-point, or occasionally one of the transistors can get stuck on, so the pin-point is always a specific colour.

Duely noted. Well, at least I can now say that I "have" heard of faulty pixels on LCD screens.

I love your avatar by the way. It reminds me of a Crusha advert I saw recently.

Hoovie · Post by **Hoovie** » Sat Jul 05, 2008 6:59 pm

That crusha ad is great

Not sure if you know this site - http://www.rathergood.com/

Word of warning though - absolutely NOT for kids in loads of places. both visual and audio wise

back on track - I am really interested in what that monitor problem is. Can you post the make and model of the screen?

marksson · Post by **marksson** » Sat Jul 05, 2008 7:00 pm

Hoovie, tried your suggestion.
'The Black Hole' (it now has capitals status) does not move in any way shape or form.
TheFuzzyOne, this is definately monitor not PC.

marksson · Post by **marksson** » Sat Jul 05, 2008 7:01 pm

It's an acer AL1917

TheFuzzy0ne · Post by **TheFuzzy0ne** » Sat Jul 05, 2008 7:09 pm

Another common problem that springs to mind, is the cable. Whilst cables shouldn't deteriorate, the wires can break if they are bent and stretched. Do you have a replacement cable to test?

It's also worthwhile just checking to make sure that nothing has come loose at the PC and monitor end of the cable.

Hoovie · Post by **Hoovie** » Sat Jul 05, 2008 7:15 pm

marksson - if you need to carry on using this monitor while trying to suss out the fault, that Black HoleTM must really be getting in the way! - if so, you could try running the PC at a different resolution?

you are likely running at 1280x1024 - You could set the screen to 1280x ??? - where ??? could be various options listed in the display settings, but a good one to try would be 1280x768, or 1280x960. This will probably stretch the screen vertically, but you can then use the monitor controls to compress it again and then reposition it.
Hopefully this will allow you to move the window away from the Black HoleTM and also get rid of the noise on the task bar.

Not sure if there will be enough adjustment to allow this to fully happen (I just tried with an Acer AL1916W and I could only move the screen about 1/2" max) but may be worth a go?

Hoovie · Post by **Hoovie** » Sat Jul 05, 2008 7:32 pm

can't find anything on 'tinternet to do with this kind of fault

Looking on eBay, similar monitors are £30-£60 which means any commercial repairs are almost bound to be pointless.

This must be an electronics failure on the LCD panel control but the chance of finding it and even then getting parts to replace a fault part is very remote unless you can get another faulty screen as a donor.

Hoovie · Post by **Hoovie** » Sat Jul 05, 2008 7:55 pm

OK - just sent the pic to a mate of mine and he says it is a damaged LCD panel. asked him how come considering the perfect circle and he says it is a crack in the panel and he has seen it before.
I guess a bit like a pond when you thow a stone in and you get perfect ripples coming out from centre.

Looks like to repair means a new LCD panel and that is the major cost of all Screens, so time to bin, I am afraid