CRT monitor problem

Dist · 25 Mar 2010 at 18:42

I hope someone here can help because I have no clue what the issue I'm having is caused by. I have an old CRT screen as a monitor, and recently I have noticed that at the top of the screen there is a red band about an inch wide going all the way from the left to the right. It's very faint so hard to see except against a light coloured background and there seem to be some clear spots inside the red band but I can't tell what they are (if they are specific shapes or something).

I've tried taking a picture of it but there is far too much noise for anyone to be able to make out whats wrong, so I am hoping by description alone someone might know.

The red band is on top of everything, it's not a desktop thing, so I assume it is either my monitor or my 8800GT on its way out. Is there any way I can find out for sure what the problem is? and before anyone asks I don't have an extra display or graphics card that I can use to test.

Edit: Just did one test that I thought could help find the cause of the problem, I used my montiors controls to adjust the screen position, and adjusted the picture up and down and the red band didn't move. If this was a graphics card issue the red band should have moved shouldn't it?

PCM2 · 25 Mar 2010 at 20:05

Do you notice it before Windows has loaded? What about in safe mode? If it was a graphics card issue it would move and you would most likely notice other artifacts. It sounds very much like a monitor issue. They don't last forever I'm afraid.

Dist · 25 Mar 2010 at 20:35

PCM2 said:
Do you notice it before Windows has loaded? What about in safe mode? If it was a graphics card issue it would move and you would most likely notice other artifacts. It sounds very much like a monitor issue. They don't last forever I'm afraid.

unfortunately I rarely reset my machine, and the last time I did a reset I wasn't paying attention. Also, its too faint to notice against black background which is what everything up until windows is at the login screen is.

It's such a shame, I think I must have had this monitor for 9 or 10 years now and it has worked flawlessly. Time for me to spend the next week or two brushing up on monitor knowledge, so many different types of panels, contrast ratios, brightness etc.. it's hard to figure out what a good replacement monitor is.

VortexA1 · 25 Mar 2010 at 20:37

Have you degaussed it?

Dist · 25 Mar 2010 at 22:07

VortexA1 said:
Have you degaussed it?

Yes. Didn't help

PCM2 · 25 Mar 2010 at 23:13

You might find my site helpful for some ideas (especially the monitor tech. article). There is a link to it if you click my name. And you've certainly come to the right place here - some very helpful and knowledgeable people on the OcUK forums.

P.S. If you do visit my website I'm sorry about the garish ads. We're doing some testing at the moment and will probably change them to something that it kinder on the eyes shortly.