Q: I have a five- to six-year-old computer which runs on Windows XP. Its screen keeps flashing. I plug and unplug the computer but this does not help. What is wrong?

Ong Chin See

A: The flashing screen is most likely due to the monitor. The fact that the monitor cannot be turned off is further confirmation that it has reached the end of its useful life.

Many of the internal electronic components such as the capacitors have limited lifespans of between three and five years.

Unless you are a trained technician, these components are not easy to replace.

My suggestion is to replace the monitor with an LCD screen. Prices of LCD monitors have dropped. They are slimmer and take up less space than a CRT-based monitor.

Answer by M.K. Wong, an IT professional of nearly three decades and now a polytechnic lecturer, and Chester Chen, a recognised Microsoft Most Valuable Professional specialising in windows desktop experience.

This story was first published in The Straits Times Digital Life.

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