Computer Monitor Flicker Problem

[Xenon77]

My ViewSonic VA1919W 19" Widescreen monitor has suddenly developed a problem after 3 years.

Now, the screen is plagued with [what best can be described as] flashing horizontal lines [hard to tell if they are heading down or up], and the lines are especially intrusive over dark parts of the screen... usually.

If I open up Google for example, I can barely see them over the white background... but having said this, on some darker backgrounds I cannot see the lines, but instead they show up over the brighter areas, causing the brighter areas to flicker.

To try and diagnose, I have first unplugged from the computer and switched the monitor on by itself. Results: lines still appear on monitor [though thicker, presumably affected by the lack of input]. This would suggest the problem lies within the monitor, not the computer or the connecting cable. I would therefore assume it to be a waste of time to start looking at my video card or any software-related possibilities.

It looks to me like interference of some sort. Yet nothing has changed in my computer hardware setup, and to the best of my knowledge there are no new electrical pulses around me that might be causing it. I have unplugged the monitor from the bank of computer plugs where it normally receives power, and moved it to a new plug socket of its own, but with same results.

Any ideas? I haven't really got a spare £100 for a relacement at the moment, and while the monitor is still usable this unwanted effect is very distracting and gives me a headache.

I know very little about electrics to be honest, but I might be able to follow up any suggestions about checking wires, connectors etc [everything seems fine on the outside]. I've tried gently tapping the monitor casing all around, but no change.

[Nelson37]

That it still happens with no input connected is the critical data.

Unfortunately, I think it's toast.

If you got lots of patience, and are REAL good with a soldering iron, it might be worth disassembling and checking for a loose connection. Taking it to a pro for this gets cost-prohibitive real fast.

It just might still be under warranty, 3 years is not uncommon, especially for Viewsonics. Warranty date is based on date of sale, which is based on a paper invoice, which is often created and printed by computer.

[Soopafresh]

You deserve a new monitor