Computer Monitor - looking for "Alaris" driver.

[vhelp]

hi,

I am having some Monitor troubles. I one of my monitors sort of died.
I had to take my 2nd pc's monitor, and connect to this pc here. I didn't
care much for the color when it was connected to my 2nd pc, but now that
it is on this pc, the color is so bad and way off target.

Basically, the color is on the green side. I've messed w/ the controls on
this monitor to no avail. They are useless to me. I think that maybe my
OS can help. But, after a careful search of any supporting drivers, I could
not locate ANY such driver. Below are my monitor details.

I've looked on my Windows 98 cd-rom disk, but unfortunately, there are
no drivers (no monitor matching mine name "Alaris")

My Windows 98 keeps sensing it as an "unknown" monitor, and as such, my
resolution adjustments goes all the way to the max: 2048x1536

Under setup/Advanced../Color Tab.. changing the colors (read/green/blue)
don't help either. I can't nail down the exact color space. I need the driver
if there is one or matching one.

Color Management:
Ok, I've also tried using different one's, like my last, which was Nec, but
each time I try a few, my pc blanks out (black screen) each time I reboot.

So, w/out the correct driver for this monitor, the colors are off the scale,
very hard to explain. But, for the most part, everything is on the green
side.

Make: Alaris (energy smart)
Size: 15"
Controls: all are electronic via touch-buttons (no manual slide buttons)

If anyone can help, I would appreciated it.
Thanks for listing.
-vhelp

[rendalunit]

hey vhelp,

here's a good place to find drivers:
http://www.driverguide.com

If your monitor is just shot, you can buy a switch to control both of the 'puters with your other (working) monitor- I have my two plugged into my ViewSonic with a cheapo switch- works great!

ren

[vhelp]

hi rendalunit..

I've ben very depressed because of my one 7 years w/ my Nec 15+
monitor dieing on me. This cheapo Alaris costed me $99 (used) at a used
pc store, and I think it's even older, but still kick'en butt. But, it has this
annoying color problem. Almost reminds me of color washout. Anyways..

I'll try that link you posted - thanks!!
-vhelp

[Faustus]

Likely if it has a tint to it its one of two things. Either a gun is not working properly or has a loose connection inside. OR the tube is going out and developed a tint. I've ran into both over the years, neither is very fun. I actually have one that has a loose connection in my garage right now, been that way for years and I'm horrible at soldering, sadly a good resoldering is all thats needed to fix it. We call it "Old Green"

Personally I think of a monitor dying as a mixed blessing, sure you have to buy a new one, but its a good time to UPGRADE!

[vhelp]

Hi guys

@ flaystus..

Yes, an UPGRADE is what I was already planning for

Mine is going to be an Flatscreen (the onese flat flat as a VHS tape, sort
of)

I saw one for $329 (USA price) year ago, and this monitor was SOOOOO
crystal clear at reading the text and so forth, that I was in awl !!
I really appreciated the quality, but the price was too steep for me at the
time, and I didn't "really" need an UPGRADE then. UPGRADES should only
be necessary if and when your current (or any piee there-of) fails or falls
apart or dies out - - like my monitor.

Ok, I really want a flat-screen one. I saw in a newspaper cliping w/ a
compUSA add for one selling for $229 - - And, I'd like to check that one out
if I can. If anyone remembers this one, let me know what the quality is
like. I really want for themost part, to be able to read text clearly, and not
like how you see text laid out on a regular monitor (blurry) I've yet to see
a monitor w/ clrystal clean and clear text to date.. and I've seen LOTS !!
My 21" monitor at work is blurry, and was brand new when I first got it their. And, in visiting MANY other staff members 21" monitor, I can safely
say (w/out a doubt) that there truely is NO monitor that is cable of the same
level of quality I saw w/ that flat-screen monitor. I'm going to try compUSA
next week on that $229 one, cause I really need a replacement fast !!

However, my one worry about a flat-screen (any) is the Video quality side.
I don't know what to expect !! And, I'm not talking about HDTV here at all.
Just a regular flat-screen.

Thanks for all your input.. and keep them coming if any news come your way.
-vhelp

[EddyH]

Monitors don't usually "need" drivers, it's all interchangable... all the "driver" does is actually set the limits to what Windows and your graphics card can do with it, as some have lower resolution/scan rate maximums etc, as well as a few power-saving options.

If you're getting a green screen then something hardware-wise is out of what. In order of checking....

1. make sure the cable is connected properly, at both ends if needs be.
2. make sure the cable is undamaged, give it a wiggle & a jiggle to see if any change happens on the screen.
2b. check all the pins in the plug are ok!
2c. if it can be disconnected both ends, swap it for another (or swap the same cable to a different model) to test.
3. degauss the screen, if it's just that the colours are unevenly spread, assuming the monitor allows you to do that. alternately see if you can get a TV professional to use a degaussing tool on it or borrow one (CAREFULLY!!!!!), or just play around with magnets, bashing it..
4. or as stated, your guns could be gone, in which case it's either repair/adjustment time, or slinging it and getting another.
5. rarely it may even be the video card, or... in case of extreme wierdness (or possibly invasion of small children) the colour balance in the video card's advanced setup has been messed with. does it do that in DOS too? connected to another PC?

[vhelp]

@ all.

Well, I finally took the plung, and got myself a 15" flat-screen monitor.



* NEC LCD1555V

I have not hooked it up yet, but am readying myself for this task shortely.
I can't wait. Only 19 watts of power, and no heat like my old monitor and
tihs one too.. hot as anything !!

I will let you all know my findings. Maybe make a separate post on this
LCD thing, for others to see.

Thanks to all who contributed to my problem
-vhelp

[gmatov]

Vhelp,
That's not a "flat screen", that's an LCD. A flat screen is a regular monitor, CRT, with a flat face, much cheaper.
I am not cutting your purchase. I intend to get one when the 17 or 19s get to my pocketbook range. Till then, I'll stick with these big, bulky things..
I bought my last at a computer show, 1 year warranty, for 25 bucks, a little burn-in, but not visible when anything on screen, other than the desktop green felt.
When you do plug it in, go to some kind of white screen to check for bad pixels. They all supposedly have them, but the makers will replace if too many, or too many close together.
Enjoy the new unit.

[gmatov]

Vhelp,
I'm sorry. I didn't address your original problem. I have two computers connected with a switch box for the monitor. When I switch from one to the other, I have to click it back and forth a couple times to get a "normal" screen. Some of the contacts are bad, which also happened to the cable for a monitor I had a while back. Bad connections in the wire. Wiggle the cable, the color would go purple, green, red. Get it wiggled just right, the color was just right. If you pitched the old one, ignore. If you still want to use it for No. 2, it may be the cable. If it plugs in at both ends, replace. If only one end, you would probably have to replace the computer end. 15 pins. Not easy, but doable.

[Doggiedaddy]

If you are in the US and near a Costco they always have good stuff and a lot of times with instant rebate. I have 3 of these 18" Sylvania LCD Resolution: 1280x1024 and love them.


http://www.costco.com/frameset.asp?trg=subcat%2Easp&catid=84&subid=1680&hierid=4181&log=&NavTop=

[vhelp]

@ all..

Well, I finally connected it. works great

@ gmatov..

about the pixel thing.. yes, I've heard about a couple of years ago. I did
not forget it. I'm not sure if there is really good test for this type of scrutney
of bad pixel. I did use a white background, and couldn't find any that stood
out, if I could notice anything at all. Everything seems to be working a.ok!!
I like!!

Only negative thing about these monitors is the way the brightness is like,
when you have a bright background ie, white, light gray etc. It's too clashy
like. Almost color washout-looking. It's a kind of similar look of my old
B/W 486 25Mhz w/ 4MB ram Compaq laptop computer days. But, other
than that, it's great so far. I guess I just gotta get use to the brightness
of backgrounds.

About the flat-screen issue. Not problem. I was just refering it like that
becuase, heck, it is flat from my perspective. It's only 2" think, and flat hehe..

Video looks great though. But, not color rich in the dark areas ie, black.
More like grayish looking. Not the same as on a CRT monitor. There's
deffinately a difference. It's just another thing to get use to. But, I guess
you could compare it to an HDTV. In a way, its sort of like it. And, as for
MPEG encoded videos.. you know.. that ones' YOU do yourselves.. well, it's
like you can see you flaws clearly.. just like on an HDTV. So, in a sense,
if you wanted to know what an HDTV would show you in YOUR encodes,
on a very cheap $$ scale, this (these types of) monitor is the way to go.

Man, I tell ya.. this thing isn't even worm. I can't wait till the weather gets
even hotter. My bills will be cut some, I sure. Earlier, as I was dissconnecting
my old farty monitor, the beast was soo hot !!

I took some pics of my LCD using my TRV22 cam, (in MEM mode) and I
didn't see any sign of scanlines, and the pic was clean. Another plus.

My unit is black. I wanted a change form the usual white that I've ben getting
all these years. It's a change for me.

Well, I did take a look at some of MY encodes. And, I happy to say that
most of them looked great. I think that these types of monitor's would be
a great tool for debugging and fine-tuning KVCD (and variants)
template encodes.

>> Enjoy the new unit.

Oh, I am hehe.. hehe..


@ gmatov..

Well, as for my crummy old monitor that I was using temporarily and just
disconnected. I reconnected BACK to its 2nd pc (where it was in the begin)
and would you know, the color is fine!!

I'm thinking that maybe it was my Graphics card going crazy on my MAIN
pc. When my original monitor was connected to MAIN pc, one of the
symtoms it would give me is sqiggly likes. Like, when you change the
displays resolution to a non supported one, the whole screen goes crazy
and you can't read it, and it makes a funny high pitch sound. After banging
it around and turning on/off may times, and then rebooting pc, and so on
and so forth half a dozen times, it would wake up and work correctly, and
yes, w/ correct color and brightness.
I think I may have done my old MAIN pc's monitor an injustice (by banging
it around a lot, for nothing) That's what "really" did it in, and it may have
ben inacent all along. And, for that, I might have raught sacrilige.. so, I'm
feeling kind of bad at the moment. Only some testing will tell for sure, but
I'm too busy w/ other things. Anyways..

LCD...
What I really like in this new monitor, is the sharpness I get. No more of
the blurryness I've ben suffering from all these years. Just think of how
much abuse and torchoure I put my eyes through, all these years!!

Well, I've got more exploring and tweaking to do. But, so far, I've gotten
my monitor to look a bit better now. I am liking it even more :P

Well, so far, I'm enjoying my new toy.
-vhelp

[gmatov]

Vhelp,
You might have broken some "oxide film", corrosion, when you reconnected to the old sys. It doesnt' take much at the voltages-currents these things use. Some contact cleaner might have helped. Just be careful. When my 4 port KVM switch did this, I opened it and sprayed it with contact cleaner and it melted some of the plastic contact carriers. (Only saved it by cranking it back and forth before it was able to fuse the plastics together.)
Yeah, LCDs have an optimum viewing angle, brightest when you set them to your normal seating position. Easy to adjust, though. 60 pound "portable" monitors, generally take a little more force.
Wasn't criticisizing the "flat screen", just you are in a whole new ballpark. They're different. I don't have enogh experience to critique. I would like one.. They ARE portable, but that would mean more for a student, than for a home user. You don't usually move one too often.
I think you don't see scan lines because they don't scan, like a CRT does. They light up a pixel and stay lit, whereas a phosphor element, CRT, only glows for 1/60th of a second or whatever your refresh rate is. Then again, I don't know if it will redraw your screen to your satisfaction if you are an intense gamer.
Still, hope you like it.
Oh, try to get a single color screen and see if you get little blocks of black spots, for bad pixels. I think if you reduce the res, they would show up best, like 640 X 480. Hope you have none. They ARE getting better at producing these things.

[vhelp]

@ gmatov..

>> .. .. .. kvm switch..

Thats it!! Thank you!! I was going out of my mind trying to remember this
gizmo. Something I deffinately need because I want to try and share my
new LCD and keyboard/mouse here, and just switch back and forth w/out
having to resort to bouncing around on my chair. ..is now squeeking like
loudly and crazy and is annoying me something teriblely. grrrr.

That's next on my list. Anyways..

I'm looking at my other CRT monitor, and I do miss how much darker the
background is on it though. It's harder to learn to adjust on this LCDs.
Also, this unit has that "no touch" feature, and every time you turn it on,
I think it resets. I'll verify tomorrow on this.

Well, whatever was wrong originally w/ my old CRT on 2nd pc, it's even
better than before. Colors are much richer and backround is solid and clean.
I'm tempted to connect my LCD to it, just to see how the background looks.
Maybe it's something else on my MAIN pc's graphics card. Maybe going
bad or something.
Hmmm... tempated to do it NOW
-vhelp

[gmatov]

Vhelp,
One of the moderators, I forget which, but they read every post, posted a site to DL a monitor color correction color bar thing. Try finding it or ask the mods to fess up, who posted this and where can I find it?I think the black level was the most important, but may be mistaken. I think it was BJ_M, but again, may be mistaken. I would hope txpharoah could help, but he may not know LCDs that well. (There's a few who would say that'd never stop Tex, though, right, Tex? Hey, I'm not jagging you, I like reading your input. Hope you see this, and help Vhelp more than I can.)
Yeah, the KVM is fantastic. I have a 2 port monitor only switch on 2 others and get a lot of "dings" because I grabbed the wrong KB/mouse. I have rebooted, reset switch wise, with the moniotor switch because I thought it locked up. Wrong gd kb/mouse..