Loads of major problems, need desperate help!

[mid]

i like my screen VERY bright

In which case its no surprise you've got bleed on your whites. Turn your contrast and brightness down to correct levels and the effect dramatically reduces. The bloom problem is caused by the cheap electronics in the electron gun - if you spend an absolute fortune (and I really mean a fortune, like professional prices not just high-end stuff for home) you can get CRTs that don't do it, but anything home users have will do it to some extent.

More generally I recommend people who care about their image buy Digital Video Essentials - its only ?12.99 at that link, and has all the calibration patterns and info on how to use them you'll need. Between that, knowledge of how to use your service menu without damaging anything and a sound pressure meter you can make massive improvements to any reasonable setup.

[Saurian]

i like my screen VERY bright

In which case its no surprise you've got bleed on your whites. Turn your contrast and brightness down to correct levels and the effect dramatically reduces. The bloom problem is caused by the cheap electronics in the electron gun - if you spend an absolute fortune (and I really mean a fortune, like professional prices not just high-end stuff for home) you can get CRTs that don't do it, but anything home users have will do it to some extent.

More generally I recommend people who care about their image buy Digital Video Essentials - its only ?12.99 at that link, and has all the calibration patterns and info on how to use them you'll need. Between that, knowledge of how to use your service menu without damaging anything and a sound pressure meter you can make massive improvements to any reasonable setup.

Nice one for that link man - the convergence on one of the corners of my screen is a little off. I've been looking to learn how to do this on CRTs (only done it on projectors previously)

[Sketcz]

These are just graphical effects man

Well, I had to be sure, hoped it was effects, but wasnt sure what with the TV problem. also to other poster, cheers for the link to digital media control device...
anyway, I do keep my brightness up quite bit, terrible habit of mine.

It is better when put down, but personally I find it not so easy to see all the really tiny details.

anyway, this case is pretty much wrapped up, thanks to good technical knowledge from the ntsc team.

the only final thing left to ponder, are these starnge watermakrs on my cds.
A guy on another form said it sounds like condensation between the layers.
Will have to get better heating, or simply put them in a proper house again.

anyway, cheers for info and concern. now, back to psyvariar

[Kirby]

The problem you have with your DVDs is almost certainly DVD rot. The glue that holds the discs layers together comes unstuck and allows moisture into the DVDs layers. Nothing you can do about it.

Usually happens to cheap or badly pressed discs, or if you keep DVDs below recommended storage temps, although your room cant be that cold!

I have a few like that, but they still play fine (for now).

[mid]

Saur - while DVE is brilliant for getting you all the test patterns you need to sort out your convergence problems, you'll still need to know how to change it in your service settings. What model TV have you got? There are decent sites online for several of them, certainly most of the popular Sony models have them.

The main thing I was really glad to get the disc for is it has a full set of colour cel filters, so I could sort out my red push. Colours are pretty much spot on now for me, and its much nicer.

[Sketcz]

The problem you have with your DVDs is almost certainly DVD rot. The glue that holds the discs layers together comes unstuck and allows moisture into the DVDs layers. Nothing you can do about it.

Usually happens to cheap or badly pressed discs, or if you keep DVDs below recommended storage temps, although your room cant be that cold!

I have a few like that, but they still play fine (for now).

Do you realise how much fear you have put into me?
Anyway, fixed the Tv problem, I switched it my brothers! hehehe....

anyway, this dvd rot thing freaks me out, my room on a bad day probably drops to -5 degrees C Since like I said, my games room is a caravan in a barn.

my sleeping room is just big enough for my bed.

Damn, the ones affected are:
Steel Battalion
Skygunner
Suikdon 3
Metallica CD
Some DC games like Eternal Arcadia and shenmue 1
and a whole load of burned discs of mine.

oh ****ty, I am seriously gonna have to move alla this stuff around.

anyway, thanks for the info kirby, glad someone else knows what Im talking about. Not the best of news, but cheers for the heads up!

EDIT:
what do you mean, work fine for now

How much longer have these babies got left? What can I do to stop further rot? Will my precious collection someday end up worthless and unplayable? Should I get one of those vacuum packing machines?
Most of my games I dont play anymore are wrapped in celophane.

[SaintM]

Would a dehumidifier help with your moisture problems?

If you are seriously worried about your games collections, your best bet is to either get one of those to try cut down on the moisture in the place, or put them somewhere else!

[chevkoch]

About the watermarks... Some of my Dreamcast GDs have marks that are only noticeable if you look at the medium closely beneath a strong light source. Come to think of it, some DVDs of mine show them as well. All of these are working fine though. How obvious are those "water marks" you are talking about, otaku84? I always thought of these as merely minor cosmetic phenomena.

[Sketcz]

only visible from an angle under good light, looked at straight on, you cant see them, probably why they still work, the laser can still read data well enough.

Looked into dehumidifiers, but sadly cash is strapped until probably new year.

still, thanks for the info

[chevkoch]

only visible from an angle under good light, looked at straight on, you cant see them, probably why they still work, the laser can still read data well enough.

The "watermarks" on my CDs have been there from the moment I unwrapped them. Your marks sound to be of the same nature, so I reckon at least these don't have anything to do with your room climate.