Will degaussing my computer screen fix my problem?

[bluestateguy]

I haven't degaussed in awile, so I just did it now.

The problem I have been having is that about once every 2 or 3 days the monitor will just randomly turn off the picture. The CPU stays on, and I don't lose anything, for all I have to do is just press the monitor button and turn it back on. Then everything is fine again. But this is still concerning me a little bit.

Could the fact that I had not degaussed the monitor in many months contribute to this bizarre problem?

[DS1]

1. Sounds like an energy saving option is turned on

[ET Awful]

2. Doubtful.

Degaussing wouldn't have anything to do with the monitor powering down, it's just a way of clearing magnetic interference from the tube (usually used to fix image distortion and corruption problems).

I don't think the degaussing is related to your problem.

on edit: I agree with DS1 that your problem sounds like an energy saving option is enabled. Double check all your settings for that (it will be in the screensaver tab of your display options) Make sure nothing is set to turn off after X amount of time.

[bluestateguy]

4. No, the monitor is not programmed to shut off

I just checked the energy saving options and it says "never" under shut down the monitor. This has happened when I am sitting at the computer working, just looking at the screen or cruising the web. It's not your conventional hibernation.

[punpirate]

6. Assuming there are no problems with software...

... that leaves the hardware. You don't say how old the monitor is, but as some age, there are problems with the flyback transformer, or in the chip which controls that circuit.

But, don't forget to check the screensaver options, not just the energy saving options. Without a screensaver installed, it could be set up to just blank the screen after x minutes. If it happens as you are typing (not just after a period of no activity), I'd suspect a hardware problem, possibly to include a thermal fuse that opens when some circuit gets hot.

You don't mention make or model, but flyback transformer and/or flyback control circuit problems are very common with older larger-screened Viewsonics and their variants, which, I think, includes those made by Mitsubishi.

[bluestateguy]

7. OK

This monitor is almost 4 years old. I don't know if that's considered old or not.

The model of the monitor is a Preview, and it's a traditional model, not a flatscreen.

I do have a screensaver set up to go on after 10 minutes of inactivity.

[salvorhardin]

3. No...

but degaussing isn't degaussing fun? Ooo... I just did mine. Psychedelic, man, psychedelic.

[all.of.me]

5. what is degaussing?! never heard of it.

[salvorhardin]

9. See here

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Degaussing#Degaussing_of_cathode-ray_tubes

[rug]

8. no bodily function threads