Erik:
 Your problem is not really so unique, what you see in the center of the
screen is the horizontal retrace blanking. The reason you see it is that
the sweep rate you are using is incompatable with the monitor. Probably
you will have to use 640x480. If you can find the monitor manufacturer's
web site with a search engine, you may be able to look up the specs.
HTH
Hal Seabolt

Erik M. Best, Jr. wrote:
>
> Hello every one,
>
>    Ive come across, what seems to be a very strange monitor problem.   My
> friend has an older compaque pressario computer, not sure what model.  Any way
> the Monitor has a blackish stripe going almost down the middle of the monitor,
> about 2.5 inches wide.   the picture is also offset like the horizontal scroll
> on a television was messed up,( the picture goes off one side of the monitor