Computer Guru Here?

momakat · #1 (**permalink**) 01-02-2005, 03:38 AM

So call me cheap - but I am used to solving most of my own computer issues successfully. But think I may be out of luck now - my daughter told me the evening I returned home that the monitor had started changing 'tints' a couple days previously. Now why she did not call me I have no clue. Anyway - this is similar to what it did when I moved down her a little over a year ago and can't remember what I did to fix it. Have checked all the settings - fiddled here and there - all to no avail. Two friends have told me this is the beginning of the end of my monitor. *sigh* Now my concern is that I had planned on upgrading the motherboard, graphics, etc. - but can't do it all and if I do need a monitor am now concerned about compatibility with my 8 yr old system. Anybody out there with advice?

EyeOfTheStorm · #2 (**permalink**) 01-02-2005, 05:21 AM

What are your system specs as it is now? CPU/Hard Drive/OS/RAM? Yes it does sound like the beginning of the end of your monitor, or video card. You can do a quick test to find out which one by simply plugging in a known good monitor. If the diff monitor works fine, then you know its the monitor.

If your comp is too old, say Pentium 1 or so, still running on EDO RAM, then yes, nothing you buy now will be compatible, and if it is, then it will run extremely slow.

If you really want to go for an upgrade, my advice would be to just get a new tower & monitor. They are so cheap these days, but its all in where you buy. I would recommend one of my personal favorite places to begin looking, www.pricewatch.com. Its a gateway to great deals at other sites. What I like to do when I upgrade, is buy a new tower, monitor if I need one, then reformat the old PC, and pass it down to one of the kids, or use it as a storage drone on my home network. I would strongly recommend AGAINST Hewlett-Packard computers, as well as E-Machines. These "package deal" machines are put together with very low grade components, which dont last long at all, and are often difficult to make minor upgrades on. Dells are good, but I would never pay that kind of money for a PC.

Also avoid Intel Celeron, or AMD Duron processors. These are the bottom end of the processor market. If all you want is a cheap email machine, this is about all a Celeron/Duron is good for.

Good Luck!

C. hortulanus bites · #3 (**permalink**) 01-02-2005, 06:12 AM

Also shy from Compaq, also owned by HP. They've got bios settings that prevent you from using any OS other than the disks supplied with the machine.

I like pricewatch, but I always shop for a retail box. That way it carries the full manufacture's warranty.

Karnis · #4 (**permalink**) 01-02-2005, 07:10 AM

I have noticed dell is haveing the same issue with reinstalling a new os as well, But the monitor problem does normally mean the monitor is dying. If ya lived a lil closer to me I have a good (Though a bit dated) 15 incher here that is only for testing, gonna get a few more soon (I love getting parts). But to help you try to get a lil more umph out of that monitor and if your video settings will allow. Go into your display properties (Right click on desktop -> properties)and go into settings. Click on advanced while in there and if yer lucky and have good enough vid on there there should be a tab with color and brightness/contrast settings. Also try playing with the brightness/contrast settings on the monitor. this gave an older HP display almost 6 more monts before it had to be reffered to the bang setting (When you have to smack the monitor to get it to do right ~Eyes his maul~)

EyeOfTheStorm · #5 (**permalink**) 01-02-2005, 07:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Karnis

I have noticed dell is haveing the same issue with reinstalling a new os as well,

Really? I havent came across this problem, here we config one just the way we like it.. install all the software we want on it, the clone (Norton Ghost)that one over and over each time we get a new PC from Dell. So far I havent seen any probs. If we have a cust that ever has a prob, we just have them ship it back, we reclone it, and all is well.

From what I have seen here with a company that deals with nothing but Dell and Cisco for IT, Dell is about the only "package deal" comp I would get if I had the money to waste.

Karnis · #6 (**permalink**) 01-02-2005, 07:31 AM

Well I know for a fact this certian dell machine would not for whatever reason boot after an install of my XP pro softeare, or after Linux install. With the Linux install it saw it was there but gave me a boot issue when I tried to load it. I prefer my machines made of trash to them more neways

When you can build a machine that is dated 5 years and can smoke any home PC that is on the market (Gateway,dell,HP,compaq,e-machine) It kinda gives ya a warm feeling inside

EyeOfTheStorm · #7 (**permalink**) 01-02-2005, 08:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Karnis

When you can build a machine that is dated 5 years and can smoke any home PC that is on the market (Gateway,dell,HP,compaq,e-machine) It kinda gives ya a warm feeling inside

Sure does! And for a fraction of the price! There is just so much "junk" that comes with these "package deals". I used to build my own alot, but then started finding alot of sites that build towers for you, just name your component. Nothing like building your own though. Tyan's new dual AMD-64 board is really tempting me to dust off the "skeeeels" and build a monster.

momakat · #8 (**permalink**) 01-02-2005, 07:25 PM

Hmmm . . . now why can't the people I need most live near me?

As well . . . things being what they are here is what I have for my puter. Not sure how or where to find the CPU/motherboard information without opening up the tower - and I don't really have the time to put it out. I have played with the settings, gamma, etc. without being to re-establish red in the display. This is information I was able to find:

AMD-K6 (tm) 3D processor
128 mb RAM
Audio: AW724/YAMAHO DS-SG Legacy
Video: RAGE llC AGP ATI TECH ENHANCED
VIA TECH 8598 CPU

The other info is pretty standard for the other peripherals I have on it for modem, printer, additional hard drive, cd burner, etc. These other things have been added for a few years so don't think any of them are causing a problem. However, I did recently add (about 3 weeks ago) a zip drive which uses an IOMEGA driver. The only problem I had after installing was getting my puter to interface with my digital camera again. Solved it and all was working perfectly until a few days ago. *sigh* But if it's true that the average life expectancy of a monitor is 2 years (acording to a friend here) guess I've been doing pretty good for the last 8+. I don't have access to a good working monitor unless I take my tower to school with me. But suppose I could do that - it's just a real PITA moving the desk and crawling in behind it to unplug everything.

So . . . any further advice or places for me to look in this old puter for more information?

telefrag · #9 (**permalink**) 01-03-2005, 05:29 AM

I had a similar problems with a monitor,
you can try to degauss the monitor (may need your owners manual), but its possibly the video card going bad.

Oh, I have (at work) two compaq's and a dell with Freebsd on them, and I had NO issues installing a "alternative" OS on them.

CheshireCat · #10 (**permalink**) 01-03-2005, 06:10 PM

Is it really that cheap to build your own? It's ok if you really know your hardware and want top spec but if you're a comparative pc ignoramus and just looking for a nippy runner then some of the packages are very well priced.
I've built many a machine and Im constantly upgrading so I know exactly what things cost, but if I weren't me and I wasn't fussy then some of the video/sound integrated motherboards found in cheaper packages offer great value.
If I were moma I'd be researching for the best customer service, longest warranty, fasted available spec for my pennies. I assume moma isn't that computer hardware savvy and doing it this way means she wouldn't have to blame herself if she blew an expensive processor or motherboard while she was fitting it (is it because Im a female that the pc hardware shop always fits my processor when I buy one, the same place doesn't do it for the guys that buy there!)

Oh, regarding the colour changes. Make sure your monitor cable's firmly seated/fastened in the socket before you start doing anything else.

EyeOfTheStorm · #11 (**permalink**) 01-04-2005, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by telefrag

I had a similar problems with a monitor,
you can try to degauss the monitor (may need your owners manual)

Forgot about that one! Most monitors have a degauss button on the front of the monitor where you would find your brightness, contrast, etc. However, degaussing, is simply demagnetizing the monitor. If you have anything of magnetic properties that gets near your monitor, you should see a green or pinkish blob on the monitor. Degauss corrects this.

Regarding the system info you listed, the AMD-6 processor is most likely 300 to 550 MHz, with a 133, or 100 MHz front side bus. If you want to know how fast your processor is, right click on "My Computer" then click "Properties".

You shouldnt have any probs with this system interacting with a new vid card if you need one. Unless on the other hand if you want to throw in a hard core gaming video card. If you notice things running a bit slow after installing a new vid card, try installing additional RAM. AMD's are RAM hungry processors.

momakat · #12 (**permalink**) 01-05-2005, 04:52 AM

To be honest I'm not sure what CheshireCat is referring to about degaussing - but there are buttons on my monitor that I have used in an attempt to reset and adjust the properties - to no avail. I had to use them when my computer made it down here to adjust the screen (weird colors on the screen) and it worked at that time. But my boss has offered me a monitor and think I will take him up on it. It will at least let me know for sure, without spending any $$, if it is the monitor or video card.

As to buying another system - it would probably be best in the long run. I will get picky and my brother will be a big help. He builds and upgrades his own as he is a total gamer and very up on the latest gizmos and what-not. He generally advises against sound/video being integrated with the motherboard. At least I think that is what he means - he said that they share memory somewhere instead of each being separate or something like that. As you can see I am not so savvy about the hardware - it's been learn as I needed to. haha

I do definitely plan on researching whatever I decide on based on recommendations, customer service and warranty - and how it will be set up because I know the use it will get and what I plan on for future use (potentially working out of my home is in the future for me).

Well - wish me luck - hopefully the monitor is the problem and not the video card.

Will find out soon. But think I will print out some of the advice here incase I loose this thread.

Thanks to you all!

JuliusSqueezer · #13 (**permalink**) 01-05-2005, 08:59 PM

Is it turning green or orange? Usually it's caused by the cable that attaches to your video card. Try wiggling the wire and make sure it is screwed in tightly. If it is good and tight but wiggling it helps for awhile, then the cable has a short or a pin is bent or dirty. Unplug it and check all the pins. If the cable is going bad, it's cheaper just to toss it and buy a new monitor. I picked up a nice Phillips 17 inch monitor exactly like the one I paid a couple hundred bucks for a few years ago for 5 bucks the other day at a thrift store.

Schwartz · #14 (**permalink**) 01-06-2005, 03:58 AM

Degaus The Monitor Its One Of The Options In the Menu

Schwartz · #15 (**permalink**) 01-06-2005, 04:01 AM

Or Run The Auto Adjustment Feature On The Monitor

JuliusSqueezer · #16 (**permalink**) 01-06-2005, 04:45 PM

That's all poppycock about not being able to run different OS on Dells, Compaqs etc unless that's something they managed to pull off very recently. I've never had problems finding drivers or loading whatever OS I want on any kind of machine...Even the old EMachines can run whatever you want if you are patient or bored enough to hunt down the archaic, obsolete drivers. I have a Dell laptop, a Compaq desktop, a Gateway Desktop, a Sony laptop...the only one running it's packaged software is the Sony Laptop.

Karnis · #17 (**permalink**) 01-06-2005, 05:19 PM

well the problems I have been haveing on dells and compaq's personally The first party destroys the format of the other partition, Their software no longer works now and so I attempt to rebuild it but no cookies(This is dealing with only thoes 2 and HP). Mother owns a gateway. and with that it would let me throw on Mandrake linux but not my XP pro software, I do think it is fairly recent though none the less for these things to come about

Schwartz · #18 (**permalink**) 01-06-2005, 06:39 PM

I Agree With Julius. You Guys Need To Remember Dell Doesnt Make Their Own Stuff They Pay Someone To Make It For Them Just As HP Does. So If The Drivers For Whatever You Need Cant Be Found Using The Dell Or Hp Name. Find Out Who Makes It For Them. I WorK As A Computer Tech And Have Done Very Much With All Brands Old And New And Never Had The Problem You Are Talking About.

JuliusSqueezer · #19 (**permalink**) 01-06-2005, 07:55 PM

format the drive. read the chipsets. If all else fails....kick it!

lethargiic · #20 (**permalink**) 01-06-2005, 10:13 PM

well concidering im not that computer nerdy like you people.. newegg.com has decent prices and computer components as well as mysimon.com
I've done J&R and tigerdirect but have found better prices on newegg. ppl would be much better off building their own system rather than getting an already fabircated system IMO. but of course there are the ones that are completely computer illiterate that have to depend on dell and compaq thou dell does have some neato stuff.

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