Wavy line?

[EndTwist]

I'm using a regular PC monitor for my cocktail cab, and I was working on setting up the computer for my cabinet. I happened to be using the monitor that is going in my cabinet too. I noticed whenever windows starts up I see a very faint thick wavy line (kinda like a wave pool, wave....wait....wave....wait...etc). Anytime before windows starts I don't see it though. I've tried different resolutions and nothing doing!! Is my monitor dying, is it the refresh rate?

[ntjedi]

I have seen this before and can sometimes be cleared up by changing the refresh rate.  I had monitors that were also to close to certain power sources or had lines running over florecent lighting and have seen the same results.  

Just a couple of ideas.   I hope it helps!

[EndTwist]

Would it be a problem that I have the monitor sitting between the PC power supply and the wall outlet (only a few inches between each)?

[tmasman]

Yeah... Any magnetic field near a monitor will reak havok on your display. This includes any power suplies, AC-current wires, speakers, etc...

Try & get that stuff as far away as possible.

[NiN^_^NiN]

Isn't there something he can put between the PSU and monitor as he has a few inches to block the radio waves?

 

[EndTwist]

I moved the monitor about 2ft away from the outlet and about a foot to a 1.5 feet from the PSU but I still see the wave. It's odd, because I only see it during windows, not before, and not during shutdown.  

[u_rebelscum]

I moved the monitor about 2ft away from the outlet and about a foot to a 1.5 feet from the PSU but I still see the wave. It's odd, because I only see it during windows, not before, and not during shutdown.  

I think it's ntjedi's first suggestion: windows is running the resolution and/or refresh rate at too high a speed for what the monitor can still do.

FWIW, I've had my monitor since what seems forever, and it's finally beginning to act up some what like you describe, but only sometimes, and only when the screen is running at 1024x768 @ 70 hz or higher.  (I run windows 1024x768 @75, usually.)  Lower res or slow refresh and it's fine, but about once a day in windows the monitor pops a "fixed horizontal" wave on me.  Sometimes it goes away if I tap the side of the monitor, sometimes when I squeeze the monitor, sometimes I turn it off and come back later.

However, since mame rarely runs above 60 to 61 hz, I haven't seen any problems while playing, even if the res is bezeled/artworked or hwstretched to 1024x768, so sometimes I play mame to "fix" the problem, and hope it stays fixed after I finish playing.  (It usually doesn't stay fixed this way, but it's worth a try. )

Does your monitor have problems while playing a game?

[EndTwist]

I tried changing my refresh rate, and I still see it!!!!! Aggh! Why is it ONLY during a Windows session?!  

Could it be my outlet?

[ntjedi]

What refresh rate did you set it to?  (just curious).  Is there anything else around your cabinet or plugged into the same line as your monitor.  Any kind of motor or anything.  

I believe I am having a similar problem with my arcade montior but mine occurs in both the dos sessions and windows sessions.  I need to clean up the rats nest of wires and make sure that I have a good ground.

[EndTwist]

I set the refresh rate to 60Hz (the range of the monitor is about 46 to 63). I had the computer plugged into the same outlet as the monitor. I was going to try a new outlet, but the hard drive I was using blew-up (it started smoking!!! and it smelled like crap!). I'm going to try again in a bit, after I install windows 98 on a new hard drive    

[ntjedi]

   I can feel your pain.  Good luck.

[EndTwist]

ITS GONE!! GOOD GOD, IT'S FINALLY GONE!  

After a fresh install on a new HDD (since the old one blew up), I set my monitor's refresh to "Optimal" and I don't see it anymore. Whew, the hell is over  

[ntjedi]

Good to hear!  

Now I just have to get my butt in gear and get mine settled!