h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

shows me stripes that shouldn't be there. They are not dark black, they're light, but particularly bad on a white background.
The pattern changes, too. Sometimes, they're small, thin lines running diagonically from left to right, then again, they're thick, long, wavey lines running from top to bottom.

Nobody on 'ask' had really an idea what could cause it. The whole screen seems to be 'floating', and it even distorts text (in emails).

Now I'll need a working monitor/pc for the upcoming Post, so I'll not be around other than for checking the Post account and trying to get my work done.

Keep your fingers crossed my monitor won't pack in.

I don't suppose you have any extra monitors lying around your house?
Did you try restarting your computer?

Sounds bad to me, hopefully someone technically-minded will be along soon.

for Bel

*waits for more news and worries*

Traveller in Time reading
"What I read here could be some kind of interference, signals leaking from other devices into the video cable or directly into the monitor.

Can it be there is an other electrical device switched on when you see the diagonal lines ? Are the display connectors fitted properly in their respective slots? "

Try changing the display settings: screen resolution to different sizes to see is it any better at any other size.

as an ex tv repair man, that sounds like interference of some kind - cathode ray tubes were renowned for that, but if yours is a flat screen ?? but still sounds like outside interference

Also check to see that you've not set the refresh rate too high, try changing that to a lower setting (unless it's at it's lowest setting already). You can find the refresh rate in the display properties.

Just sneaking in from work (the boss isn't here).

I had a close look at the amin board (I have no extra graphic card in this old PC), and I couldn't detect anything there. I've now asked my son to test my monitor with his PC

Make that main board - or is it mother board?

You can call it main board or mother board.

Ah, OK. So since I now know that it's no extra graphic card, I hope it's something with the monitor, and not with the main board.

Even if the problem is in the main board, you may still be able to fix it by installing a graphics card. On some computers, when you install a graphics card, it automatically turns off the one on your motherboard. I'm sure I've a spare graphics card somewhere if you need one.

Traveller in Time on top
"Hmm, I wonder if the graphics card would be the father board ? "

if it's stickingit could be a mortar board ??

No, graphics cards are daughter-boards.

Stripes across the screen... you haven't got a zebra standing too close have you?

Thank you all for your suggestions.

Bad news is: it's definitely NOT the monitor, my son checked it on his PC. It's no interference with other devices, either, I removed the speakers (just to be safe), but it doesn't make any difference.

So in case I'll be without any graphics soon, I'll once again have to rely on the goodwill of my sons until it is sorted.

No! You can't be without a PC for the Summer!

I know. I'll have to ask the husband for help, I guess.

Maybe he will sort it for you