Something bizarre just happened to my computer... - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brent88 · 10-02-2005, 07:53 PM

I was sitting here a few minutes ago and all of the sudden the monitor color got lighter(the brightness). I went into the controls for it but nothing had changed. It's not a serious problem but it bugs me because I'm wondering how it could have happened. Everything else seems to be working fine.

Hollow · 10-02-2005, 07:56 PM

someone else could have unplugged something in the house that was taking up electricity, that happens with lighted things all the time.

Brent88 · 10-02-2005, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by safety pin

someone else could have unplugged something in the house that was taking up electricity, that happens with lighted things all the time.

I didn't think about that... whatever happened it seems to be back to normal now.

I should also mention that the cable internet modem went out at the same time(lights went off, but the power stayed on) and it took about 5 minutes to reset.

swedeace · 10-02-2005, 09:09 PM

Is your computer still under warranty? If so, you'd have to call tech support and they can send you a new monitor. But, they'll want you to send your non-working monitor back to them. It depends on the company, but it's usually Dell and Gateway that wants non-working stuff returned in exchange for replacements.

Brent88 · 10-02-2005, 09:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by swedeace

Is your computer still under warranty? If so, you'd have to call tech support and they can send you a new monitor. But, they'll want you to send your non-working monitor back to them. It depends on the company, but it's usually Dell and Gateway that wants non-working stuff returned in exchange for replacements.

The monitor works just fine, the brightness just messed up for a few minutes. Seems normal now.

The computer is 2 1/2 years old.

Kazza · 10-02-2005, 09:56 PM

Maybe the voltage went down a bit. It happens sometimes, the lamp dims down and the fan blows air like a hurricane .

robyrob · 10-02-2005, 10:17 PM

you should think about investing in an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) - you can get cheap ones for under $50, if the voltage change made your monitor do that, imagine what it could've done to your computer...

read about them here:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....p=&id=cat12077

Brent88 · 10-02-2005, 10:25 PM

It wasn't that... about 10 minutes ago the monitor just shut off without anyone doing anything. It took about 5 minutes and an unplugging completely to fix it.

I think it's going out...

Robyrob, I have a surge protector(is that what your talking about?).

robyrob · 10-02-2005, 11:41 PM

check the cables (make sure they aren't kinked and are plugged in securely) and try plug it in to a different outlet - this could also be a monitor problem, a cable problem or a driver problem. Do you have another computer you could swap monitors with, or extra cables just to see where the problem is?

a UPS is different from a surge supressor in that it actually has a battery in there that you actually run off of that is shielded from the voltage fluctuations on your standard power lines - you can even run off the battery for a short period of time in the event of a power outage.

10-02-2005, 07:53 PM	#1
Brent88 Member Forum Star Join Date: Aug 01, 2003 Location: Alabama Posts: 16,174	Something bizarre just happened to my computer... I was sitting here a few minutes ago and all of the sudden the monitor color got lighter(the brightness). I went into the controls for it but nothing had changed. It's not a serious problem but it bugs me because I'm wondering how it could have happened. Everything else seems to be working fine.
	__________________ Brent

10-02-2005, 10:17 PM	#7
robyrob certified wackball#3 Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Aug 03, 2003 Location: hiding under the third booth at Arnold's Posts: 58,200	you should think about investing in an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) - you can get cheap ones for under $50, if the voltage change made your monitor do that, imagine what it could've done to your computer... read about them here: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....p=&id=cat12077
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10-02-2005, 07:56 PM	#2
Hollow Member Forum Superstar Join Date: Dec 16, 2001 Posts: 30,406	someone else could have unplugged something in the house that was taking up electricity, that happens with lighted things all the time.

10-02-2005, 09:09 PM	#4
swedeace Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Sep 22, 2003 Posts: 9,009	Is your computer still under warranty? If so, you'd have to call tech support and they can send you a new monitor. But, they'll want you to send your non-working monitor back to them. It depends on the company, but it's usually Dell and Gateway that wants non-working stuff returned in exchange for replacements.

10-02-2005, 09:56 PM	#6
Kazza Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 17, 2003 Posts: 3,244	Maybe the voltage went down a bit. It happens sometimes, the lamp dims down and the fan blows air like a hurricane .

10-02-2005, 10:25 PM	#8
Brent88 Member Forum Star Join Date: Aug 01, 2003 Location: Alabama Posts: 16,174	It wasn't that... about 10 minutes ago the monitor just shut off without anyone doing anything. It took about 5 minutes and an unplugging completely to fix it. I think it's going out... Robyrob, I have a surge protector(is that what your talking about?).

10-02-2005, 11:41 PM	#9
robyrob certified wackball#3 Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Aug 03, 2003 Location: hiding under the third booth at Arnold's Posts: 58,200	check the cables (make sure they aren't kinked and are plugged in securely) and try plug it in to a different outlet - this could also be a monitor problem, a cable problem or a driver problem. Do you have another computer you could swap monitors with, or extra cables just to see where the problem is? a UPS is different from a surge supressor in that it actually has a battery in there that you actually run off of that is shielded from the voltage fluctuations on your standard power lines - you can even run off the battery for a short period of time in the event of a power outage.