Weird Monitor Lines

[Aristotle]

The post about monitor resolution got me thinking about this weird monitor problem I've been noticing lately.

Dalaena and I both own 21" Sony Trinitron Multiscan E540s. Something I have noticed lately on both of them are some very faint, slightly diagonal lines across the entire desktop.

The only time they are noticeable is on a pure black background.

For example:

http://www.thresholdrpg.com/misc/Monitor_Problem.jpg

The monitors are only about 2 years old.

Has anyone ever experienced a problem like this? Any suggestions for how to remedy the problem?

[Ceara]

I remeber a old monitor I had, it had pretty prominent lines across it. I think that over time monitors just die from use.

[Aristotle]

Originally posted by Ceara
I remeber a old monitor I had, it had pretty prominent lines across it. I think that over time monitors just die from use.

If that is the case, it is really going to piss me off. These monitors are only 2 years old and they started having these lines at exactly the same time.

[Talsek]

The faint lines should not be a problem, and are in fact a standard annoyance associated with Trinitron monitors. They should have been there since the monitor was new, I'm not sure if something happened to intensify them or if you recently started using backgrounds that make them more visible. Here are a few links to more technical/thorough explanations of what's likely going on:

http://www.monitorworld.com/faq_pages/q28_page.html
http://computer.howstuffworks.com/question406.htm

Alas, if this is what you're experiencing, there's no way around it. But hey, knowing is half the battle :P.

Talsek

[Aristotle]

Originally posted by Talsek
The faint lines should not be a problem, and are in fact a standard annoyance associated with Trinitron monitors. They should have been there since the monitor was new, I'm not sure if something happened to intensify them or if you recently started using backgrounds that make them more visible. Here are a few links to more technical/thorough explanations of what's likely going on:

Talsek, I appreciate your attempt to help but it might have been a good idea to read my post and look at the screen shot.

I'm not talking about the horizontal wires in a Trinitron monitor that are a critical part of the monitor technology.

I am talking about diagonal lines that cover the entire desktop as shown in the screenshot I posted.

From my original post:

Something I have noticed lately on both of them are some very faint, slightly diagonal lines across the entire desktop.

and:

http://www.thresholdrpg.com/misc/Monitor_Problem.jpg

In the screenshot, you might have to look very closely or turn up the brightness to notice them. They are definitely there and they are definitely annoying over time.

[Mei]

hmm....

Looking at the screenshot, I cannot see any lines.

[aelyn]

Originally posted by Mei
hmm....

Looking at the screenshot, I cannot see any lines.

Well, it doesn't seem to me that taking a screenshot of one's desktop would show the lines that show up only a certain monitor, unless one had that certain monitor, right?

[Aristotle]

Originally posted by aelyn
Well, it doesn't seem to me that taking a screenshot of one's desktop would show the lines that show up only a certain monitor, unless one had that certain monitor, right?

Possibly not. It LOOKED like they were in the screenshot because when I moved the window around with the screenshot the lines seemed to move with it. They are faint, however, and this could have been an optical illusion.

Most importantly, they are diagonal lines that are at about a 30 degree angle (lower on the left, higher on the right) that cross the entire monitor and are about 1 inch apart from each other.

Actually, each line is 2 thin lines- one redish, one greenish.

I have no idea what causes it and if there is a way to fix it.

[Talsek]

Talsek, I appreciate your attempt to help but it might have been a good idea to read my post and look at the screen shot.

I'm not talking about the horizontal wires in a Trinitron monitor that are a critical part of the monitor technology.

I am talking about diagonal lines that cover the entire desktop as shown in the screenshot I posted.

I did read your post, and like others here I saw no lines in the screenshot (I didn't expect to). When I saw 'slightly diagonal' in your description, I figured the distinction between 'horizontal' and 'slightly diagonal' was blurred enough that throwing out a possibility was warranted.

Edit: The previous paragraph was a knee-jerk defensive post. After reviewing my original post it was quite reasonable to assume that I had not read the problem description in detail. Sorry for the clutter.

Anyway, another longshot possibility is interference. Have you installed any new electronic equipment near the computers? I remember an old set of non-shielded speakers I had causing a similar problem on an old monitor. Just an idea.

Talsek

[Aristotle]

Originally posted by Talsek
Anyway, another longshot possibility is interference. Have you installed any new electronic equipment near the computers? I remember an old set of non-shielded speakers I had causing a similar problem on an old monitor. Just an idea.

Unfortunately, no.

Also, modern monitors (and speakers) are pretty heavily shielded these days. I've been using some Klipsch THX certified speakers for over 2 years as well- the same ones as always.

I have a laptop on my desk as well, but since the problem exists whether or not the laptop is on I doubt that is part of the problem.

Also, Dalaena doesn't have a laptop on her desk and she gets the same lines.

We are, however, using the same kind of speakers.

The only other electronic device on our desks are Eclipse Monitor Lights. Since they are designed specifically for sitting on top of your monitor (they are a long time best seller at ThinkGeek.com) I don't think that is the problem either.

Thanks for the suggestion, though.