OK, a question for you computer-savvy types!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

I have a new Windows 7 machine, with an older monitor...

Everything has been running well, and I am happy!

Just now, I fired up the computer from having been off, completely off, and the monitor started behaving weirdly.

There were many yellow horizontal lines on the screen, and the words were vibrating as well.

I asked my husband to look at it, and he rebooted the machine, which seems to have fixed it. But we have no idea what caused it!

Any ideas?

TIA!

:hi:

[madinmaryland]

1. Get a Mac.

:hide:

Had to get that in before someone else did. Can't really help you though. Probably Micro$oft'$ way of getting you to buy a new machine so that they can get another commission for their $oftware.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. My dear madinmaryland!

GRRR!

Dammit, I've played with Macs, and I don't like them!

The machine is brand new! My computer guy just built it for me last week!

I'm going to call him tomorrow to see what he has to say...

You better hide!


:argh:

[pokerfan]

3. There's probably nothing wrong with your hardware

that can't be fixed with the right operating system.

http://www.ubuntu.com

[CaliforniaPeggy]

4. My dear pokerfan!

:eyes:

Thank you!

My husband rebooted it, and the yellow stripes went away.

I'm going to call my computer guy tomorrow...

[pokerfan]

7. It would be useful

to install linux as a boot option so that when (not if) Windows crashes to the point that it won't even boot, you can still get into your computer and recover your files:



At the bare minimum, download and burn the live CD and stick in a drawer against the day your system crashes.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

8. I have NEVER had any system of mine crash.

Never.

I'm using Firefox, and am completely content with it.

The new Windows 7 is the professional version, BTW.

I do appreciate your advice nonetheless!

[blogslut]

5. I would start shopping for a monitor

Could be, that during the reboot/startup Windows 7 re-calibrated your monitor and there's nothing to worry about.

However, when you start seeing lines, green tint and other such stuff on a regular basis, that means the monitor is failing.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

6. My dear blogslut...

That was my first thought too. The monitor is only two or three years old, though...

I will keep an eye (lol!) on it.

Thank you for your input!

:hi:

[blogslut]

9. Is it a Tube or an LCD?

If it's a tube, they can fail pretty easily. If it's an LCD, there's the possibility that all it would need is a new inverter board but those can cost as much to buy/have installed as a new monitor.

Here's my favorite place to look for great prices on hardware:

http://pricewatch.com

I'm not saying your monitor is failing. I'm just saying, be on the lookout in case it start to show signs of failure. A few lines and some squiggles on one bootup could be a software thang. If it keeps happening, start looking up symptoms in teh Google and look for a bargain. Monitors are pretty inexpensive these days.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

10. It's an LCD.

Thanks for the link.

If I need a new one, I'll probably just go over to Fry's and buy one. You're right; they're not expensive.

I appreciate your help!