[ntarelix]

When I started using my brother's old monitor (Insignia 15" CRT) it worked fine at first, but one day it randomly decided to start doing this weird pincusion type effect. That's what the setting is called on my monitor anyways. I drew some basic pictures with MSPaint so you can understand a little better.
Normal Monitor

My Monitor

I don't know how exactly this happened. Maybe something got moved to where it shouldn't be inside the monitor when I moved it to my desk. I have no idea. If anyone could help me fix this problem, it would be nice. I am most definitely sure it is a problem with the hardware itself because if I jiggle the monitor a little, it will rapidly switch back and for between normal and the way I have it now.
I know, the easiest option is probably to just get a new one, but I like to know things so it would be nice to know how to fix a problem like this. I just don't want to start messing with stuff in the monitor and accidentally completely ruin the monitor and have to buy one before I really needed to. Although, I would really like an LCD because this CRT is taking up the majority of the desk space...
Thanks in advance for those of you who have come to read and maybe even help me.

 

[Half-Wit]

Re: Monitor Hardware "Pincusion" Effect

Have you tried moving the monitor to a different place on your desk? Distortion is often caused by other devices near the monitor.
Your particular symptom does look like a possible internal failure, though. When you 'jiggle' it does the height and/or brightness change, too? If so, I tend to suspect the power supply in the monitor.

 

[Half-Wit]

Re: Monitor Hardware "Pincusion" Effect

Sorry, I posted a little to quickly.

If the 'jiggle' test produces consistent results, someone experienced at soldering on circuit boards may be able to find and repair some cracked solder joints on large or high power components.

 

[Tyree]

Re: Monitor Hardware "Pincusion" Effect

I'm betting the monitor s failing. Have you tried a different monitor with that PC or that monitor with a different PC?
Have you tried adjusting the setting on the monitor? There is a setting to correct that effect.

 

[ntarelix]

Re: Monitor Hardware "Pincusion" Effect

Have you tried moving the monitor to a different place on your desk? Distortion is often caused by other devices near the monitor.
Your particular symptom does look like a possible internal failure, though. When you 'jiggle' it does the height and/or brightness change, too? If so, I tend to suspect the power supply in the monitor.

When I jiggle it, it usually flashes between how it should be and the way it is now. When this first started happening, I remember putting something under it to make the front of the monitor a little higher and that seemed to work. It eventually started to not work and it would flash between regular and the way it is now so I removed the can and let it be the way it is.

Sorry, I posted a little to quickly.

If the 'jiggle' test produces consistent results, someone experienced at soldering on circuit boards may be able to find and repair some cracked solder joints on large or high power components.

I guess I'll try opening it sometime soon and looking at it. If I move the power cord around it does change so I guess some damage to the board or something would make sense.

I'm betting the monitor s failing. Have you tried a different monitor with that PC or that monitor with a different PC?
Have you tried adjusting the setting on the monitor? There is a setting to correct that effect.

I have tried a different monitor with the pc. The other monitors work fine, except my original one. That's a different story...

I replaced my monitor because my old monitor wouldn't display all the colors. I think it was Reds and Greens that it wasn't displaying because I never saw any of those colors where I should have. Everything was blue and all shades of blue and maybe some other color (yellow maybe...?) So I just got my brothers old monitor and it was good for a few weeks until this happened and now I've got that problem. I'm pretty sure there's something wrong with the insides of that one too because it worked fine until I unplugged it to switch my video card.
Both monitors have the same results no matter what pc I connect them to or where the pc is located.

If I find anything inside that looks damaged, I'll get some pictures and post them.

 

[ntarelix]

I opened my monitor and looked at it. I couldn't see any damage but I tried turning it on an it was normal(bad). I tried moving things around to see what may be causing the problem. Moving the entire board up a little or down a lot seemed to work. So I got some electric tape and suspended the board a little higher than it originally was. I had to remove some loose plastic from the edges that were originally made to hold the board in place. Also, by moving it up, the case wouldn't fit around it because there was a slot inside it that the board slid into so I had to cut off some of the plastic in the case and some plastic on the back where the cords go so it fits well now. I tried shaking it a lot after completely reassembling it and I haven't had problems with it since then. Thanks everyone who responded!
-Relix

 

[Half-Wit]

Good work!

Makes me even more suspicious about solder joints. If that is the case, your solution may work for up to a couple of weeks before the problems start up again because the condition continually deteriorates from heat and current flow.

It is an easy 'fix' for someone familiar with this malady.