Why is monitor screen "blacking out"? (monitors, keyboard, mouse)

[catfancier]

Hi -
Thought I'd come here while it was on ...
I have a Dell flat screen (small...14"?) about four years old.

All of a sudden it has begun going black...sometimes when it's been untouched for awhile, other times while I'm using it. (Cat swished tail along bottom wires other night but I don't think she's the culprit?)

What does/could this mean? Is the monitor already dying?

When it happens I keep hitting the mouse and ultimately it comes back on but I'm wondering WHAT IT ALL MEANS....

Thanks for input!

[shawn00_88]

Yea its probably dying by now, TBH 4 years is not a bad length for a monitor to survive, i worked for Samsung for over a year and most monitors have 3 year warranties. Plus you can get a brand new 17inch from compusa for around 100 bucks
CompUSA.com | ET.BV3RP.B01 | Acer V173 B 17" TFT LCD Monitor

[juggler]

Assuming you don't have your monitor set to turn off after a certain period of inactivity (meaning no mouse movements or keyboard inputs for a specified amount of time), then the most likely culprit is a backlight or inverter that is going bad. These components provide the light that illuminates your display. If they are indeed going bad, it's time to get a new monitor. It's not really worth repairing a 4 year old LCD, and with the way prices have dropped, you can likely get a much larger model for the price you paid for the 14".