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Solving Problems: Dell™ M993s Color Monitor User's Guide

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Solving Problems

Dell™ M993s Color Monitor User's Guide

  Troubleshooting Your Monitor

  General Problems

  Product Specific Problems

 

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions.


Troubleshooting Your Monitor

Self Test Feature Check (STFC)

Your monitor provides a self test feature that allows you to check whether your monitor is functioning properly. If your monitor and computer are properly connected but the monitor screen remains dark, run the monitor self test by performing the following steps:

  1. Turn off both your computer and monitor.
  2. Unplug the video cable from the back of the computer.
  3. Turn on the monitor.
    If the monitor is functioning properly, you will see a box as shown in the following illustration:
    While in self test mode, the LED remains green and the STFC pattern scrolls through the screen.

    NOTE: This box also appears during normal system operation if the video cable becomes disconnected or damaged.

  4. Turn off your monitor and reconnect the video cable; then turn on both your computer and the monitor.

If your monitor screen remains blank after you use the previous procedure, check your video controller and computer system; your monitor is functioning properly.


General Problems

The following table contains general information about common monitor problems you might encounter.

COMMON SYMPTOMS

PROBLEM DESCRIPTION

POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS

No Video/Power LED off No picture, monitor is dead
  • Check connection integrity at the both ends of the video cable
  • Ensure that the monitor and computer are plugged into an electrical outlet
  • Ensure power button depressed fully
No Video/Power LED on No picture or no brightness
  • Increase brightness & contrast controls
  • Perform monitor self test feature check
  • Check for bent or broken pins on the end of the video cable
  • Reboot your computer and monitor
Poor Focus Picture is fuzzy, blurry or ghosting
  • Eliminate video extension cables
  • Perform monitor reset
  • Decrease brightness & contrast controls
  • Lower video resolution or increase font size
Shaky/Jittery Video Wavy picture or fine movement
  • Perform monitor reset
  • Check environmental factors such as nearby florescent lights or other high power draw appliances plugged into the same AC circuit
  • Relocate and test in another room
Missing Color or
Color Flood
Entire screen is purple or yellow
Entire screen is red, green or blue
  • Perform monitor reset
  • Perform monitor self test feature check
  • Check for bent or broken pins
  • Reseat the video cable
Missing Pixels CRT screen has spots, specs or blemishes on the glass
  • If the blemish is on the outside of the glass, try cleaning the CRT screen
Brightness Problems Picture too dim or too bright
  • Perform monitor reset
  • Adjust brightness & contrast controls
Geometric Distortion Screen not sized, shaped or centered correctly
  • Perform monitor reset
  • Adjust the centering controls
  • Ensure monitor is in proper video mode
Moiré (Thin Curvy Lines) Screen has wavy or elliptical lines
Screen has wood grain patterns
  • Ensure monitor is in proper video mode
  • Adjust size first then the moiré controls
Sync Problems Screen is scrambled or appears torn
  • Perform monitor reset
  • Perform monitor self test feature check
  • Check for bent or broken pins on the end of the video cable
  • Boot up in the "safe mode"
Audible Noise Problems Has humming sound or high frequency squeal
  • Ensure monitor is in proper video mode
  • Reposition the monitor
  • Loud hum when turning on or degaussing is normal
CRT Scratched Screen has scratches or smudges
  • Turn monitor off and clean the screen
Safety Related Issues Visible signs of smoke or sparks
  • Do not perform any troubleshooting steps
  • Monitor needs to be replaced
Intermittent Problems Monitor malfunctions on and off
  • Ensure monitor is in proper video mode
  • Perform monitor reset
  • Perform monitor self test feature check


Product Specific Problems

SPECIFIC SYMPTOMS WHAT YOU EXPERIENCE POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS
No video / LED is blinking green No picture
  • The monitor is using its power management system - See Power Management Modes
  • Press a key on the keyboard or move the mouse
Screen image is too large or too small Image extends beyond the edges of the screen, or the image is surrounded by a thick black border
  • Adjust the Zoom setting
  • Use the H-Size and/or V-Size controls to adjust the size of the image on the screen
Cannot adjust the monitor with the buttons on the front panel OSD does not appear on the screen
  • Turn the monitor off and then on again
White does not look white White areas on the screen image appear to have a bluish or reddish cast

Moiré is a type of natural interference which produces soft or wavy lines on your screen. It may appear due to interference between the regulated pattern of the picture from the input signal and the phosphor pitch pattern of the CRT. This is not a defect.


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