I Think My Computer Monitor Is About Ready To Go Kaput!

What kind of monitor? Is it one of those old style big chunky kind (CRT Monitor) or a flat screen type?

Either way, if you shut your monitor off between uses, don't. A monitor is like a light bulb. The more it's turned on and off, the quicker it will burn out. It sounds to me like yours is already on its way out. Don't turn it off. Just keep it turned on all of the time.

Also, you can pick up an old CRT monitor for probably $10.00. Many are selling them or even giving them away. Check your local computer stores. People drop them off to be recycled or salvaged for parts.

Ack! That doesn't sound good. I wish I could give you suggestions, but the only thing I can tell you is to try to get a new monitor. I have an old CRT monitor that's had a yellow-greenish screen for a couple of years. It makes me somewhat colorblind while I'm the computer.

Be careful of buying a cheap LCD from walmart. You get what you pay for. You'd spend a little more, but be better off going with something like an LG monitor that has a 3-5 year manufacturer warranty (vs 1 year). If you decide to purchase an extended store warranty, it's up to you - the more the product costs and the shorter it's warranty, the more it may be worth it (as far as LCD screens go).

I know it might not be easy for you, but check out reviews on amazon, newegg, and even bestbuy for LCDs. If there's anything wrong with the display or sound on a monitor people will complain about it. You don't want to end up getting one that causes text to look blurry as that can really mess with your eyes/cause headaches.

I've owned 2 desktop computers in the last 11 years. I met a guy a few months after I bought the first computer. He was very techy and a professional computer programmer. He was horrified to hear that I was shutting my computer off, and proceeded to explain to me why you shouldn't be.

Ever since then I've kept my computer on, including the monitor. I don't even let it go to "sleep" or "hibernate." I just let my screensaver turn itself on and that's that.

My first computer with an old CRT monitor lasted 7 years. In fact the monitor was still working well when the rest of it started to have problems.

I've had my current computer since spring of 2007, and it's never been shut off unless there was a power failure. I leave it on 24/7 and restart it periodically so that it refreshes the memory.

I never buy anything without checking them (unless I know 100% what I want and that there's nothing that could be wrong with it - like books or music). Sometimes I'll read the comments for entertainment purposes - there's some really crazy ones to be found on there. If you can find it, look up "three wolves t shirt".

When you find a monitor you like, double check the model number on Newegg.com and BestBuy. Sometimes Bestbuy has the same price or a little lower on some products, plus you can get a warranty should you wish to.
We had our expensive Samsung 46" tv start having a screen issue back in December of '09 and BestBuy set us up with a repairman to replace the screen and covered all the cost. (note: I do not recommend it on all products they sell and go case by case depending on manufacturer warranty)


Per the shutting a desktop off. There's some truth to both. If you're not going to be using it for a couple days, by all means shut it off. Especially if you're not home and storm season has already started up - Those big storms that hit you hit me too up here in Oklahoma. And, too, if you're not using it very much you can save on your electric bill by having it off when not in use.

The argument for leaving it on is the wear on the parts, the initial surge of electricity into the motherboard and other components (not as much of a problem for newer parts), and because while your computer is on the fans (or your chosen method of cooling) are running. No power to the fans = nothing to suck the heat away from CPUs and GPUs, thus there's a slight chance of them getting too hot.
It's different for monitors, though, because they have no added cooling and the wears is different.

As for monitors lasting years: I think that has more to due with some older ones being higher quality than some you get today.
I had one CRT last me 8 years until I somehow broke it (still not sure how). Another cheaper newer replacement CRT started having screen problems within a year and a half.
LCD and LED can go either way since all it takes is a tiny error in the plant to mess up a screen. It may be fine for a year or it may start dying before that. The general rule for those types of screens though is that they'll start messing up the day after their warranty expires.

I use my computer quite a bit, randomly, throughout the day when home. Though it takes only takes 10 seconds or so to fully boot into the desktop and shuts down just as quickly, it's too much trouble to bother with. I do restart after kernel updates and shut the computer down entirely if a storm is extremely bad (face it, that's most of the summer storms! ) and to change and clean components inside of it.... because getting a finger hit by a running fan hurts.

Before you replace it, check both ends on the monitor cable, something as simple as bent or missing pins on the cable can cause all sorts of monitor issues.

Just echoing what was said earlier about looking into getting a used monitor from a computer repair place. We have a facility that gets them in and sells the good ones cheap and recycles the ones beyond help. My last few mouses were from them as i had an old CPU.

Your monitor sounds like the one I had for my first computer (a real Frankenstein ) My nephew saw these monitors by a dumpster. Nice color, still worked, but were being replaced. Only 13" it lasted me a few years until it gave out. Unfortunately, it died when Mom was sitting with me as we worked on genealogy and she said it was her prescence that made it malfunction.

That doesn't make sense. What are you calling a cpu? I've seen people think that the case their computer is housed in the cpu…
The ports on the case and on the motherboard will determine what you can plug in, as will the OS and whether it can support the hardware.

Now if a pc is old enough the graphics card or onboard gpu might have problems with it. But this shouldn't be a problem in a pc that can at least run XP.

Let's just say a new mouse wouldn't work with my old computer. (I know enough about computers to be dangerous. )