I need help!

[golfhobo]

Okay, everyone get in line to take a swing at that softball... (or if you need help, I can put it on a tee for ya.)

No really... I've got a problem. [sheit, there I go again...]

I swear I didn't touch any keys that I wasn't supposed to last night. Didn't even drop my keyboard. But, now I've got this popup that keeps appearing in the middle of my screen. It looks line an alien fire control menu. Upper half shows a contrast scale and keeps changing colors (red to blue, interestingly enough,) and a big number that changes if I push buttons on the front of my DELL monitor. Bottom half says USER MODE (sorry about the caps) and something in the bottom left corner (figures... it's not showing up right now so I can see what is is) no wait... there it is. It says H:48.3Khz. And in the bottom right it says V:59.9Hz. (obviously that is the vertical sweep speed of the monitor.)

All around the edges, there are hiroglyphical icons (that I suspect would destroy the Earth) and the word EXIT. But, when I move the cursor inside the perimeter with the intent of saving the World by stabbing that exit button.... it disappears and I have no way to click on anything. Note: it is obviously a monitor thing, cuz I can scroll through CAD, and type this (all behind it) while it comes and goes.

I've been visited by this alien communique once before, and I could swear I was allowed to click exit.

Anyway... restoring system doesn't help, restarting computer doesn't. Heck, it even shows up while windows is shutting down and restarting. Like I said, it seems to be a function of the monitor. I'm using I.E. 8... but, I don't think that pertains.

WTF is this thing... and how do I kill it?

First one with the correct answer and remedy gets 1 month free from my shouting, namecalling and excessive puntuation.

Please... don't y'all just sit back and chuckle while I'm being tormented. Someone hep' me!

[repete]

Did you just now realize you need help? ( you asked!) Don't you have 3 buttons on the moniter next to the power button? I made the mistake of playing with them once and had some thing like you describe.

[Mr. Ford95]

Hobo, do you happen to have another monitor laying around not being used? It does sound like the monitor is messing up but it could be one serious virus and the only way your going to know is to plug another monitor into it or try the easy route of messing with buttons like repete said.

[Scoe]

I hexed you and your computer. HA.

[Orangetxguy]

Come on Hobo...what was the out come of this???

[LBF]

monitor control buttons stuck, banged, or otherwise malfunctioning?

Presence during start up and shut down rules out your typical virus type things.

Very distressing, I'm sure!

[crb]

Seek professional help please I suggest a psychologist as you may need medications to help your distorted views of reality! You asked.

[golfhobo]

LBF said:

monitor control buttons stuck, banged, or otherwise malfunctioning?

You may be right. I have been known to have research books open in front of my monitor and when I needed a beer, I'd set my keyboard down on top of them. That is about the level of the FOUR buttons on my monitor. I don't remember ever slamming it into them, though, and they don't seem stuck. (Well, at least two of them seem to work.) Malfunctioning is a more likely theory. I have alot of dust in my apartment.

Presence during start up and shut down rules out your typical virus type things.

Very distressing, I'm sure!

Yeah, I figured that way too once I realized I could access and post on CAD... or any other website... BEHIND the popup. Very distressing! Thanks for the sympathy.

repete said:

Don't you have 3 buttons on the moniter next to the power button? I made the mistake of playing with them once and had some thing like you describe.

I have 4, but two of them are like up and down arrow counterparts. I can actually sometimes get these to work to move the "cursor" or highlighter to the various icons around the perimeter, in one or the other direction. Problem is... once I get the EXIT icon highlighted, I don't know which of the other two buttons to push. Neither seems to actually accomplish the task, though sometimes the "thing" disappears. But, I don't know if that is because I pushed the right button, or because its time is up. It comes and goes and not always for the same amount of time.

I remember now, that I must have used these buttons last time to highlight EXIT and I got it to go away. It's been years. But, nothing seems to work this time. Thanks for your confirming input. [I mean about the buttons.]

Mr.Ford:

Yes, I DO have another monitor. Thanks for reminding me. But, my system is black and that monitor is nicotine colored beige or whatever that standard computer color is. Yuch! If I don't figure this out, or can't call DELL by this weekend, I'll fish it out of my storage room and hook it up. Funny thing... that computer was built for me by my computer guru back when I had my business. Not sure why my Dad bought me this one, but I had to switch (I guess.) I'm starting to wonder if that system might not have MORE random memory than this one... which has been my main complaint for years now.

Looks like I may have a busy weekend ahead. [I actually thought about the memory thing a week or so ago, and have been wondering if I could pull the cards out of that one and stick 'em in this one. Does DD or SD make a difference for installing memory?]

Thanks for all the help guys! Any more ideas... keep em coming. I DO want to fix this monitor and keep this system if I can ever get around to installing more memory. But, I gotta tell ya.... I'm about ready to pull out the plastic and make a midnight run to WallyWorld for a 21st century laptop!


Oh yeah..... for Stan:

SNAFU.... but maybe not FUBAR!!

[VPIDarkAngel]

Hey hobo, good luck with fixing that mess, and keep us posted. By the way, that 'prize' doesn't mean much to those of us you haven't used shouting, name-calling, and excessive punctuation on.

[MichiganDriver]

Hobo (or anybody else about to spring for a new laptop), Wallyworld doesn't sell Toshibas and therefore you should shop elsewhere!!!!!!! lol (excessive punctuation on purpose - sue me OK?)

6 months ago I was in Officemax torn between a few laptops and I was talking to the tech and I told him I needed something pretty tough for use in a truck. He steered me towards the Toshiba saying they're built like tanks. They sure don't look very slick so they'd better be good at something.

I'm too embarrassed to say how it is I subjected my Toshiba to a 220lb stress test. It passed. There is no way in hell that the screen, let alone the rest of it could possibly pass that test but it did. It's one of the freakiest examples of something not breaking that I've ever seen.

On the downside, the laptop comes with Win7 and only tolerates XP but that's probably true of all the latest laptops.

[Kentla93]

Okay, everyone get in line to take a swing at that softball... (or if you need help, I can put it on a tee for ya.)

No really... I've got a problem. [sheit, there I go again...]

I swear I didn't touch any keys that I wasn't supposed to last night. Didn't even drop my keyboard. But, now I've got this popup that keeps appearing in the middle of my screen. It looks line an alien fire control menu. Upper half shows a contrast scale and keeps changing colors (red to blue, interestingly enough,) and a big number that changes if I push buttons on the front of my DELL monitor. Bottom half says USER MODE (sorry about the caps) and something in the bottom left corner (figures... it's not showing up right now so I can see what is is) no wait... there it is. It says H:48.3Khz. And in the bottom right it says V:59.9Hz. (obviously that is the vertical sweep speed of the monitor.)

All around the edges, there are hiroglyphical icons (that I suspect would destroy the Earth) and the word EXIT. But, when I move the cursor inside the perimeter with the intent of saving the World by stabbing that exit button.... it disappears and I have no way to click on anything. Note: it is obviously a monitor thing, cuz I can scroll through CAD, and type this (all behind it) while it comes and goes.

I've been visited by this alien communique once before, and I could swear I was allowed to click exit.

Anyway... restoring system doesn't help, restarting computer doesn't. Heck, it even shows up while windows is shutting down and restarting. Like I said, it seems to be a function of the monitor. I'm using I.E. 8... but, I don't think that pertains.

WTF is this thing... and how do I kill it?

First one with the correct answer and remedy gets 1 month free from my shouting, namecalling and excessive puntuation.


Please... don't y'all just sit back and chuckle while I'm being tormented. Someone hep' me!

My fault Hobo, I should have told you which porn sites where ok to visit... You should really stay away from the ones that post videos and photos of sexy TS's in their sexy boy panties....

[Hardware]

Hi Hobo, My name is Shannon, and I'm a bit new but I think I know what your problem is.. I think you might have a bit of a Mal-Ware problem. So here is what I use for this, Spybot - Search & Destroy Free Download and Reviews - Fileforum ,either click on this link, or copy, and paste this to your search bar, and it will send you right to the site you can down load this. It's free, and when using this from what I noticed try not to have anything opened on your computer at the time because it has a harder time doing it's job. ^^) Good Luck!

[repete]

Well Hobo, Did you get it fixed? Hobo, HOBO ARE YA OUT THERE!!

[Sharlie]

Congradulations, admitting you have a problem is the first step and the hardest part. Sure it is a long over due, but better late than never.

[One]

Haha, amigo, ur in the monitors setup menu, use the bottons on your monitor to 'kill' the alien ship and exit...however usually that menu doesnt stay on but cancels outafter a certain amt of time....but then again its prully made by children in uzbekistan so who knows. Buy american u cheap ass :P

[Windwalker]

Hobo,

What ever you do, do not do as my wife did. (Oh, "SHE WHO SAYS SHE KNOWS SO MUCH MORE ABOUT COMPUTER THAN I") She'd been trying to get rid of a bug her son picked up for her, so very generously, but didn't disconnect it from the internet during the process. Eventually, allowing it to communicate back with it's source, she corrupted enough software in the system, she got as far as a "BLUE SCREEN OF DEATH", and no farther. I don't hear how much more she knows since it only took me 20 minutes to get her back up and running with no bugs.

It does sound like you're in the monitor's menu. The first Khz number you gave is the horizontal freq. The second is the vertical. I don't believe your mouse will do any good there. You'll have to start pushing buttons manually.... (Hope you remember how) And, if you still can't get it, dig up the manual. When all else fails, try something new... follow instructions.....

Oh, yeah... And, GOOD LUCK. My publisher is waiting for the next set of manuscripts from your "books".

[GMAN]

You have worn it out, hobo.

[golfhobo]

Haha, amigo, ur in the monitors setup menu, use the bottons on your monitor to 'kill' the alien ship and exit...however usually that menu doesnt stay on but cancels outafter a certain amt of time....but then again its prully made by children in uzbekistan so who knows. Buy american u cheap ass :P

America makes computers and monitors??? Yeah, it's obviously the setup menu, cursors don't apply. I've pushed the buttons and can even get the EXIT icon highlighted, but don't know the secret combination to get it to "apply." I really think there is a bad connection behind one of the buttons. Like GMAN said.... I think I've just worn it out. I usually leave it on 24/7 and just let it time out to screensaver and then black while I'm at work. Some of you may have noticed that I sometimes forget and leave CAD open cuz by the time I shower and leave, the screen is dark.

Manuals? What manuals? Seriously, I was cleaning house the other day and actually saw them somewhere. Just don't remember where!

Anyway... I appreciate all the help and sympathy. No one seems to know which button I should push, but it may not matter. I think I probably HAVE pushed the right button, but that's the one with the bad micro-thingie behind it. (forgot the word.) I'm pretty stubborn, but I think I'll end up just digging out my old monitor like Mr.Ford suggested. This puter doesn't have enough memory anyways, and I was about to install some more, but.... I think it's time to get something newer, faster, and smaller.

[golfhobo]

Seek professional help please I suggest a psychologist as you may need medications to help your distorted views of reality! You asked.

I suggest more excessive (or visible) use of punctuation. But, I'm just razzin' ya back. As a matter of fact, I just recently resumed my meds. Thanks for your participation. [really.]

[golfhobo]

Hey hobo, good luck with fixing that mess, and keep us posted. By the way, that 'prize' doesn't mean much to those of us you haven't used shouting, name-calling, and excessive punctuation on.

You're just not trying hard enough! But, you're right.... I'll have to devise a special special torture for y'all, so that I can rescind it later when you have earned a break.