This morning I turned on my Magnavox plasma screen 42MF230A/37 and I heard a strange pop. When the picture came up there was a large black jagged spot covering about a third of the screen on the left side. Is this something that can be fixed or is the TV dead. It is almost 5 years old.

Chances are real good, that you have a blown capacitor. When you open or lift the back cover, you will find one or two capacitors that are bulged! These capacitors will need replaced. I would guess one of them will be 25 volts at 1200Mf. There will be another very close by. I do not recall its value at this time. It will need replaced as well. Find a TV tech or even an electronic hobbiest to check all the nearby capacitors. You may be able to save this TV. Give me a few hands and thanks for asking!