Monitor Problems! Ahh! Please help.

[LaVacaLoca]

Hello. I have an HP Pavilion M70 monitor on an HP Pavilion 7840 computer. The HD is set up in a dual-boot XP/FC3 configuration. Whilst booting FC3, cups would not load (a common problem for me) so I had to hold in the power button and restart the computer. However, when I booted the computer up, the monitor went wack-o. The image the monitor is producing is stretched on the top and bottom, but squeezed in in the middle. The result is an image the right height, but almost twice as large, with the top and bottom stretched out. Like this:

Normal: |--|
Mine: )----(

Like my little visuals? I didn't know how else to describe it. This affects Linux and Windows.

I tried visiting the HP site and found no help. I tried using the display settings of the monitor but nothing could fix it. I have no clue why this happened now; it has not happened in the past. I would REALLY appreciate it if someone could tell me what to do; I'm lost! Thank you.

Kevin

[tashirosgt]

If this happens in both Linux and Windows the problem is probably caused by hardware. That would lead one to suspect your Monitor, your video card or your motherboard BIOS. How you should proceed depends on what hardware you have at hand. Do you have other monitors or video cards?

[LaVacaLoca]

Unfortunately, no. :-\

[LaVacaLoca]

Also, how can I tell where the problem is to diagnose and solve it?

[AndyGreen]

This is called "pincushion distortion"... there is a compensation circuit with an associatied adjustment on most monitors: nowadays the OSD has a setting for it. Sounds like something has busted with your monitor if the error persists in Windows too. One thing to try: the settings are usually stored in a EEPROM, maybe this has become corrupted. If there is an option in the OSD to "reset to factory defaults" I would give that a go.

[LaVacaLoca]

My monitor, I believe, is quite an old HP model. And I don't konw what OSD is. On the monitor I can use buttons and I chose "Reset to Factory Defaults" and nothing happened. BTW, both OS's boot fine, besides the wacked image.

Any ideas?

[AndyGreen]

If your monitor is old, look around the back for some knobs or holes that head to potentiometers. If you can find one marked like )(, maybe gently prodding at the pot will change the monitor behaviour? It can be that there is a physical open between the potentiometer and the PCB.

It's no surprise that the OSes continue to work happily -- this is a failure in your monitor only.

[LaVacaLoca]

It is in the monitor. There was a laptop hooked up to the monitor and the output was still the same, the "pincushion distortion". I will look in the back of the monitor for something and get back to you. It may take a while to get back there. :-) Cheers.

[LaVacaLoca]

My shirt is now all dusty, but I didn't find an knobs. Only the input from the computer and the power cord. :-\

Is there any alternative or will I have to get a new monitor?

[AndyGreen]

You can pull it apart, but your task has basically become "monitor repairman". I would throw the monitor away and buy a cheap LCD replacement.

[LaVacaLoca]

That's probably what I'll end up doing. Thank you for your help. I appreciate it. I was worried because I thought the problem was with the computer. But now I know how I can fix it.

Thanks!