ok heres the latest...
I placed all the caps some 10 uF polarized electrolytic and some 0.1 uF (104) ceramic caps on each of the max7219s Vcc line....
I uploaded the code you fixed up for me.....
before, the matrices would just stay on fully 3 of 4 that is.....
now.....they do go out...I'm sure its due to the register clear you mentioned....
However,
I open the serial monitor with the USB stil plugged into the mega 2560 and type hello...
theres nothing on the matrices....but when I press enter after typing hello, the LCD resets.....
I made sure the layout sequence of the matrices was correct right...and Ohmed for a good 30 minutes that all the paralleling is measuring continuity....
Is there anyway that we can manipulate the code (without changing any wiring) to just have it scroll a string? ---> no serial monitor...