thin white vertical lines at top of my monitor

I have thin white lines at the top of my monitor.
This happens off and on. Not consistent.
What is causing this and how do I fix it.
Thanks,
Debrac62:confused

 

More information would be helpful.

Is this a CRT monitor or an LED/LCD type monitor?

What is your Operating System and Service Pack?

Is your video controller onboard or an add on card?

What is the make and model of the video controller?

In general, bad RAM or Video RAM if it's a stand alone controller will often cause random problems on the screen such a short vertical dashes at various places on the screen.

 

My operating system is XP.
CRT Monitor.
On board video conrtoller, don`t know the make or model.

 

The first thing I would recommend is inspecting the MB for bad capacitors. If there are any that are bulged on the top or leaking, you would need a new mainboard unless your good at soldering.

If there are no bad caps, with an onboard controller, I would try removing one of the RAM modules at a time to see if it helps if you have multiple modules. If you only have one RAM module, perhaps try a different one if you access to one.

 

Is the compasitor inside the hard drive or the monitor?

 

The capacitors are on the motherboard. Here is a helpful picture:
http://www.thenakedpc.com/dan/Bulging_Capacitors/close-up.jpg

 

Thanks Collinsl, I hadn't considered putting the pic in the post. Another forum I'm on doesn't allow pics so it didn't occur to me.

The capacitors are on the mainboard inside the computer. In this case, look especially for capacitors around the memory modules. The bad ones in the pic above are in the voltage circuit for the processor.

 

Hi, I had a look inside of the computer. Every this is shiny and looks good.
I did notice a square silver thing had come loose. Have no idea what it is.

 

Sorry for the delay in responding.

The "square silver thing" may be a heatsink. If it is the heatsink for the graphics processor (GPU), it could be the problem. The GPU may be overheating.

Can you describe it a little better? Was it just loose or was it not attached to anything? Could you possibly take a picture of it and the mainboard inside your computer and post them?

 

Hi,
Can't take a picture. It is square, has wire with loop attached to a little hole. The other wire is on the opposite side. Not attached to anything. I was apparently glued to a square platform with a round silver piece. I stuck it back on and it seems to be staying in place and the lines have disappears so far.

 

I just found a picture on the internet that looks similar to the silver thing. You can see it in my album.

 

That sounds to me like a northbridge or southbridge heatsink. Glad you caught it as they are delicate components.

 

I looked in your album but there aren't any pictures in it. Does it look similar to this?

If that is the northbridge heatsink, it is very likely the problem. Most onboard graphics adapters are handled by the northbridge. Some have a separate GPU but most do not.

 

Yes, it is similar to that.
I have uploaded the picture. Have a look.

 

Hi,
I noticed the lines are back. I checked inside and the silver thing is still attached. I also felt around in there to see if it is hot. Not hot, just slightly warm. HELP!

 

The picture you posted is of an add on or stand alone Video Card. Is that what you have inside your computer or does the loose heatsink just look like that and is on the mainboard?

I would still suspect the loose heatsink as the problem but it could also be memory if your video controller is onboard.

 

This is probably a loose heatsink, as shnerdly has said, compounded by the fact that there is probably now no thermal paste between the two.

If you try to wobble the heatsink gently, does it move very much?
You will need to purchase and apply some thermal paste. I recommend Arctic Silver 5: http://www.ebuyer.com/product/126410

Obviously if you are outside the UK then you will need to find it at a different site.

Of course, it could be that the chip has become heat damaged and will now never work properly again, but we can find that out later.

 

I did see a picture on the internet that looks just like the silver thing in my computer.
It is not loose anymore. Nice and tight. Still the lines are appearing off and on.

 

No that is not the inside of my computer. It was a picture I found on the internet.
The silver thing is now staying on good. The lines are appearing off and on again.

 

Until you try thermal paste we cannot determine if the chip is damaged from heat.

 

There was paste on the silver thing. It is now staying tightly in place. Has not fallen off since.

 

You will need to apply new paste as thermal paste looses it's efficiency by 80-90% if air gets between the layers of it, as it has in this case. Make sure you clean the old stuff off first using a lint-free cloth or thermal compound remover and do not touch the surfaces as grease from your skin will hamper efficiency.

 

Hi guys,
I hooked my monitor up to my old hard drive. The lines are still there.
Could it be my monitor???

 

Changing your hard drive will not help as the graphics card is probably the problem.

 

I suspect you are calling the computer the hard drive. The hard drive is actually a fairly small component of the computer on the inside of the case.

If what I said is correct, then yes, the monitor is probably the bad component.

If you actually did just install an old hard drive in the computer, then the problem component is still unknown.

 

I hooked my monitor up to an older computer. The lines came back.
Any idea what would cause such a thing to happen to my monitor?

 

Hi Collin,
What do I do about that.?

 

Sorry, I assumed you meant you changed your hard drive, not the computer.

I agree with shnerdly that the monitor is probably at fault. This can be for any number of reasons. I suggest you check the length of warranty on the monitor and if it is in warranty contact the manufacturer for a repair.