>Date:    Sun, 21 Feb 1999 23:11:17 -0800
>From:    Brad Britton <[log in to unmask]>

>Hi: I have a 17" monitor that is almost 3 years old.

>It is a Nanao FlexScan t2-17TS
>It cost $1,500 Canadian.

>Ever since I had it, it has had a small defect. --

>There is an oval area on the right side of the
>screen that is duller than the rest of the screen.
>This oval area covers most of the right side of the
>screen. Most of the time I don't notice it, because
>I usually have my background set to black. But if
>the background is a light color, esp white or a
>redish color, it is quite noticeable and a bit
>distracting while reading text.

First, is this visible at all when the monitor is switched off?
(It's not on the outside of the screen - and can be cleaned off with
a paper towel dampened with "Windex" or the like, is it?)

Sometimes old monitors develop an "image" of what is burned into the screen
day after day, but I don't think this is the problem.

It could be a residual magnetic field.  Does your monitor have a
"deGaussing" button?  If so, press and hold this button for a second or
so when the monitor is on.

If you have a manual, does this monitor have an automatic deGaussing
circuit?  This is usually a coil around the face of the screen in series
with a positive temperature coefficient thermistor about the size of a
silver dollar across the 110VAC.  (As the thermistor heats up, its
resistance goes *waaaay* up, and the current drops to practically
zero.)  Because the thermistor runs hot, these tend to fail (open)
eventually.  If this has happened, then it will not automatically
deGauss the screen.  Normally, the inrush of AC current to the coil,
which fades to nothing a few seconds after the monitor is turned on,
causes a similar magnetic field which overwhelms any residual field
trapped in the screen.  This field is repeatedly reversed as it fades
away, removing the residual field.

Unless you are experienced working around the potentially LETHAL voltages
(over 30,000 Volts, even after you have pulled the plug!), vacuum, and even
radiation hazards inside a monitor (or TV), you are better advised not
to open the case.

There is one thing you can do, however.  Befriend a TV/monitor repair
person, and borrow a portable deGaussing coil.  Get instructions on
how to use it.  If this solves the problem, you may want him to replace
the thermistor - it should only cost a few dollars to restore the
automatic deGaussing.

>It's a good monitor, otherwise.


>So I am just posting this hoping that maybe someone
>has seen this problem, and in that case could
>perhaps tell me if the problem was successfully
>fixed.  I hesitate to go thru the expense
>and inconvenience of sending it over to get fixed,
>because I am thinking that I might get it back
>"fixed", but not really fixed, if you know what I
>mean. I mean, they might just say they adjusted
>something, then I can still see the defect, then if
>I want them to fix it right I will have to send it
>across the country again, ect. [I have not had good
>luck when it comes to getting  electronic equipment
>repaired.]

>I hooked the monitor up to another pc and still saw
>the problem, and I had another monitor hooked up to
>my pc and didn't see the problem, so it can't be the
>video card.


>[The dealer told me I was responsible to ship it
>myself. I don't shop there anymore.] So now the
>warranty is almost up. I think it will cost me about
>$80 to ship it.

>Brad Britton

Hope this helps.

Boyd Ramsay

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