Technical Update

[andrewducker]

In the end, I backed up everything (except for my email address book - doh!) blew away windows, and reinstalled it.

Which turned out to be exactly the right thing to do - as Windows now boots vastly faster. Well, it had been 4 years of me installing stupid levels of software, then uninstalling, then reinstalling it, then fucking about some more.

Also, Hugh got a new monitor for christmas (shiny 22") - so I bought his old 15" off of him to have a dual monitor setup. And then, this morning, my monitor stopped working. So now I have a single 15" monitor setup. Which isn't great, but is better than it would have been if I hadn't bought his old monitor off of him...

Anyone know about the insides of monitors? The problem seems to be a dodgy power connection - if I hold the cable at just the right angle it works...

Comments

[meaningrequired.livejournal.com]

My now dead laptop had a similar problem with the power cable.

My solution was tape.

[pseudomonas.livejournal.com]

I was going to suggest epoxy putty (or blu-tack if you want a less permanent solution).

[andrewducker]

Unfortunately, it's going to require me to open it up. It has to be held at a specific angle _very_ hard. Something inside has clearly shifted a few mm.

I'll open it up tonight!

[pseudomonas.livejournal.com]

seriously, epoxy putty can hold things pretty damn hard.

[figg.livejournal.com]

It would still be worth looking inside to see if it is damaged there, it could just be a faulty cable.

oh and, this might help some:

http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/monfaq.htm

[figg.livejournal.com]

Beware of capacitors.

[andrewducker]

Aaah - how long would I likely have to leave it before I could safely open it?

[figg.livejournal.com]

I am not an electrictian.

That said, I would disconnect it from the mains, leave it switched on for a bit, and then maybe go back after fifteen minutes.

And then be very very very careful anyway.

[andrewducker]

*phew*

That's fine. It's lying unplugged on my bed right now, so by tonight I'll be fine :->

[figg.livejournal.com]

When we fixed a surface mount on the tv in emmental, we were well aware of the problems of high tension capacitors.

Jon, who has the most experience of electronics shocked himself at least three times.

It's unlikely to kill you but it hurts like fuck :)

[aberbotimue.livejournal.com]

when i did electronics, i was always told to gather parts from old stufff.. HOWEVER...

avoid TV's because of the capasitors. they were impling, that they hold charge for a long time..

its only an issue if you toch two things together, or grab them yourself ( short through you )..

so, no metal tools, and a pair of rubber gloves!!

[mb2u]

Capacitors can hold charges for months. I worked with someone who fixed TV's on the side, and he said you always assume it's charged, no matter what.

You can take the case off, avoid the tube, and look at where the plug goes into the case and see if the socket is loose inside, or if a connection is unsoldered, then see if you can fix that.

[darkoshi]

Is it a flat-panel or CRT? The latter would be more dangerous, I'd think. Yet I once went fiddling inside a CRT TV trying to troubleshoot it, and didn't shock myself. Don't touch anything metal with your bare fingers.
From what you describe, it sounds like it shouldn't be difficult to fix.