My computer monitor is twitchy...?

Question

I bought a new Acer X171 17" LCD plug-n-play monitor because my old CRT finally died. I run Windows XP and the computer is eMachines from about 2001. Gig Intel Celeron processor, 3D AGP Graphics from Pentium. The problem is that after Windows loads and is running, the image on the new monitor is twitchy or jumpy (shaky?). Clearly it's a setting in Windows that is making it do this because when the computer is first started up the image is fantastic. Even when Windows is loading, the image is just perfect. The issue only presents itself when Windows is actually running. What am I missing? I set the monitor exactly how it said to in the paperwork but it's still weird, constantly. What can I do to fix this?

Pleae help me - my eyes are starting to go buggy because of this! :)

Thank you for you response rapidamente! My refresh rate is set at 60 and I tried the Notepad deal with the H, but still no better. I wrote to the monitor company as well, but never got any answer.

Answer 1

Hola Breezy,

Quite a pickle! First, since it is new I assume you have the manual & troubleshooting guide, but here it is if you don't:

http://www.acerpanam.com/synapse/data/7117/documents/X171%20user_enu.pdf

It sounds like you have the monitor setup correctly or you would have issues before during and after Windows loads. Many things change once Windows is done loading but the most important in this case is that the device drivers for the 3D AGP display adapter loads, which may be causing the problem. I think the first thing you should do before you start to look at the device drivers or opening the computer is to verify 100% that the monitor is not a factory defect (quite common).

At this point you may want to take the new monitor back to where you purchased it and skip troubleshooting further; if not then read on. For the following tests you will need a good freind that has a working computer and monitor.

Beg, borrow or steal a different monitor for a 5 minute test. Swap it with yours and boot up to Windows. Is the problem still there? If the problem goes away then the monitor is suspect. If the problem appears again then the display components or software in the computer are suspect.

Next, take your monitor to a different computer for a 5 minute test. Swap it out and boot up to Windows. Does the problem follow you to the other computer? If it does, then it is definitely the monitor malfunctioning in some small way. If the problem does not follow you to the other computer then your display components or software in your computer are suspect.

I have a feeling it's the monitor malfunctioning. If the monitor tests good and the problem appears to be in your computer or Windows, feel free to E-mail me through my profile if you would like some help correcting the problem yourself. I would need to know the type and manufacturer of the graphics adapter and which version of Windows you are using.

Well, I hope you get rid of that terrible twitch.

GOOD LUCK!!

UPDATE: Now we know the monitor is not the problem at all. Next we check the electrical "noise" in the area and the display adapter then the device drivers.

Answer 2

It sounds like the monitor is not quite set up perfectly.

Make sure that the desktop resolution matches monitor's native resolution.

The refresh rate should be set to 60Hz.

Open up Notepad, maximize it and fill the screen with H characters. Then hit the auto setup button on the monitor.

Answer 3

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