Alas, that's the usual story. Unfortunately I have to be the one to report the death of a beloved family member, the monitor :D However, they usually don't die out with such a rapid pace, it should take weeks for them to black out completely. Are you sure your display adapter isn't dying? Cathode ray tube is somewhat chaotical by nature, one can never accurately predict how will they die or how long will they live. You could view this as a new beginning; get a good 19" Samsung monitor (with 3 year on-site warranty) for incrediably low price, watch the crystal clear image for a while and Enjoy Life again :P