monitor color

[Mary]

(If this is not the correct place to ask this, please point me in the right
direction.) A tree near my house was hit by lightning. It blew out my
telephone and my modem. Also, the red disappeared from my monitor. I've
done everything I could think of to adjust the color, but nothing works.
Interestingly enough, when I turn on the screen adjustments using the
buttons on the front of the monitor, the red dot is red! When I press the
degauss, a lot of red appears, then when the screen settles down, there's no
red. Where is my red hiding? Thanks. (I have a Gateway computer and XP.)
Mary

 

[Walter W]

It still could be the monitor. I also have a bad feeling about the graphics
portion of the computer. If you have a graphics card, and not 'integrated'
graphics (built into the motherboard), you may have gotten off fairly
easily. Either the part of your graphics card that controls the red portion
or the matching input on the monitor has been damaged. Even though the
monitor can generate the red for it's menu functions, it still has to be
able to "see" the red signal levels from the computer.

At this point, it is best to take the computer and monitor to a trusted
repair shop. Most likely, substituting monitors/computers would be safe, but
I have seen a couple cases where a malfunction in one part damaged the
other, hence the recomendation to visit the shop. Since it was a very nearby
strike, I would double-check all peripherals carefully to make sure they all
work as they should.

I hope you have insurance to help take the financial bite out of this! I'm
sure that in the future, you will completely disconnect the computer (unplug
power, phone, network, anything else that goes to the outside world) when it
is not in use!!!

 

[Mary]

Thanks for your response, Walter. I was hoping it was something I could fix
myself. (I unplug *everything* now!) I understand now what you're saying
about the red for menu, but not input. I couldn't understand how that could
happen. I appreciate your help! (Unfortunately, no insurance for this.)
Mary

 

[Walter W]

Good luck & I hope it is not a worst-case scenario!

Walt