I am not sure if this is in the right place, but I figured some of you TV guys could help. I picked up a Gateway 2000 Vivitron 17" monitor a few weeks ago. I like the Gateways because they are cheap and pretty reliable. Anyway, this one has a blur problem. I can use it well enough to play games, but the words and fonts are off. When I look at something like the time or words on the screen, I see the red is off from the actual word? Does this make sense? It is slightly offset by about a pixel above the actual line it should be, so just enough to be a problem.
Is there a way to get the colors back in line? Or should I go and find another monitor?

You need to take off the back cover - prefereably not while plugged in!! (See Andyman's off-topic post today for reasons why!!). Anyhoo you need to look an all the panels after the top is off and there should be a focus adjustment (I think it may be on the flyback transformer - but I can't remember correctly).

Dave

red being off is more likely to be misconvergence.
many such monitors have adjustments in the menu.
vivitron=trinitron.its a sony

I'll open her up this afternoon. There isn't any adjustment for convergence on the front. Wish me luck...... uuum, if I don't have it turned on while adjusting it how do I know it is adjusted? This is coming from a guy who can at the most hook up a DVD player.

You will have to adjust this using the plastic convergence rings around the neck of the CRT. Mark their position before you start so you can return everything to where it was if you make it worse. It will take only a very small adjustment to fix the problem. Don't move the rings closest to the deflection yoke, these are for purity, not convergence.

There may also be the posibility tht an inexpensive/poorly insulated monitor cable may be to blame. Does the cable pass near any electrical systems, including your CPU?

Just a theory...

BE VERY CAREFUL!!!

There is enough current inside a monitor (either on or after it
has just been shut off) to kill you if you're not careful!

With the cover off, you'll notice a large wire going to the top
portion of the tube, be very careful around this wire, especially
if the monitor is on!

With the monitor off, check the way the monitor sits, you may
have to brace the rear of the tube as the case would normally
do that.

Best to do this before you turn it on to minimize the arching and
sparking! :D

Working with the convergence rings can be pretty tough as the
rings don't need to be moved much to make the slightest adjustment

Move only one at a time and return it to it's original spot until you
find the ring that adjusts the red.

I can't stress it enough to be very careful... there is more power in
a monitor than just getting bit from the wall outlet!

As my electronics teacher told me, "Electronics is a wonderful thing,
but if you find yourself across the room and you don't know how you
got there, you know you did something wrong!".

On the other hand don't let me scare you away from attempting this
repair yourself, just respect the monitor and it will respect you!

Scott

DEGAUSS/RESET...

If it's a Trinitron and only has one gun, why are you setting the convergence like that? Go into the OS and adjust your Display settings, or consult someone to find out. If that doesn't work go to the thrift and get credit/another one.

Live to moderate another day

Well, the winning suggestion goes to mg196. I pulled it out, and took the cover off and then hooked it back up. Perfect picture. So the culprit is the cable and/or the fact that the back of the monitor is tightly against one of my EPI 100's that I am using to lift the left BA speak high enough to listen to. I had never used this monitor anywhere else, as I got it and then hooked it right up in this obviosly cruddy set-up. It is good to go now that my wife is making me clean my room :D I'll be able to set it up properly. Thanks for all the info, I now know what to do next time.

its the speaker messing with you.
crt's and magnets dont mix.

Yup...that's why God made shielded speakers! ;)

Yep, but there aren't very many good vintage speaks that are shielded. Seems like most vintage speaks come from a time before everyone thought they had to have video with thier music.