21 replies to this topic

[llky]

I have a Dell computer that is about 8 years old.Everything has worked great all this time,but for the last few days the monitor is having problems.When I turn it on and boot up it starts out alright,but then the monitor goes from a nice clear screen to a hazy purple/red screen.After a while of this purple/red screen it will go back to a nice clear easy to read screen,then back to the purple/red thing.Is this an indication that the monitor is on it's way out?

[RegUS_PatOff]

[user=18568]llky[/user] wrote:

I have a Dell computer that is about 8 years old ...

it would seem to be going bad ...

[llky]

Thanks for the reply,so you think that it is going bad also?

[azasadny]

Replace that old monitor, your eyes will thank you!

[Seanessey]

Yep, the monitor is going bad. Pick up a new one. When you hook it up, you will realize immediately how bad your current monitor is!

[llky]

Thanks to all of you guys.

[DeathStalker]

Are you sure your GFX card isn't bad?

[llky]

No,I'm not.Tell me how to check the GFX card.

[RegUS_PatOff]

try another Monitor

[llky]

no other monitor available,unless I have to buy one

[DeathStalker]

The GFX is your graphics card. You may or may not have on board graphics, IE integrated in your Mobo.

It would help to know the type of your computer, IE Dell Opltiplex 6 billion or something like that.

While monitors DO go bad, it's more likely that your video card went bad. Given the age of your computer, you can replace the graphics card much MUCH cheaper than you can buy a decent monitor.

[llky]

Thank you for your reply and info.How do I check/change the graphics card.This is a Dell Dimension 2400 Series,Celerton Processor at 2.2GHz with Intergrated Intel 3D AGP graphics.I am an older guy that did not come up in the computer world.

[DeathStalker]

Changing a GFX card (or in this case putting one in) is very simple. It's tougher to determine whether or not you need one of not. I'm betting you do rather than a monitor. If a monitor is bad, it usually won't do much of anything when you boot it up.

Let's try another tack first though. Have you EVER cleaned out the inside of your computer? What you are experiencing could be caused by nothing more than a heat issue caused by dust in your case.

Disconnect everything from your computer and pull the plug from the computer as well as from the wall. Hit the power button after it is unplugged. This discharges any residue electricity in the capacitors and circuits. NOW your computer is really "off".

Open the case: Lay your computer on it's side. At the rear are two depress-able buttons. One on top and one on the bottom (if it were standing upright). Push them simultaneously and lift. If while you are lifting, all the components are coming up, then stop, close it, and turn it over. Repeat the steps.

Many folks frown on what I'm going to tell you next, but it has worked for me a million times. Take a PLASTIC wand from a vacuum cleaner (the long narrow one) and suck the inside of your case out. Don't touch the components, just suck all you can suck. Then take a can of compressed air (with the wand attached) and blow out all the nooks and crannies. Don't blow air for too long as it has a tendency to blow ice or condensation. Blow a while then suck it out with the vacuum. Anywhere you see a fan venting outside the case, blow it out thoroughly. Make that puppy shine.

Plug everything back in and see if that fixes your problem. If it doesn't report back.

Do you have a CompUSA, Fry's Electronics, or Microcenter near you?

EDIT: For the extreme number of typos lol

EDIT II: Remember what Jethro Tull sang: You're never to old to rock and roll if you're too young to die.

[llky]

Thank you so much for the info and help.I'll do the clean as per your instructions.The stores near me are BestBuy Walmart and Office Depot.Thank you so much.

[DeathStalker]

Damn. None of those stores have anything useful for computers, especially a graphics card.

But maybe we can work around that lol.

[DeathStalker]

I hope your absence doesn't mean that you sucked up something important with the vacuum cleaner like a CPU or motherboard lol. Maybe I should have stated "DON'T use a kick start turbo injected Tim the Toolman Vacuum cleaner."

Just kidding. I'll check back tomorrow to see what's up with this for you.

[llky]

No I didn't.I cleaned the unit as per your info,now I have a part time monitor.It will come on, and it is clear for about 30 minuets or so then it goes to redish purple,then after awile it will be cleared up again and working good.What do you think?

[DeathStalker]

It still sounds like a heat issue, but with that old obsolete computer lo what are you doing to heat it up? Surfing porn?

Just kidding. But are you trying to download video's or music? Since it's clean and still having problems, I'm leaning towards the onboard GPU (graphic processing unit, as opposed to GfX, graphics card. They basically mean the same thing, but it occurred to me after I typed it that it may be confusing) crapping out. Let me be blunt (and I don't mean this in an ugly way).

That is an old, obsolete computer. It is good for checking email and for basic message board like this one if you don't download anything. The processor is a single core, with only 2.4 GHz speed, and  an under powered one at the time you bought it. The ampunt of RAM you probably have (512MB) is insufficient for most applications in the last 5 or 6 years. Is this your computer specs? I guess I should have said are THESE, sorry. I hesitate to suggest a GFX card for you because even the cheapest one at around 30 bucks is worth more than your computer and is just a band aid. Let me clarify:

You are using XP, the most hacked OS in the history of computers. Have you even installed the latest updates? Do you have SP3 and all the updates after that? XP is soon to be unsupported by Microsoft. With an 80 GB HDD you can't really run Win7 (forget Vista) so upgrading your OS is useless. While your processor would handle Win7 your Ram won't without upgrading. Dell computers are proprietary. That means they are virtually non upgradable. In your case, you can upgrade the RAM to 2 GB's, and add a video card, but you can't do anything else. Even your video card upgrades are are limited unless you upgrade your power supply which would entail modifying your case. None of which is hard, but is it worth the money spent? Sadly no. For the same price you could get a new computer WITH a monitor.

Ole Bessy is probably spent. You can whip her, but she ain'ta gonna plow very many more rows. Dell bought really bad components in the time period that you got your computer. It wasn't really their fault, the sub's cheated them, but Dell refused to acknowledge it (which WAS their fault) until they got sued for it. This has all come out recently.

I asked you about stores so I could suggest a new computer or a new video card for you. If you had a store where you could buy a card like one I will link in a minute, you could take it back if it didn't fix your problem. Unfortunately without being there to see what's going on, I can't say for certain whether it's a video card or the monitor.  It would help if I knew where you were. If money is an issue, do you have any place like Microseconds? Obviously, you don't need a top of the line computer or else you would have trashed that one years ago lol.

To be honest, if you are HERE to gain knowledge to fix your appliances, you CAN build a computer. It isn't hard. A couple of years ago, I wanted a high end computer. Dell (and anyone else) wanted 10 grand for what I spec'ed out. I built it for less than 3 grand and I had NEVER built a computer before. If I can do it, you can do. I don't know how old you are, but I'm almost 50. I was just to stupid to know I was to stupid to build the damn thing so I did it anyway. Kinda like the stove I just repaired. Except the computer was easier.

Anyway, here is a link for some cheap GFX cards. Newegg IS the premier computer parts store online or brick and mortar. the only thing I don't recommend you buy from them is coincidentally monitors. Newegg

As best as I can figure, you need a PCI card, not a PCI-E and you don't want a low profile one. You will also need to go into your BIOS and change a setting. Let me know what you decide and I can walk you through it.

[RegUS_PatOff]

borrow somebody's old Monitor to try ...

[llky]

Thank you guys so much for all the help and very good insight on this old computer.I am leaning toward replacing it with a new one,but I'm unsure of which one and what kind.I live in an area with limited stores,so untill I get to a bigger town,I'm checking into possibilities.Again,thank you so much for the time and help you have sent my way.