Flutter or wave

Published on December 7, 2005 By teddybearcholla In Personal Computing

Sometimes my pc screen has this faint flutter or wave. It does not happen with any specific program. This just started about 3 weeks ago. Anyone have any ideas what this might be?
Thank you!! tbc

Comments (Page 2)

teddybearcholla

on Dec 07, 2005

rabidrobot

on Dec 07, 2005

Have you tried changing the refresh rate? R-Click Desktop->Properties->Settings->Advanced->Monitor (at least on my system) will bring up a panel where you can change the refresh. This is only a suggestion, if I really had to guess, I'd say your monitor was just wearing out.

DigitalDanes

on Dec 07, 2005

I had a friend once asking about this and I thought that the monitor was going too, until I learned that she had taken to leaving her cell phone on the end of the desktop about 3 feet from the monitor. Everytime the phone either rang or would search for an antennae signal her screen would fluctuate madly. Try having someone call your cell phone and see if you get the same flickering and then move away from the computer station until it stops and then remember to keep your phone at least that far away (I don't get the screen flicker with mine, but I do get speaker interfernce noise when the phone rings or searches for a signal.).
DD

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teddybearcholla

on Dec 07, 2005

Thank you...can't be cell phone, we do not own one, I don't seem to have the change refresh. It could very well be the monitor is going. I think my computer is about 4 or 5 years old. I suppose there is no general time period as to how long a monitor will last. hp pavilion mx 70, that is what I have, and windows xp home. I will keep an eye on it!!

rabidrobot

on Dec 07, 2005

Hey, that is a great suggestion, DigitalDanes! I've had a similar experience. On a road trip the passenger had her phone set to silent in her purse, down near the car stereo. For hours we experienced intermittent, loud, static - I figured my MP3 player or the casette adapter was going bad, kept trying to adjust the cord looking for a loose connection. Finally she noticed it vibrating ( a magnet spinning a metal weight around ), and as she answered the static stopped.

Nice deduction, even if it isn't the final cause.

Jafo

on Dec 07, 2005

Barbara...you don't actually have to own the Cell...it could be someone outside nearby...

Other potential causes....

Fretting of various connectors...graphic card, monitor plugs, etc....heat does that....try resetting each connection.

Voltage power supply issues....similar reason...or failing PSU.

Monitor just getting old....they do have a finite life...which varies and is never really reliable. Some might last 20 years, others 2.

My Loewe TV lasted 8 ....[tube died]....$2600 AUD.

It happens...

Fuzzy Logic

on Dec 07, 2005

Any kind of electric motor can cause these effects. My desk fan at work does it to my monitor if it's within 2'...

Bichur

on Dec 07, 2005

electric staplers also

Chris TH

on Dec 07, 2005

Or possibly leaking electrolytic capacitors in the power supplies for the horizontal and/or vertical deflection circuits. Common in TV's as well.

aimzzz

on Dec 07, 2005

It's starting to sound like we are lucky that they work so well so often!

I once worked in lab where someone set up a magnetic stirrer a couple feet behind a monitor. We're talking distortion. I felt cars-sick for a few minutes.

teddybearcholla

on Dec 08, 2005

you don't actually have to own the Cell...it could be someone outside nearby

I guess kind of like a garage opener that opens the neighbors garage door also!!!

I am happy to report, there was no flutter or wave today. I checked a few of the things that were suggested, connections, moved speakers, etc.

It's starting to sound like we are lucky that they work so well so often!

yes it does!!!

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