My TV has a white horizontel line across the screen, dividing the screen in half. Above the line the screen is totally black and below the line the picture is normal. It's a Samsung 25" TXE 25346.

Depends on how old the set is, but I would replace.

By the time you have paid an engineer to come and look at the set, only to be told that it has to go back to the workshop and then subsequently told that it is fixable for £x/$x, plus the call out, plus taxes.

You may find that purchasing a new one with an extended warranty pays for itself.

Most TV sets are obsolete the day you purchase them. Can you still purchase your original model?

Buy a new 42" Plasma there are a lot on the market and with a bit of web surfing you can get a good deal.

colbtech is exactly right, usually when this type of thing happens (lines through the screen, compressed or stretched screen, etc.) it means the CRT tube has gone bad, and replacing the tube wouldn't be worth the cost... therefore you should just get a new set... TVs are very inexpensive anymore

Also, if it is available in your area, please try to recycle your old television... they contain many hazardous materials, especially lead, that is harmful to the environment... if you find the right place, they will take it for free or even give you a few bucks for it.

Good luck.

Thanks for the info guys. I had posted my problem on a few boards because I wasn't sure how many if any replies I'd get. Another board suggested that my TV has what he called a "vertical collapse", a faulty capacitor in the vertical circuit. Around $80 to fix it, assuming that's what the problem actually is.

I read somewhere that most "experts" say if it costs 50% or more of the price of a new unit to repair the old unit, then just by a new one. I guess that's what I'll do as the TV is at least 7 years old.

Colbetech, I never considered searching via the web for a TV, I'm sure there are some pretty good deals, but the amount you would have to pay for shipping would eat all the money you had saved, I would think.

Wzartv, I am certainly in favor of protecting the environment, but I searched through my local phone book and there isn't much there, just earth911's website. Went to their site and got a bunch of goodwill locations that accept working items. I suppose I could call my local library or perhaps the Chamber of Commerce and they could suggest how I can dispose of it.

Yes, unfortunately, depending on your location, you probably won't be able to find any drop-off locations. I was lucky and any TVs, monitors, etc. that we need to get rid of here at the station can be taken to a place just a few miles down the road from me and they recycle the parts.

Good luck with everything.

Hi wz,

As an end-note I would point out that a lot of places offer free delivery if over £xxx.xx or $xxx.xx. Sales, nowadays, is not a matter of going down to the local supermarket or Joe's TVs and taking what they have to offer, the internet has made everywhere acccessible and places with large turnovers can offer some very good deals. Try www.dabs.com, they don't offer free shipping but have some very good deals. Or maybe www.amazon.com (.co.uk) depends on where you are, I certainly get free delivery and I'm on an island 100 miles from the UK.

As far as recycling your old TV, our local authority will pick up anything like this (TV, washing machine, drier, etc). Give the local authority a call they should have an environment department?