This is my first post, so thanks in advance to all of you that might share your expertise and information.
I have a Gateway FPD2485W that I've used for about 3-4 years at this point. It's generally been fine, but it's starting to act a little weird...
These symptoms seem to be true for both the DVI and VGA inputs. They also hold true across multiple computers - so I'm pretty certain it's not related to the computers or graphics cards.
When I turn it on, and it has a signal, it will take quite a while (30-40 seconds) to go through it's warm-up process and then display the screen. This is much longer than it used to take. New, it probably took <5 seconds to go through the same process. Once it's displaying, it will do so for as long as I use the computer.
However, if the computer "turns off" the monitors (I guess it stops sending a signal?), they go to sleep, but the Gateway won't "wake up." I say "they" because I have two monitors attached to the computer. The other monitor (a new HP at the same resolution) comes back to life as expected. If I then unplug the Gateway's power cord (using the on/off 'switch' won't work) and plug it back in, it will come back to life (taking the usual 30-40 seconds) and then continue to work.
Some other things to note:
- this monitor does not have a physical on/off switch, it's a touch sensitive device on the front that controls on/off and menus. So, it's not surprising to me that the on/off 'switch' doesn't work, but unplugging/re-plugging the power cord makes something different happen that gets it working again. I'm just not sure what.
- as I mention above, the touch device on the front controls the menu system for the monitor controls. Well, as the start-up time of the monitor has increased, the menu system has started acting more slowly too. When I choose an option, it can take 20-30 seconds for the menu to change. I wouldn't think the menu system is controlled by any of the inputs.
These symptoms lead me to believe that something is wrong with the processor board, but I'm very new to this. I've messed with electronics in the past, done some soldering, etc., but I don't have any experience diagnosing monitor issues. Just what I've read online.
My questions:
1) As some other people have noted about the Gateway FPD248W, it uses Su'scon capacitors, which I've read are known to have problems. Does this sound like a capacitor related problem?
2) I'm going to try to attach pictures to this post (remember, I'm new here so I'm not sure I'll be successful). I don't see anything that makes me think any of the capacitors are bad (I've read about the symptoms - leaking, bulging, etc.). Does anyone see something I don't? I've put some numbers next to capacitors in the pictures and drawn some circles and squares to try to give people a way to tell me what to look at. If you think my labels are messed up, please let me know - they're guesses on my part.
3) If it does seem like a capacitor problem, do you think my guess about the processor board is correct? Should I start with those capacitors? Or is it possible the problem could be on the power board?
Thanks in advance. Any help you can provide is greatly appreciated.
-tom
I have a Gateway FPD2485W that I've used for about 3-4 years at this point. It's generally been fine, but it's starting to act a little weird...
These symptoms seem to be true for both the DVI and VGA inputs. They also hold true across multiple computers - so I'm pretty certain it's not related to the computers or graphics cards.
When I turn it on, and it has a signal, it will take quite a while (30-40 seconds) to go through it's warm-up process and then display the screen. This is much longer than it used to take. New, it probably took <5 seconds to go through the same process. Once it's displaying, it will do so for as long as I use the computer.
However, if the computer "turns off" the monitors (I guess it stops sending a signal?), they go to sleep, but the Gateway won't "wake up." I say "they" because I have two monitors attached to the computer. The other monitor (a new HP at the same resolution) comes back to life as expected. If I then unplug the Gateway's power cord (using the on/off 'switch' won't work) and plug it back in, it will come back to life (taking the usual 30-40 seconds) and then continue to work.
Some other things to note:
- this monitor does not have a physical on/off switch, it's a touch sensitive device on the front that controls on/off and menus. So, it's not surprising to me that the on/off 'switch' doesn't work, but unplugging/re-plugging the power cord makes something different happen that gets it working again. I'm just not sure what.
- as I mention above, the touch device on the front controls the menu system for the monitor controls. Well, as the start-up time of the monitor has increased, the menu system has started acting more slowly too. When I choose an option, it can take 20-30 seconds for the menu to change. I wouldn't think the menu system is controlled by any of the inputs.
These symptoms lead me to believe that something is wrong with the processor board, but I'm very new to this. I've messed with electronics in the past, done some soldering, etc., but I don't have any experience diagnosing monitor issues. Just what I've read online.
My questions:
1) As some other people have noted about the Gateway FPD248W, it uses Su'scon capacitors, which I've read are known to have problems. Does this sound like a capacitor related problem?
2) I'm going to try to attach pictures to this post (remember, I'm new here so I'm not sure I'll be successful). I don't see anything that makes me think any of the capacitors are bad (I've read about the symptoms - leaking, bulging, etc.). Does anyone see something I don't? I've put some numbers next to capacitors in the pictures and drawn some circles and squares to try to give people a way to tell me what to look at. If you think my labels are messed up, please let me know - they're guesses on my part.
3) If it does seem like a capacitor problem, do you think my guess about the processor board is correct? Should I start with those capacitors? Or is it possible the problem could be on the power board?
Thanks in advance. Any help you can provide is greatly appreciated.
-tom
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