Setting color on monitor to display only grayscale?

Michael Linford wrote:
> I have a two year old laptop with a video card problem. It doesn't display
> reds, either on the LCD screen or an external monitor. I have tried cleaning
> the contacts, still no luck. It is out of warranty and the price of parts is
> pretty high, so I've decided to buy a new laptop. But I would like to keep
> this one around as a backup since it still works fine other than the video
> card. I think I could tolerate it if I disabled the greens and blues as well
> and essentially turn it into a grayscale display. Would this even work, and
> if so how would I do it?
>
>

For a hardware failure, that is pretty strange. AFAIK, the connection to the
LCD panel, is digital via low voltage differential signalling. That doesn't use
the DAC in the GPU. The VGA monitor connection on the back, has RGB as
analog signals. A broken pin, disconnected wire, or a failure in the red
channel could account for one color going missing. Having equivalent failures
seems unlikely from a hardware perspective. And having a failure deep in the
logic somewhere, without breaking the chip, is pretty unlikely.

Are you sure this isn't a problem with a gamma setting or something ?
(Like a change that has only been applied to the red channel.)

http://common.packardbell.com/itemnr/instr_atiradeondrivers/ati_color.jpg (ATI)

or page 103 here, for Nvidia
ftp://download.nvidia.com/Windows/84.12/84.12_Forceware_Display_Proper...User_Gu

Do you get the same response, if you boot with a read-only Linux
distro like Knoppix (knopper.net) ? There may be some version of Ubuntu that allows
the same thing. The CD doesn't install anything, and allows you to boot
up a Linux desktop. Try that, and see if the color space is normal there.

Paul
 >> Stay informed about: Setting color on monitor to display only grayscale? 

There are no gray pixels. The display has red, green, and blue pixels. If the red does not work and you turn off the green and blue you will have nothing.

Michael Linford wrote:
>
> I have a two year old laptop with a video card problem. It doesn't display
> reds, either on the LCD screen or an external monitor. I have tried cleaning
> the contacts, still no luck. It is out of warranty and the price of parts is
> pretty high, so I've decided to buy a new laptop. But I would like to keep
> this one around as a backup since it still works fine other than the video
> card. I think I could tolerate it if I disabled the greens and blues as well
> and essentially turn it into a grayscale display. Would this even work, and
> if so how would I do it?

--
Mike Walsh
West Palm Beach, Florida, U.S.A.
 >> Stay informed about: Setting color on monitor to display only grayscale? 

Michael Linford wrote:

> I have a two year old laptop with a video card problem. It doesn't
> display reds, either on the LCD screen or an external monitor. I have
> tried cleaning the contacts, still no luck. It is out of warranty and
> the price of parts is pretty high, so I've decided to buy a new
> laptop. But I would like to keep this one around as a backup
> since it still works fine other than the video card.

You'll find it works surprisingly well without doing anything special.

> I think I could tolerate it if I disabled the greens and blues
> as well and essentially turn it into a grayscale display.

> Would this even work, and if so how would I do it?
 >> Stay informed about: Setting color on monitor to display only grayscale? 

"Rod Speed" wrote in message

> Michael Linford wrote:
>
>> I have a two year old laptop with a video card problem. It doesn't
>> display reds, either on the LCD screen or an external monitor. I have
>> tried cleaning the contacts, still no luck. It is out of warranty and
>> the price of parts is pretty high, so I've decided to buy a new
>> laptop. But I would like to keep this one around as a backup
>> since it still works fine other than the video card.
>
> You'll find it works surprisingly well without doing anything special.
>
>> I think I could tolerate it if I disabled the greens and blues
>> as well and essentially turn it into a grayscale display.
>
>> Would this even work, and if so how would I do it?
>
>

yet another great piece of advice.......frooooommmm Rod Speeeeeddddd.
 >> Stay informed about: Setting color on monitor to display only grayscale? 

"Michael Linford" wrote in


> I have a two year old laptop with a video card problem. It doesn't
> display reds, either on the LCD screen or an external monitor. I
> have tried cleaning the contacts, still no luck. It is out of
> warranty and the price of parts is pretty high, so I've decided to
> buy a new laptop. But I would like to keep this one around as a
> backup since it still works fine other than the video card. I think
> I could tolerate it if I disabled the greens and blues as well and
> essentially turn it into a grayscale display. Would this even work,
> and if so how would I do it?

Without red there is just no way to achieve gray. Grayscale would be
achieved on an RGB system by setting the red, green and blue to equal
values in the pixels, so you could, for example achieve 256 levels of
gray by using RGB vlaues 0,0,0 though 255,255,255 with 24-bit color. If
the red is missing then you can't do that.

Are you 100% certain this isn't a software problem? Do the colors appear
wrong when the machine is booting (before the OS loads)? Have you tried
to boot a live linux CD or to go into the BIOS setup and see if the
colors appear wrong?

--
ybbxvatyvxrnobeantnvayvivatyvxrnurergvpyvfgravatgbneguheyrrerpbeqfznxv
atnyylbhesevraqfsrryfbthvyglnobhggurveplavpvfznaqgurerfgbsgurvetrareng
vbaabgriragurtbireazragnertbaanfgbclbhabjohgnerlbhernqlgborurnegoebxra
 >> Stay informed about: Setting color on monitor to display only grayscale? 

meow2222.RemoveThis@care2.com wrote in


> Lez Pawl wrote:
>> "Rod Speed" wrote in message
>>
>> > Michael Linford wrote:
>
>> >> I have a two year old laptop with a video card problem. It
>> >> doesn't display reds, either on the LCD screen or an external
>> >> monitor. I have tried cleaning the contacts, still no luck. It
>> >> is out of warranty and the price of parts is pretty high, so
>> >> I've decided to buy a new laptop. But I would like to keep this
>> >> one around as a backup since it still works fine other than the
>> >> video card.
>
>> > You'll find it works surprisingly well without doing anything
>> > special.
>
>> yet another great piece of advice.......frooooommmm Rod
>> Speeeeeddddd.
>
> he is occasionally right, and he is on this one.

Right about what? Buying a new laptop or keeping the old one around as a
backup?

--
ybbxvatyvxrnobeantnvayvivatyvxrnurergvpyvfgravatgbneguheyrrerpbeqfznxv
atnyylbhesevraqfsrryfbthvyglnobhggurveplavpvfznaqgurerfgbsgurvetrareng
vbaabgriragurtbireazragnertbaanfgbclbhabjohgnerlbhernqlgborurnegoebxra
 >> Stay informed about: Setting color on monitor to display only grayscale? 

Mitch Crane wrote:
> meow2222.TakeThisOut@care2.com wrote in
>
> > Lez Pawl wrote:
> >> "Rod Speed" wrote in message
> >>
> >> > Michael Linford wrote:

> >> >> I have a two year old laptop with a video card problem. It
> >> >> doesn't display reds,

> >> > You'll find it works surprisingly well without doing anything
> >> > special.

> >> yet another great piece of advice.......frooooommmm Rod
> >> Speeeeeddddd.

> > he is occasionally right, and he is on this one.

> Right about what? Buying a new laptop or keeping the old one around as a
> backup?

Well he only made one claim that i quoted, so I'll let you figure it
out.

NT
 >> Stay informed about: Setting color on monitor to display only grayscale? 

Mitch Crane wrote:
> "Michael Linford" wrote in
>

> > I have a two year old laptop with a video card problem. It doesn't
> > display reds, either on the LCD screen or an external monitor. I
> > have tried cleaning the contacts, still no luck. It is out of
> > warranty and the price of parts is pretty high, so I've decided to
> > buy a new laptop. But I would like to keep this one around as a
> > backup since it still works fine other than the video card. I think
> > I could tolerate it if I disabled the greens and blues as well and
> > essentially turn it into a grayscale display. Would this even work,
> > and if so how would I do it?

> Without red there is just no way to achieve gray. Grayscale would be
> achieved on an RGB system by setting the red, green and blue to equal
> values in the pixels, so you could, for example achieve 256 levels of
> gray by using RGB vlaues 0,0,0 though 255,255,255 with 24-bit color. If
> the red is missing then you can't do that.

but the eye/brain compensates, and a crt with no red channel can look
ok if youre working at it, ie paying it most of your attention. Better
to leave it in colour than go to B&W, then you'll still have greens and
blues as well as sort-of-grey. But your red orange and yellows are all
history.


NT
 >> Stay informed about: Setting color on monitor to display only grayscale? 

If no red signal is getting to the LCD then you'll have "cyan scale" and not
grey scale. All reds will be missing.

Depending on what is broken, you MIGHT be able to accomplish what you want
by shorting the red wire to the blue or green wire.

Does the laptop have a VGA port? What happens when you connect a monitor?

> "Michael Linford" wrote in
>
>
>> I have a two year old laptop with a video card problem. It doesn't
>> display reds, either on the LCD screen or an external monitor. I
>> have tried cleaning the contacts, still no luck. It is out of
>> warranty and the price of parts is pretty high, so I've decided to
>> buy a new laptop.
 >> Stay informed about: Setting color on monitor to display only grayscale? 

meow2222.DeleteThis@care2.com wrote in


> Mitch Crane wrote:
>> meow2222.DeleteThis@care2.com wrote in
>>
>> > Lez Pawl wrote:
>> >> "Rod Speed" wrote in message
>> >>
>> >> > Michael Linford wrote:
>
>> >> >> I have a two year old laptop with a video card problem. It
>> >> >> doesn't display reds,
>
>> >> > You'll find it works surprisingly well without doing anything
>> >> > special.
>
>> >> yet another great piece of advice.......frooooommmm Rod
>> >> Speeeeeddddd.
>
>> > he is occasionally right, and he is on this one.
>
>> Right about what? Buying a new laptop or keeping the old one around
>> as a backup?
>
> Well he only made one claim that i quoted, so I'll let you figure it
> out.

Yeah I see it, but it doesn't say anything other than buying a new
laptop to replace the old one will work. A great piece of advice
indeed. Such insight is rare.

The bit about grayscale certainly won't work if red doesn't work.


--
ybbxvatyvxrnobeantnvayvivatyvxrnurergvpyvfgravatgbneguheyrrerpbeqfznxv
atnyylbhesevraqfsrryfbthvyglnobhggurveplavpvfznaqgurerfgbsgurvetrareng
vbaabgriragurtbireazragnertbaanfgbclbhabjohgnerlbhernqlgborurnegoebxra
 >> Stay informed about: Setting color on monitor to display only grayscale? 

Mitch Crane wrote:
> meow2222 RemoveThis @care2.com wrote in
>
> > Mitch Crane wrote:
> >> meow2222 RemoveThis @care2.com wrote in
> >>
> >> > Lez Pawl wrote:
> >> >> "Rod Speed" wrote in message
> >> >>
> >> >> > Michael Linford wrote:

> >> >> >> I have a two year old laptop with a video card problem. It
> >> >> >> doesn't display reds,

> >> >> > You'll find it works surprisingly well without doing anything
> >> >> > special.

> >> >> yet another great piece of advice.......frooooommmm Rod
> >> >> Speeeeeddddd.

> >> > he is occasionally right, and he is on this one.

> >> Right about what? Buying a new laptop or keeping the old one around
> >> as a backup?

> > Well he only made one claim that i quoted, so I'll let you figure it
> > out.

> Yeah I see it, but it doesn't say anything other than buying a new
> laptop to replace the old one will work. A great piece of advice
> indeed. Such insight is rare.

Would you like to borrow my glasses?


> The bit about grayscale certainly won't work if red doesn't work.

I guess youre not up on the curious things the eye & brain do with
colour perception.


NT
 >> Stay informed about: Setting color on monitor to display only grayscale? 

Rod Speed wrote:
> meow2222.TakeThisOut@care2.com wrote:
> > Mitch Crane wrote:

> >> Without red there is just no way to achieve gray. Grayscale would be
> >> achieved on an RGB system by setting the red, green and blue to equal
> >> values in the pixels, so you could, for example achieve 256 levels of
> >> gray by using RGB vlaues 0,0,0 though 255,255,255 with 24-bit color.
> >> If the red is missing then you can't do that.

> > but the eye/brain compensates, and a crt with no red channel can
> > look ok if youre working at it, ie paying it most of your attention.

> And some Win color schemes dont use red much at all. So all you really
> notice is that the red X in the top right hand corner isnt red anymore etc.
>
> Hardly the end of civilisation as we know it any time soon.

lol Its funny what people get bent out of shape over. Which colour
scheme would you suggest?


NT
 >> Stay informed about: Setting color on monitor to display only grayscale? 

meow2222 RemoveThis @care2.com wrote in
14g2000cws.googlegroups.com:

> Mitch Crane wrote:
>> meow2222 RemoveThis @care2.com wrote in
>>
>> > Mitch Crane wrote:
>> >> meow2222 RemoveThis @care2.com wrote in
>> >>
>> >> > Lez Pawl wrote:
>> >> >> "Rod Speed" wrote in message
>> >> >>
>> >> >> > Michael Linford wrote:
>
>> >> >> >> I have a two year old laptop with a video card problem. It
>> >> >> >> doesn't display reds,
>
>> >> >> > You'll find it works surprisingly well without doing anything
>> >> >> > special.
>
>> >> >> yet another great piece of advice.......frooooommmm Rod
>> >> >> Speeeeeddddd.
>
>> >> > he is occasionally right, and he is on this one.
>
>> >> Right about what? Buying a new laptop or keeping the old one around
>> >> as a backup?
>
>> > Well he only made one claim that i quoted, so I'll let you figure it
>> > out.
>
>> Yeah I see it, but it doesn't say anything other than buying a new
>> laptop to replace the old one will work. A great piece of advice
>> indeed. Such insight is rare.
>
> Would you like to borrow my glasses?

No thanks, they apparenly aren't working very well.

>> The bit about grayscale certainly won't work if red doesn't work.
>
> I guess youre not up on the curious things the eye & brain do with
> colour perception.

No I'm up on the fact that, psychovisual phenomena aside, you can't do
greyscale without red. I'm also up on the fact that since the OP is
already having to put up with the loss of red and obviously isn't happy
with it, we can assume that the loss of red is quite noticeable and
annoying. Having used a monitor on the past where the red was very weak I
have some understanding of what that's like.

Can it be used without red? Sure, as the OP already knows and is
apparently unhappily doing now. What was asked was can grayscale be done.
The answer is, no, it won't work surprisingly well, he'll just have to
put up with no red on the backup machine.


--
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atnyylbhesevraqfsrryfbthvyglnobhggurveplavpvfznaqgurerfgbsgurvetrareng
vbaabgriragurtbireazragnertbaanfgbclbhabjohgnerlbhernqlgborurnegoebxra
 >> Stay informed about: Setting color on monitor to display only grayscale?