Hello, all.
I have a small biz customer with a GVision Model L5AX (serial connected) touchscreen monitor. It has seen some wear over the past 4 yrs, and it now acting up. At any random time during any random day, it will lose tracking - the cursor moving to a spot about 2" down-right from where you touch. Couple happen within days after "fixing", or up to a week.
Customer states that when it happens, he runs the Calibration app for it (as I showed him to), but it doesn't usually fix it. He then reboots the whole system several times, and still, usually, it doesn't fix it.
The couple times I've stopped in, calibration *has* worked for me. Tonight, I also noticed the serial cable was a little loose at the back of the system so I tightened it (we had already resolved the cursor issue prior to finding this).
So my question is mainly - why? At least a direction to look in - monitor (hardware), software (drivers), or system? I'm leaning away from the monitor, as when it gets back "on track", it can work properly for up to a week (I will gladly listen to arguments why it *would* be the monitor, if someone believes so - like, it's possibly getting worn?).
Another tidbit... It's running on a newer system (hardware), but running Windows Millenium (yep, good old "Me"). I'm not sure why - I think the guy who installed the whole setup for him did this. [cringe]
I'm throwing this out at 500 points as it's driving this guy nuts - never knowing when it's going to rear up. He'd like to get this resolved quickly - last resort a new touchscreen.
Thanks much for any tips, advice, suggestions, pointers, and/or information you can provide?
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burrcm,
Thanks very much for the response (the only one so far!). A good point, and something I didn't really think of. I will check that ASAP (would prob be tomorrow (Wed) night) and report back. Not sure how successful I'll be with replacing the monitor's power - it's a custom adapter.
I'll definately test the outlets he's plugged into.
Thanks again.
Shot in the dark, but perhaps the mechanism that is holding the calibration is becomming corrupted from improper shutdown, failing hard drive or maybe even spyware.
give the system a full physical cleaning of fans and blow all the dust out, replace batteries that might need it, and do system cleanup with defrag, disk check and temp file cleanup.
also make sure no one is screwing the resolution when no one is looking. record the system resolution and see if it changes when the system becomes out of sync....
wrmichael,
Good points all. I will address them as soon as I can schedule time with him after-hours (which seems to be a hassle - I only get calls to look at it *while* he's operating :-/ ).
I don't think resolution is a problem - although another good point. The owner, nor any of his people wouldn't know where to look to find the resolution settings. Very "low-tech" experience level. They pretty much fire up the system, run their POS app, and push buttons.
I'll report back when I can get in to try these out. Thanks for the ideas!
Unfortunately, I'm am going to have to close this question.
The good news is, the problem is resolved. Apparently, a couple days ago, my customer purchased a new monitor and it works fine.
End result, it looks like, was the monitor itself, as he was able to acquire the same make/model and plug it in without reinstalling any of the software for it (just plugged it in and it went). I think this removes system or software/driver issues and points directly to the monitor itself.
The company informed him that these units apparently have about a 4-5 year lifespan of continuous use (and it's about 4-5 years old).
Thanks very much for the people who responded, and your suggestions. Greatly appreciated.
Business Accounts
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by: burrcmPosted on 2009-10-06 at 05:21:28ID: 25504149
Check that the system has a good earth. May be building up static. If plugged in through a power board replace it. Replace the PC and monitor power leads, the PC plug ends fail often.
Chris B