# Help! My Monitor Has Gone Wacky, And I Don't Know How To Fix It! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 17, 2001, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-my-monitor-has-gone-wacky-and-i-dont-know-how-to-fix-it/93934 "2001-11-17T13:28:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Persephone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@Persephone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Persephone)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2001, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-my-monitor-has-gone-wacky-and-i-dont-know-how-to-fix-it/93934/1 "2001-11-17T13:28:33Z")
My monitor has taken on a very strange shape. Right now, the screen has curved edges on the right and left, and it’s looks like it’s bulging in the middle. Like a fishbowl. I have no idea how this happened. I signed on this morning, dinked around a little, then signed off, because I had to leave. I did not turn the computer off–I just signed off of AOL. When I came home less than an hour later, it was all weird like this. I can still read everything, but damn, it looks bizarre and it’s driving me crazy! How do I fix this? Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Hamadryad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6de8d8/32.png) [@Hamadryad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamadryad)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2001, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-my-monitor-has-gone-wacky-and-i-dont-know-how-to-fix-it/93934/2 "2001-11-17T13:35:33Z")
If you have any controls at the bottom of your monitor you may _try_ to manipulate it to normality…but Tark and I both kinda think you ought to take it to a professional. IMNPHO, it sounds like it’s FUBAR-d, but I may be imagining a WAY more messed up display than you’re seeing. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![galen\_ubal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/galen_ubal/32/4440_2.png) [@galen\_ubal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/galen_ubal)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2001, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-my-monitor-has-gone-wacky-and-i-dont-know-how-to-fix-it/93934/3 "2001-11-17T13:39:27Z")
Actually, there is often a control on the monitor that has has just that effect - Gods know why. Maybe you bumped it? Anyway, if you have such controls, look for the little pictogram that shows just the effect you described. ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2001, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-my-monitor-has-gone-wacky-and-i-dont-know-how-to-fix-it/93934/4 "2001-11-17T13:44:16Z")
If its not fixable by the control panel on the monitor you are going to have to get a new one becuase unlless its under warranty they wont bother fixing it in most places But it sounds like its burning out or one of the holds is failing ---
**Author:** ![Persephone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@Persephone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Persephone)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2001, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-my-monitor-has-gone-wacky-and-i-dont-know-how-to-fix-it/93934/5 "2001-11-17T14:20:02Z")
Ah. Been fooling with the buttons. Got it just about back to normal. A few more tweaks, and we should be all copacetic. I’ve never really messed with them at all. Now I know what they’re for. However, I have a very strong feeling, though, that my children figured them out without my assistance. Excuse me while I go string them up by their thumbs. Thanks for the help, folks. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![galen\_ubal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/galen_ubal/32/4440_2.png) [@galen\_ubal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/galen_ubal)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2001, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-my-monitor-has-gone-wacky-and-i-dont-know-how-to-fix-it/93934/6 "2001-11-17T14:23:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Persephone \* > Excuse me while I go string them up by their thumbs. > > Thanks for the help, folks. 😃 No, no - not by the thumbs, that’s child abuse! You have to do it by the wrists. 🙂 Otherwise, their little thumbs pop out and you have to tie their shoes for them. ---
**Author:** ![Persephone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@Persephone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Persephone)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2001, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-my-monitor-has-gone-wacky-and-i-dont-know-how-to-fix-it/93934/7 "2001-11-17T14:33:00Z")
Oops. Thanks, **galen!** I’d almost forgotten that. I love these boards…😉 ---
**Author:** ![Cougarfang](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c67d28/32.png) [@Cougarfang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cougarfang)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2001, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-my-monitor-has-gone-wacky-and-i-dont-know-how-to-fix-it/93934/8 "2001-11-17T14:52:05Z")
why don’t you get your brother-in-law Zeus and have him hurl a coupla thunderbolts? they get a nice frizzy hairdo, and it’s a lot cleaner, too. 😃 ~cougarfang, who has no kittens (thankfully) ---
**Author:** ![galen\_ubal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/galen_ubal/32/4440_2.png) [@galen\_ubal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/galen_ubal)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2001, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-my-monitor-has-gone-wacky-and-i-dont-know-how-to-fix-it/93934/9 "2001-11-17T14:55:33Z")
I probably shouldn’t offer advice for childrearing while I’m listening to Carlin…