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Fix Your Blurry Monitor or TV

Saturday, June 5th 2004

I found this article on TweakHardware.com. It will walk you through adjusting the focus on that old computer monitor. It will also help you adjust the color and brightness of your monitor.

Many monitors display an unnecessarily bad picture quality. Several older monitors suffer from showing a very dark and blurry image. But it doesn't have to be this way! With a little knowledge and a couple of screwdrivers, we can make adjustments to achieve a sharper and/or brighter image.

The process is quite simple, but requires you to take the back cover off of your monitor. This is usually very simple and requires only a small screw driver. The guide on Tweak Hardware will walk you through the complete process.

WARNING

This tweak, if not done properly, can cause serious injury and possibly death to you and your monitor. Use at your own risk

My Experience

I have done this to my old Magitronic monitor and it worked great. My monitor went from a blurry piece of garbage to a monitor that looked almost brand new. The process was a bit different on my monitor, the focus and brightness potentiometers were located in different positions, but worked exactly the same. I would not recommend playing with the color potentiometers unless it's really screwed up.

After fixing my monitor, I thought I would try it on my old TV, and it worked the same way. My TV was really screwed up and the colors were way off, so I adjusted the color potentiometers and finally got it to work. It takes very long to get the color right, since there's three adjustments, red, green and blue, so expect to take some time if you plan on adjusting the color. And also try many source for testing the color. ie. DVD, Video Game, VHS, Satellite, Regular TV, etc.

To just adjust the focus and brightness it took me about 20 minutes, after I figured everything out, so why not fix your broken computer monitor or TV for free.

Link to the Article

http://web.archive.org/web/20030217070144/http://www.tweakhardware.com/guide/tweakmonitor/


Comments

The opinions expressed in comments are entirely the responsibility of the various contributors. While I will do everything within reason to ensure that they are not defamatory, I accept no liability for them or the content of links included in them.

  1. Comment by Shawn

    2005-12-12T18:19:31-05:00 EST

    where can i find this information now that the site is down someone please help my tv is driving me nuts!!!!

  2. Comment by Anonymous

    2006-02-03T23:39:59-05:00 EST

    Seriously man, me too!! How can I fix this blurry monitor?

  3. Comment by Matt Read

    2006-02-05T00:51:44-05:00 EST

    OK, try that new link. It should work. :D

  4. Comment by Busy

    2006-03-26T19:39:21-05:00 EST

    Did you know this page is #1 in google for my monitor is blurry ? You are googly.

    But yeah thanks for saving my eyes from the agony of blurred code and helping me get points toward the geek merit badge for open electronics surgery

  5. Comment by Jason

    2006-05-08T16:52:58-04:00 EDT

    Someone gave me a 17" monitor for free because it was out of focus. I've kept it as a spare just in case my main monitor goes out.. I used this guide to fix it in under 10 minutes, and now I have a great looking spare monitor just in case.. hahahah

    I also used this on a friends monitor when they complained of blurry screen syndrome.

    Two thumbs up!

  6. Comment by Adam Wishart

    2006-08-02T12:03:51-04:00 EDT

    can you post the link again, I can't seem to find one that works on this page - maybe i'm being stupid? Cheers.

  7. Comment by Adam Wishart

    2006-08-02T12:13:57-04:00 EDT

    My bad, definately being stupid, got to the article although there does seem to be problems with the site.

  8. Comment by Andr

    2006-10-04T22:52:57-04:00 EDT

    Even though I've had a long day... I know I can't think straight, but I'm trying to find that link and I can'T find it!!! It says something about robot.txt... ;(

    WHERE DO I GO, I can'T find that "new link"!!! (I need that article, cuz that monitor would be REALLY helpful)

    sorry 'bout desperatefulness :? ??: Thanks :lol:

  9. Comment by Hakkatack

    2006-10-05T22:54:57-04:00 EDT

    same here i can't find the article

  10. Comment by Dave

    2006-10-13T16:36:31-04:00 EDT

    would this work on an old 1980's Sony tv? id hate to take it all apart to find out it cant be done....the thing is a huge floor model.....

  11. Comment by Luc Elliott

    2006-11-15T20:35:22-05:00 EST

    Matt,

    Would you be willing to explain how, at least in general, to fix your blurry computer monitor. Do you have to take the back cover off and if so do you make adjustments while it is on? Are there knobs under the back cover or do you have to bend stuff or clean stuff?

  12. Comment by Randy

    2006-12-28T03:25:57-05:00 EST

    This sucks my tv has bolts on it, no screws bolts cant find a small enough one either, one bad thing after another :( (6)


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