[comp.windows.ms] Popping noise in switching windows

wdr@wang.com (William Ricker) (03/09/90)

swh@hpcupt1.HP.COM (Steve Harrold) writes:

] Re: Popping noise on screen 

] >>> How come when I switch back and forth with Alt-Esc among my sessions,
] >>> when I end up in my Dos box I hear a little popping noise from my
] >>> 8513 screen?  This has happened pretty consistently since I got this
] >>> PS/2-70 (last August).  Is this indicative of a problem?

] I, too, have noticed a small popping noise on some occasions, but not
] in the environment mentioned.

] It happens to me (sometimes) under DOS when the screen content undergoes
] a dramatic change, say from a full screen editor in graphics mode, switching
] back to the plain DOS prompt.  This has occurred with EGA and VGA monitors.

] This has gone on for a couple of years without any apparent damage to
] anything (except my peace of mind).

] I would be very pleased to know what electronic/mechanical phenomenon is
] going on.

I've noticed this with popup applications and other programs that toggle
screen background intensity, as well as OS/2 to the (usually black) 
Chernobyl Box.  It is not unique to PS/2s; our Wang monitors and various
other systems I've used have made little noises on screen transitions too.
I don't recall if it only occurs on large color monitors or not; they are
what I associate the phenomenon with.  (I don't still have the Compaq 
portable with plasma display; it would be an interesting data point.)
    I've always assumed it was static discharge/Collapse,  resulting 
from the  sudden drop in the flow of "current" (static charge  
continually deposited by electron beam, and discharged to atmosphere 
or  your hand).  I'd rather believe it was the static I feel when 
dusting the screen, and not something internal in the tube's beam-guide 
coils.  Since the painted area sometimes also bounces on program 
transitions -- when the VGA card is re-configured, or OS/2 downshifts 
to real-mode -- it could be something nasty, I suppose.

I've added comp.sys.ibm.pc and comp.windows.ms, as they're more likely to
have answers for us.  (Which is why I cheated on the >> chars, so they
could see what we're talking about, and maybe help.)

Bill Ricker wdr@wang.com or wricker@northeastern.edu


(-: Why do they call the Dox3xBox the Chernobyl Box?
    Because microsoft keeps pouring concrete around it, hoping the nasty
    standard-apps won't leak out anymore. :-)

tgoldin@amherst.bitnet (03/13/90)

In article <1990Mar9.142408.13018@wang.com>, wdr@wang.com (William Ricker) writes:
> swh@hpcupt1.HP.COM (Steve Harrold) writes:
> 
> ] Re: Popping noise on screen 
> 
> ] >>> How come when I switch back and forth with Alt-Esc among my sessions,
> ] >>> when I end up in my Dos box I hear a little popping noise from my
> ] >>> 8513 screen?  This has happened pretty consistently since I got this
> ] >>> PS/2-70 (last August).  Is this indicative of a problem?

I have noticed this type of noise when going into and exiting from Windows.  I
think that it is the monitor switching sync modes.  I have windows set up using
a high res super VGA driver (800X600).  When Windows is installed without the
high res driver, the noise does not occur.  It seems to be a normal function of
a dual frequency or multisync monitor.

oppenhei@umd5.umd.edu (Richard Oppenheimer) (03/17/90)

In article <9250.25fbcb05@amherst.bitnet> tgoldin@amherst.bitnet writes:
>In article <1990Mar9.142408.13018@wang.com>, wdr@wang.com (William Ricker) writes:
>> swh@hpcupt1.HP.COM (Steve Harrold) writes:
>> 
>> ] Re: Popping noise on screen 
>> 
>> ] >>> How come when I switch back and forth with Alt-Esc among my sessions,
>> ] >>> when I end up in my Dos box I hear a little popping noise from my
>> ] >>> 8513 screen?  This has happened pretty consistently since I got this
>> ] >>> PS/2-70 (last August).  Is this indicative of a problem?
>
>I have noticed this type of noise when going into and exiting from Windows.  I
>think that it is the monitor switching sync modes.  I have windows set up using
>a high res super VGA driver (800X600).  When Windows is installed without the
>high res driver, the noise does not occur.  It seems to be a normal function of
>a dual frequency or multisync monitor.

I have seen alot of posting on this subject in the last several articles. I
just wanted to add that I use a VRAM card (Video-7) with a NEC 3-D and I do
NOT get these little popping noises. I am not positive that this is a normal
function of all multisync monitors. Some of the other machines around the
office do have popping symptoms when starting and ending graphics mode 
programs.

Signature under construction

       ______
      /     |                   Richard Oppenheimer
      |     \/                  Computer Science Center
      |     Ri                  University of Maryland
    __|__          __           College Park, Maryland ,USA
    |   |  |______|| \          oppenhei@umd5.umd.edu (office)
    |   |   OO  OO--0-|         richard@wam.umd.edu (home)
******************************************************************
My employer cares not what I think and knows not what I say. The
opinons expressed herein are my own and are not endorsed by the
Computer Science Center.
******************************************************************

bob@atom.OZ (Bob Backstrom) (03/17/90)

In article <9250.25fbcb05@amherst.bitnet> tgoldin@amherst.bitnet writes:
>In article <1990Mar9.142408.13018@wang.com>, wdr@wang.com (William Ricker) writes:
>> swh@hpcupt1.HP.COM (Steve Harrold) writes:
>> 
>> ] Re: Popping noise on screen 
>> 
>> ] >>> How come when I switch back and forth with Alt-Esc among my sessions,
>> ] >>> when I end up in my Dos box I hear a little popping noise from my
>> ] >>> 8513 screen?  This has happened pretty consistently since I got this
>> ] >>> PS/2-70 (last August).  Is this indicative of a problem?
>
>I have noticed this type of noise when going into and exiting from Windows.  I
>think that it is the monitor switching sync modes.  I have windows set up using
>a high res super VGA driver (800X600).  When Windows is installed without the
>high res driver, the noise does not occur.  It seems to be a normal function of
>a dual frequency or multisync monitor.

	This also happens with DoubleDos (a great little program for
running a backgound program behind Kermit etc. etc...).

	I notice it mostly with the EGA screen at home.  The screen at
work switches silently and instantly (an IBM PGA - remenber these great
high-res screens from 1984 ?).

	The effect must therefore be nothing to do with the screen
static buildup, but with the interface card.

-- 
* ACSNET: bob@atom.oz.au Bob Backstrom,
* Phone:  (02) 543-3092  Australian Nuclear Science & Technology Organisation,
*                        Private Mailbag 1, Menai,
*                        New South Wales, Australia, 2234.

mp2k+@andrew.cmu.edu (Michael Palmquist) (03/18/90)

>> swh@hpcupt1.HP.COM (Steve Harrold) writes:
>> 
>> ] Re: Popping noise on screen 
>> 
>> ] >>> How come when I switch back and forth with Alt-Esc among my
sessions,
>> ] >>> when I end up in my Dos box I hear a little popping noise from
my
>> ] >>> 8513 screen?  This has happened pretty consistently since I got
this
>> ] >>> PS/2-70 (last August).  Is this indicative of a problem?
>I have noticed this type of noise when going into and exiting from
Windows. 

I get the same thing when I switch vga modes with my VGA Wizard card.  

Mike Palmquist

************************
mp2k@andrew.cmu.edu
Department of English
Carnegie Mellon University
voice:  412/268-5636

adnan@rice.edu (Sarmad Adnan) (03/20/90)

I have used an orchid prodesigner, a Fastwrite VGA and a super EGA card
on a sony 1302 (The older sony multisync). 
EGA always clicked whenever a mode change took place. 
both Fastwrite and the Prodesigner made clicking sounds for a year or
so until I started using a different VGA cable,and started using the monitor
in analog mode.
-adnan 

jdudeck@polyslo.CalPoly.EDU (John R. Dudeck) (03/20/90)

In article <5885@brazos.Rice.edu> adnan@screech.rice.edu (Sarmad Adnan) writes:
>I have used an orchid prodesigner, a Fastwrite VGA and a super EGA card
>on a sony 1302 (The older sony multisync). 
>EGA always clicked whenever a mode change took place. 
>both Fastwrite and the Prodesigner made clicking sounds for a year or
>so until I started using a different VGA cable,and started using the monitor
>in analog mode.
I remember reading on the net last fall that this particular Sony model
uses a relay to change ranges when switching between EGA and other modes.
However I believe that the original question concerned popping noises that
come from static discharges...?

-- 
John Dudeck                           "You want to read the code closely..." 
jdudeck@Polyslo.CalPoly.Edu             -- C. Staley, in OS course, teaching 
ESL: 62013975 Tel: 805-545-9549          Tanenbaum's MINIX operating system.