Computer display problems
November 3, 2005 7:22 AM Subscribe
What could make a monitor flash blank when connected to the internet?
I've had a problem with my computer display for the last couple of weeks. It keeps going blank for maybe one or two seconds at a time. But it only happens when I'm browsing the internet (or at least, I've only noticed it happening when I'm on the internet). It's not related to power (the monitor is still on when it goes blank) and the fact that it only happens when on the internet suggests it's not a problem with the actual monitor. I've been a bit overwhelmed by google results, which tend anyway to relate to blank windows or monitor malfunctions. Any ideas what could be causing this, or how I could diagnose it?
I've had a problem with my computer display for the last couple of weeks. It keeps going blank for maybe one or two seconds at a time. But it only happens when I'm browsing the internet (or at least, I've only noticed it happening when I'm on the internet). It's not related to power (the monitor is still on when it goes blank) and the fact that it only happens when on the internet suggests it's not a problem with the actual monitor. I've been a bit overwhelmed by google results, which tend anyway to relate to blank windows or monitor malfunctions. Any ideas what could be causing this, or how I could diagnose it?
Are you using Firefox?
This freaks me out a little, because I having the same problem in Firefox a couple of weeks ago. Brief total blackness in the monitor. Windows 2000.
posted by selfnoise at 7:45 AM on November 3, 2005
This freaks me out a little, because I having the same problem in Firefox a couple of weeks ago. Brief total blackness in the monitor. Windows 2000.
posted by selfnoise at 7:45 AM on November 3, 2005
Response by poster: Blank = black. (Sorry, should have thought to mention.)
It happens with both Firefox and IE on XP. I used to run 2000 and upgraded, but all the old instability issues still remain (I don't care what Microsoft say!).
posted by londonmark at 7:55 AM on November 3, 2005
It happens with both Firefox and IE on XP. I used to run 2000 and upgraded, but all the old instability issues still remain (I don't care what Microsoft say!).
posted by londonmark at 7:55 AM on November 3, 2005
Could it be when Sun's Java VM (not Javascript) starts up? I know that happens on one computer I use. Try a clean start up of Firefox and go to some page with an applet (like NVCC for some crazy reason). If the Java icon pops up in your taskbar, it's probably that.
posted by skynxnex at 8:00 AM on November 3, 2005
posted by skynxnex at 8:00 AM on November 3, 2005
Does the monitor flash off or does the screen just go black? Have you scanned your machine for all traces of spyware/adware/rootkits?
posted by gaby at 8:04 AM on November 3, 2005
posted by gaby at 8:04 AM on November 3, 2005
i see this only with my laptop, if it's in power-saving mode. it goes blank as it changes from "standby" (when the screen isn't very bright) to "normal" or back again. the change to standby happens after x minuts of inactivity and the change back happens when i move the mouse or touch a key.
posted by andrew cooke at 8:11 AM on November 3, 2005
posted by andrew cooke at 8:11 AM on November 3, 2005
Is there any pattern with websites?
What else do you use your computer for - anything that could hammer the video? Is it strictly tied to the internet?
Is it strictly tied to browsing webpages online - what happens if you leech a website, and browse the pages locally?
What other applications do you run whilst you're online?
What brand of firewall/anti-virus software do you use?
A slightly whimsical suggestion - could someone be playing a practical joke on you; using a remote control whenever they catch you looking at pr0n? ;-)
posted by Chunder at 8:22 AM on November 3, 2005
What else do you use your computer for - anything that could hammer the video? Is it strictly tied to the internet?
Is it strictly tied to browsing webpages online - what happens if you leech a website, and browse the pages locally?
What other applications do you run whilst you're online?
What brand of firewall/anti-virus software do you use?
A slightly whimsical suggestion - could someone be playing a practical joke on you; using a remote control whenever they catch you looking at pr0n? ;-)
posted by Chunder at 8:22 AM on November 3, 2005
Andrew Cooke's suggestion sounds good - check the DPMS settings for your screensaver... unless it goes blank whilst you're actually typing or moving the mouse...
posted by Chunder at 8:24 AM on November 3, 2005
posted by Chunder at 8:24 AM on November 3, 2005
If it's not randomly power saving then my vote goes for random hardware failure / incompatibility.
Do you have access to any other machines to test the monitor with? Or any other monitors to test the computer with?
posted by alexst at 8:51 AM on November 3, 2005
Do you have access to any other machines to test the monitor with? Or any other monitors to test the computer with?
posted by alexst at 8:51 AM on November 3, 2005
Response by poster: Hmm, I've got a bit of research to do.
I can tell you it's not the monitor -- like I say, the monitor is still on even when it goes blank. And it's not the screensaver -- I may be dumb but I'm not that dumb!
I have scanned for spyware and deleted what I found, to no effect -- but I don't know what a rootkit is so it could be one of them.
I'm using Microsoft antispyware, McAfee and Zone Alarm. But I don't think it's any sort of incompatibility issue because I haven't changed my setup in a long time. Random failure is one possibility, but it's weird how the problem only seems to happen on the internet.
I like skynxnex's idea about the Java VM but don't know much about it so will have to investigate.
Any other ideas?
posted by londonmark at 9:23 AM on November 3, 2005
I can tell you it's not the monitor -- like I say, the monitor is still on even when it goes blank. And it's not the screensaver -- I may be dumb but I'm not that dumb!
I have scanned for spyware and deleted what I found, to no effect -- but I don't know what a rootkit is so it could be one of them.
I'm using Microsoft antispyware, McAfee and Zone Alarm. But I don't think it's any sort of incompatibility issue because I haven't changed my setup in a long time. Random failure is one possibility, but it's weird how the problem only seems to happen on the internet.
I like skynxnex's idea about the Java VM but don't know much about it so will have to investigate.
Any other ideas?
posted by londonmark at 9:23 AM on November 3, 2005
Firewall's and Anti-Virus software do highly weird things on Windows. You could try disabling and/or Uninstalling them temporarily to see if it changes anything.
I once had a PC which worked perfectly OK except that none of the PCI ports would detect anything plugged into them. AGP, IDE, everything else was fine. This was caused by plugging a HD which had been dropped into it. It electrocuted me in the process so god knows what happened to the PC. This is especially weird since IDE and AGP run over the PCI bus, so the PCI controller must still of been functioning at least partially.
posted by alexst at 11:12 AM on November 3, 2005
I once had a PC which worked perfectly OK except that none of the PCI ports would detect anything plugged into them. AGP, IDE, everything else was fine. This was caused by plugging a HD which had been dropped into it. It electrocuted me in the process so god knows what happened to the PC. This is especially weird since IDE and AGP run over the PCI bus, so the PCI controller must still of been functioning at least partially.
posted by alexst at 11:12 AM on November 3, 2005
No-ones mentioned drivers - Mine has started doing this recently as well (dual set up, one with the browser on will flash, IE either) and I'm thinking it is the nVidia desktop drivers... So far, I'm managing to ignore it. Maybe check your drivers are up to date and what have you?
posted by DrtyBlvd at 1:06 PM on November 3, 2005
posted by DrtyBlvd at 1:06 PM on November 3, 2005
Coupla things I've seen cause this recently:
1:- NVidia dual-head display drivers. Never did track down why, but sometimes *something* in Firefox (I too suspect the Java VM) caused it to briefly flick into dual-head mode, even when it wasn't configured as dual-head. Downgrading to the original earlier drivers off the CD fixed it.
2:- The protection circuit in a failing monitor. Surf to a mainly white webpage and the beam current would go up, triggering the protection circuit momentarily.
posted by Pinback at 3:56 PM on November 3, 2005
1:- NVidia dual-head display drivers. Never did track down why, but sometimes *something* in Firefox (I too suspect the Java VM) caused it to briefly flick into dual-head mode, even when it wasn't configured as dual-head. Downgrading to the original earlier drivers off the CD fixed it.
2:- The protection circuit in a failing monitor. Surf to a mainly white webpage and the beam current would go up, triggering the protection circuit momentarily.
posted by Pinback at 3:56 PM on November 3, 2005
Just because the monitor doesn't power off doesn't mean it isn't a problem with the monitor. Turn your computer off, leaving the monitor on, and notice it takes a bit to go into power-save mode (typically the power LED will go from green to orange or yellow, or may flash). If the monitor is somehow losing the video signal, it may not be for long enough to trigger the power save. Or, it may - you say the monitor doesn't turn off, but is there any change in the power LED? When the picture comes back, is it immediate, or does it "fade in" as it would if it had been powered off and back on?
Check your monitor's video and power cables. Test the monitor with another PC, and/or the PC with another monitor. Then you can say for sure whether it is or is not the monitor, and if it's not, move on to video card, etc.
posted by attercoppe at 6:33 PM on November 3, 2005
Check your monitor's video and power cables. Test the monitor with another PC, and/or the PC with another monitor. Then you can say for sure whether it is or is not the monitor, and if it's not, move on to video card, etc.
posted by attercoppe at 6:33 PM on November 3, 2005
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Dick Paris at 7:32 AM on November 3, 2005