OT - do I need a new computer screen?

[FredTransit]

Or a new computer? For the last few days off and on, i have had a bit of a flickery effect at the top of the screen. Now it's developed a top tint . I am hoping it's only the screen, but could it be the computer?

[Tayne]

.

[FredTransit]

Will do, I will dig out the old one from the spare room, er later....

[AXrescuer]

Sounds like it just needs to be de-gaussed. Sometimes switching the screen off and on again a few times does the trick.

[FredTransit]

I turn the screen off when I turn the computer off.

[myglaren]

Have you checked the connection to the computer, could be a bit of corrosion if it hasn't been moved in a while.Unplug and push it back in a few times, firmly, then re-tighten the securing screws.Is it a CRT or LCD?

[Pillock]

if it's a flatscreen LCD, then it's fooked. Cost more to repair than it would to buy a new one (one of the cold cathode tubes will have gone and unless you've got a cleanroom handy, you need a new screen since it's a sealed unit). You can try jiggling the inverter wires but they're rarely seperate. Make sure it's off first, there's 4500volts in them.If it's a tube-type CRT, just make sure you've not got a power supply for a printer or speaker or anything like that near your monitor. I used to fix 80% of "flickery screens" like that in my days as phone chimp. But failing that, look for a "degauss" option in any menus it may have (might be represented by a horseshoe magnet with a line through it) and then buy a new monitor, since it's equally fooked.

[FredTransit]

It's LCD. Never mind, there's always screens on Gumtree. It's not got any worse, and I have got used to it.

[Pillock]

Yeah, it's either a tube or an inverter that's gone then (up to 17" normally only have one tube with one inverter driving it).Pretty much identical to when your kitchen fluorescent tube starts to die, and it goes dark at one end and flickers. Same thing, but smaller and sealed inside the LCD casing.

[myglaren]

A local council (Chester-Le-Street) have an electronics recycling scheme where you can buy refurbished TVs, desktops, laptops and monitors. A mate bought an excellent 17" flatscreen monitor for £30 last year, perhaps there is something similar in your area?

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

An LCD with a broken backlight is useful to someone making a budget LCD projector. Something to keep in mind if you decide to ebay it.

[whitevanman]

An LCD with a broken backlight is useful to someone making a budget LCD projector. Something to keep in mind if you decide to ebay it.

so how does that work then....any technical stuff to elaberate ?

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

An LCD with a broken backlight is useful to someone making a budget LCD projector. Something to keep in mind if you decide to ebay it.

so how does that work then....any technical stuff to elaberate ?

You extract the panel from the broken monitor, and fix it where the transparency would normally go on one of those old fashioned overhead projectors. You get a really cheap, albeit noisy as hell, home cinema!Here's one in action:

[whitevanman]

An LCD with a broken backlight is useful to someone making a budget LCD projector. Something to keep in mind if you decide to ebay it.

so how does that work then....any technical stuff to elaberate ?

You extract the panel from the broken monitor, and fix it where the transparency would normally go on one of those old fashioned overhead projectors. You get a really cheap, albeit noisy as hell, home cinema!Google DIY projector for instructions. Here's one in action:

WooHoo, tomorrow mornings reading material

[chester drawers]

I presume it’s the lay the LCD panel minus all the polarizing and reflective gubbins on top of an overhead projector routine. Mildly entertaining as an exercise, but you wouldn’t want one your living room.Incidentally I used to replace lamps in LCD panels, but without access to a clean room it was always something of a compromise. A bit like flies settling in a respray done on the driveway. When screens were really expensive if was worth it. Sparesweb still supply them but it is a bit of an arse to do.I’m still fixing CRTs too. 3 last week including one degauss positor.EDIT Bugger the reply was in before hit submit sorry!

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

Years and years ago I had this little 14in portable TV, and I bought a lens and instructions to convert it into a projector. You had to turn the TV upside down and build this enormous paper funnel around it. I was really surprised by how well it worked. The only downsides were that the picture was inverted, really dim (even in a dark room) and the thing took up half my bedroom. When I took it apart and put the TV right side up, all the colours were inverted. Purple people, orange skies etc for a while. One day I should really just buy a real projector

[whitevanman]

I’m still fixing CRTs too. 3 last week including one degauss positor.

you have to wonder at the logic of people sometimes............

[chester drawers]

^ Not really; a quid for a positor and the other two were just shitty lead free solder victims. Spot of rework and they'll outlive this modern shit no bother!