CRT image balloons

[Bobrobert]

From time to time, usually during periods of inactivity, the image displayed on my CRT distorts, similar to the effect of it being printed on a balloon that in inflated. Any ideas?

[Midknyte]

usually during periods of inactivity

Are you sure it's not a screensaver? I've seen one very similar to what you are describing.

[Bobrobert]

I don't think that it is a screen saver. I'll try to determine if that is what it is though. Thanks for the suggestion.

[Steve R Jones]

What steps do you have to take to get the screen good again?

Look for the press the Degaus button.

[Bobrobert]

I usually go to the task manager to see if any program needs to be closed. Just going to task manager usually gets it cleared. So, actually, this does behave a bit like a screen saver. I am trying to find if I have a screen saver now.

[Bobrobert]

I just found the degause button and next time I have the problem I will press it. Thanks for the suggestion. When I pressed it just now, there was very noticable activity.

[Bobrobert]

Degaussing does help. Sometimes it takes repeated degaussing, but it definitely seems to be related. When the click is heard after pressing the degausse button, the image snaps to normal at the same time of the snap. Thanks for your help. The CRT is 10 years old, and perhaps the automatic degaussing isn't working properly any longer.

[Train]

I would look into replacing it right soon.