User Guide

Troubleshooting: Dell P992 Color Monitor Users Guide

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Troubleshooting: Dell™ P992 Color Monitor Users Guide

Monitor-Specific Troubleshooting Common Problems Product-Specific Problems

Monitor-Specific Troubleshooting

Self-Test Feature Check (STFC)

This monitor is equipped with a self-test feature. The self-test feature check is used to determine if Red, Green and Blue colors are working. It is also used for when there is a No Video/LED on condition. It was not intended to verify image quality or jitter issues.

If there is a problem with your monitor perform the following steps:

Press the (power) button to turn off the monitor.
Disconnect the monitors video signal cable from the computer.
Press the (power) button to turn the monitor back on.

If the monitor is functioning properly, the self test message will appear.

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

NOTE: While in self-test mode, the LED remains green, the pattern is stationary and remains on for 60 seconds. The pattern will appear if any of the front panel buttons are pressed (excluding the power button).

Turn off your monitor and reconnect the video cable; then turn on both your computer and the monitor.
If your monitor screen still remains dark aftrer you use the previous procedure, check your video controller and computer system.

If the LED indicator is flashing amber

Press the (power) button twice to turn the monitor off and then on.

If the LED indicator lights up green and the Self-Test message appears, the monitor is working properly. If the LED indicator is still flashing, there is a potential monitor failure.

On-Screen Messages

If there is something wrong with the input signal, one of the following messages appears on the screen.

If NO SIGNAL appears on the screen

The input signal condition
NO SIGNAL
This indicates that no signal is input.

The remedies
One or more of the following messages may appear on the screen.

If ACTIVATE BY COMPUTER appears on the screen, try pressing any key on the computer, and confirm that your computers graphic board is completely seated in the correct bus slot.
If CHECK SIGNAL CABLE appears on the screen, check that the video cable is correctly connected to the computer and to the back of the monitor.

If OUT OF SCAN RANGE appears on the screen

	The frequencies of the current input signal If the monitor recognizes the frequencies of the current input signal, the horizontal and vertical frequencies are displayed.
	The input signal condition OUT OF SCAN RANGE This indicates that the input signal is not supported by the monitors specifications.
	The remedies CHANGE SIGNAL TIMING appears on the screen. If you are replacing an old monitor with this monitor, reconnect the old monitor. Then adjust the computers graphic board so that the horizontal frequency is between 30 107 kHz, and the vertical frequency is between 48 170 Hz.

Sometimes, no warning message appears, but the screen is blank, which could also indicate that the monitor is not synchronizing with the computer.

Common Problems

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

COMMON SYMPTOMS	WHAT YOU SEE	POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS
No Video/LED off	No picture, monitors dead	Check connection integrity Electric outlet verification Ensure power button depressed fully
No Video/LED on	No picture or no brightness	Increase brightness & contrast controls Perform monitor self test feature check Check for bent or broken pins at both ends of video cable
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 Moire control may need to be adjusted
Shaky/Jittery Video	Wavy picture or fine movement	Perform monitor reset Check environmental factors Relocate and test in other room Try changing vertical frequency (refresh rate) Dedicate power cord to a single separate outlet (try to avoid sharing power with other devices on the same line if possible)
Color Purity Problems	Color is not uniform Has color blotches or shades	Perform degauss Perform monitor reset Check environmental factors esp. woofers Adjust landing control in OSD menu
Color Convergence Problems	Characters show red or blue at edges	Perform monitor reset Adjust the color convergence controls
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 card
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 or centered correctly	Perform monitor reset Ensure monitor is in proper video mode Adjust the appropriate geometric control
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
Horizontal/Vertical Lines	Screen has one or more lines	Perform monitor self test feature check Check for bent or broken pins For aperture grille CRTs, these can be horizontal damper wires
Sync Problems	Screen is scrambled or appears torn	Perform monitor self test feature check Check for bent or broken pins 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 for a few seconds when turning monitor on 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 & off	Ensure monitor is in proper video mode Perform monitor reset Perform monitor self test feature check

Product-Specific Problems

SPECIFIC SYMPTOMS	WHAT YOU SEE	POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS
Damper wire	Thin horizontal lines across the screen	The lines you are experiencing on your screen are normal for the Trinitron monitor and are not a malfunction. These are shadows from the damper wires used to stabilize the aperture grille and are most noticeable when the screen's background is light (usually white). The aperture grille is the essential element that makes a Trinitron picture tube unique by allowing more light to reach the screen, resulting in a brighter, more detailed picture.