Posted by Scotto on 26, 2001 at 4:25 PM:
In Reply to: Holy Sh*t posted by Andy Desak on 24, 2001 at 7:49 PM:
Going from easiest to more difficult, here's how I would troubleshoot that monitor (Taking proper discharge precautions, which I'm sure you won't avoid twice...)
1- Check wiring integrity from the CPU through to the monitor PCB.
2- Check each colour, by disconnecting the other two from the PCB. If any fail to produce colour, then you've identified the culprit. I understand that losing a colour doesn't mean that the blue circuitry is bad, but rather the opposite is true. You should be able to get an entire screen of each of the RGB colours in this way.
3- Check for solder failure. Cracked solder on a component can cause a loss of signal. The symptoms that you experienced just prior to failure point to this or a component failure.
3- Check for obvious signs of failure. A component on the PCB may have failed, and they often do so in relatively dramatic fashion. A burnt look or discolouration may point you to the culprit that requires replacement.
4- Test the components for the failing circuit with a multimeter. There is usually 3 seperate circuits, one for the processing of each colour. The schematic of your monitor will be extremely valuable at this point, to ensure that you limit your search to those components that are part of the colour circuit in question.
5- Let someone else do it. Any reputable monitor or TV shop could do this diagnosis and repair with less time and risk to life and limb than this stinking hobby is worth.
6- Say screw it, buy a new monitor, return to drinking beer. You might want to upgrade to whiskey, as well, given your experience. ;)