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

The floating 'Dell Self-test Feature Check' dialog box should appear on-screen on a black background if the monitor cannot sense a video signal and is working correctly. While in self-test mode, the power LED remains green. Also, depending upon the selected input, one of the dialogs shown below will continuously scroll through the screen.  

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, verify that the monitor and computer are plugged into a working electrical outlet, and that you have pressed the power button.

No Video/Power LED on

No picture or no brightness

• Press the input select button in the front of the monitor and ensure the correct input source is selected.
• 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

• Push Auto Adjust button.
• Adjust Phase and Clock controls via OSD.
• Eliminate video extension cables.
• Perform monitor reset.
• Lower video resolution or increase font size.

Shaky/Jittery Video

Wavy picture or fine movement

• Push Auto Adjust button.
• Adjust Phase and Clock controls via OSD.
• Perform monitor reset.
• Check environmental factors.
• Relocate and test in another room.

Missing Pixels

LCD screen has spots

• Cycle power on-off
• These are pixels that are permanently off and this is a natural defect that occurs in LCD technology.

Brightness Problems

Picture too dim or too bright

• Perform monitor reset.
• Push Auto Adjust button.
• Adjust brightness & contrast controls.

Geometric Distortion

Screen not centered correctly

• Perform monitor reset on "Position Settings Only".
• Push Auto Adjust button.
• Adjust the centering controls.
• Ensure monitor is in proper video mode.

Horizontal/Vertical Lines

Screen has one or more lines

• Perform monitor reset.
• Push Auto Adjust button.
• Adjust Phase and Clock controls via OSD.
• Perform monitor self-test feature check and determine if these lines are also in self-test mode.
• Check for bent or broken pins.

Sync Problems

Screen is scrambled or appears torn

• Perform monitor reset.
• Push Auto Adjust button.
• Adjust Phase and Clock controls via OSD.
• Perform monitor self-test feature check to determine if scrambled screen appears in self-test mode.
• Check for bent or broken pins.
• Boot up in the "safe mode".

LCD Scratched

Screen has scratches or smudges

• Turn monitor off and clean the screen.
• For cleaning instruction, see Caring for your Monitor.

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.
• Ensure video cable connection to computer and to the flat panel is secure.
• Perform monitor reset.
• Perform monitor self-test feature check to determine if the intermittent problem occurs in self-test mode.

Image Retention (from a static image) 

Faint Shadow from the static image displayed appears on the screen            

• Use the Power Management feature to turn off the monitor at all times when not in use. Alternatively, use a dynamically changing screensaver left on the monitor for a long period of time.

SPECIFIC SYMPTOMS

WHAT YOU EXPERIENCE

POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS

Screen image is too small

Image is centered on screen, but does not fill entire viewing area.

• Perform monitor reset on "All Settings."

Cannot adjust the monitor with the buttons on the front panel

OSD does not appear on the screen.

• Turn off the monitor, unplug the power cord and then plug back and turn on the monitor.

SPECIFIC SYMPTOMS

WHAT YOU EXPERIENCE

POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS

USB interface is not working

USB peripherals are not working.

• Check that your monitor is turned ON.
• Reconnect the upstream cable to your computer.
• Reconnect the USB peripherals (downstream connector).
• Switch off and then turn on the monitor again.

High Speed USB 2.0 interface is slow

High Speed USB 2.0 peripherals working slowly or not at all.

• Check that your computer is USB 2.0 capable.
• Verify USB 2.0 source on your computer.
• Reconnect the upstream cable to your computer.
• Reconnect the USB peripherals (downstream connector).

COMMON SYMPTOMS

WHAT YOU EXPERIENCE

POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS

No Sound

No power to Soundbar - the power indicator is off.
(built-in DC power supply. i.e. 1905FP )

• Turn the Power/Volume knob on the Soundbar clockwise to the middle position; check if the power indicator (green LED) on the front of the Soundbar is illuminated.
• Confirm that the power cable from the Soundbar is plugged into the monitor.
• Confirm that the monitor has power.
• If the monitor has no power, see Troubleshooting your monitor for monitor common problem.

No Sound

Soundbar has power - power indicator is on.

• Plug the audio line-in cable into the computer's audio out jack.
• Set all Windows volume controls to their maximum.
• Play some audio content on the computer (i.e. audio CD, or MP3).
• Turn the Power/Volume knob on the Soundbar clockwise to a higher volume setting.
• Clean and reseat the audio line-in plug.
• Test the Soundbar using another audio source (i.e. portable CD player).

Distorted Sound

Computer's sound card is used as the audio source.

• Clear any obstructions between the Soundbar and the user.
• Confirm that the audio line-in plug is completely inserted into the jack of the sound card.
• Set all Windows volume controls to their midpoints.
• Decrease the volume of the audio application.
• Turn the Power/Volume knob on the Soundbar counter-clockwise to a lower volume setting.
• Clean and reseat the audio line-in plug.
• Troubleshoot the computer's sound card.
• Test the Soundbar using another audio source (i.e. portable CD player).

Distorted Sound

Other audio source is used.

• Clear any obstructions between the Soundbar and the user.
• Confirm that the audio line-in plug is completely inserted into the jack of the audio source.
• Decrease the volume of the audio source.
• Turn the Power/Volume knob on the Soundbar counter-clockwise to a lower volume setting.
• Clean and reseat the audio line-in plug.

Unbalanced Sound Output

Sound from only one side of Soundbar

• Clear any obstructions between the Soundbar and the user.
• Confirm that the audio line-in plug is completely inserted into the jack of the sound card or audio source.
• Set all Windows audio balance controls (L-R) to their midpoints.
• Clean and reseat the audio line-in plug.
• Troubleshoot the computer's sound card.
• Test the Soundbar using another audio source (i.e. portable CD player).

Low Volume

Volume is too low.

• Clear any obstructions between the Soundbar and the user.
• Turn the Power/Volume knob on the Soundbar clockwise to the maximum volume setting.
• Set all Windows volume controls to their maximum.
• Increase the volume of the audio application.
• Test the Soundbar using another audio source (i.e. portable CD player).