Monitor ?driver? problem.

[srcfish]

I have an Artmedia 17" Trinitron monitor. Here is the problem, the monitor loses its vertical and horizontal 'hold' ... the screen 'snaps' so that it loses 1/2 an inch on either side and expands a number of inches horizontally. Plug and play was used to detect a driver.

System:

Pentium III
500 Mhz
128 MB RAM
S3 Savage4 video card

I have switched monitors with an older computer. A Daewoo monitor replaced the Artmedia and it has not been a problem. The Artmedia is now hooked up to an older (486) machine where it does not present any problems whatsoever.

NOTE: I have tried to change the driver a few times. In the "Update Device Driver Wizard" window I select "search for a better driver than the one you are using now". The computer always responds with "THe best driver is already installed for this monitor...". THis message appears regardless of what driver I initially select manually.

[digital_d_17]

The only thing a monitor "driver" does, is actually tell the OS what resolutions its capable of, and at what refresh rates.

Is there any sort of EM interference around your newer computer that might not be around your older computer? The problem might be with a poorly shielded monitor cable, but I doubt it.

Also, what are you doing when it looses its "hold," and it "snaps?"

-Digital D.

[srcfish]

Thanks for the prompt reply... I should have asked a looong time ago. Now that you mention EM interference I feel a little bit like a fool. A week or two ago I disconnected the speakers and moved the HD away from the monitor to test for EM problems. What did I forget to move? That big honkin' television sitting right above the monitor!! I'm guessing that's all it is (but I'm sure your guess is far better than mine!) Hopefully there won't be any more problems. I'll give it a week.
Thanks agian.

[NDC]

Another thing that monitor install diskettes include are color profiles....

[Axel]

Go to the monitor manufacturer's web site anbd do a search in their support area for a monitor INF file update -

This needs to go into the c:\windows\inf directory according to the instructions the manufacturer provides ( often as simple as just put the inf file in there )

Do you remember seeing, the last time you installed something, about windows is now building the information database.... etc. etc. - it's putting together lists from the inf database and looking for drivers in it's files - the inf file allows you to "select" the specific monitor based on maker and model and then sets the correct parameters for it.

That has about a 20% chance of fixing your problem in this one case - By your description of the pops and screen changes, I'd say you have a lemon on your hands and you should return it - even with a bad resolution chosen, the worst the monitor should do is go blank because it can't handle the resolution specified -

You can disconnect the power and the video cable and make sure you have no bent or broken cable pins - but I doubt that's it -

Does the monitor have a loud hum a moment after it starts up? - It should - this is called "degaussing" - I.E. - it de-magnetizes the internal components - this is done because magnetism causes the internal parts to "stick" or move slower than intended which can cause a blurry image - when you have two monitors close together and you have one on- and power up the other - you'll notice the one already on gets blurry when the start-up goes through it's demagnetizing step.

Good luck