Video and Monitor Problems
Fill out the
Diagnostics Checklist
as you complete these checks.
If the screen is blank
If the screen is difficult to read
Check the headphone cable connection —
Ensure that the headphone cable is securely inserted into the headphone connector.
Disable digital mode —
Your headphones do not work if the CD drive is operating in digital mode.
1.
Click the
Start
button, click
Control Panel
, and then click
Sounds, Speech, and Audio Devices
.
2.
Click
Sounds and Audio Devices
.
3.
Click the
Hardware
tab.
4.
Double-click the name of your CD drive.
5.
Click the
Properties
tab.
6.
Uncheck the
Enable digital CD audio for this CD-ROM device
box.
Adjust the Windows volume control —
Click or double-click the speaker icon in the lower-right corner of your screen. Ensure that the
volume is turned up and that the sound is not muted.
CAUTION:
Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions located in the
Product Information Guide
.
NOTE:
See the monitor documentation for troubleshooting procedures.
Check the monitor cable connection —
l
If you purchased a graphics card, ensure that the monitor is connected to the card.
l
Ensure that your monitor is properly connected (see the
Quick Reference Guide
that came with your computer).
l
If you are using a video extension cable and removing the cable solves the problem, the cable is defective.
l
Swap the computer and monitor power cables to determine if the power cable is defective.
l
Check the connector for bent or broken pins. (It is normal for monitor cable connectors to have missing pins.)
Check the monitor power light —
If the power light is off, firmly press the button to ensure that the monitor is turned on. If the power light
is lit or blinking, the monitor has power. If the power light is blinking, press a key on the keyboard or move the mouse.
Test the electrical outlet —
Ensure that the electrical outlet is working by testing it with another device, such as a lamp.
Test the monitor —
Connect a properly working monitor to the computer, and try using the monitor. If the new monitor works, the original
monitor is faulty.
Check the diagnostic lights
—
See
Diagnostic Lights
.
Check the card setting —
Enter system setup (see
Entering System Setup
) and ensure that
Primary Video
option is set correctly. Exit
system setup and restart your computer.
Run the monitor self-test
—
Check the monitor documentation for more information.
Check the monitor settings —
See the monitor documentation for instructions on adjusting the contrast and brightness, demagnetizing
(degaussing) the monitor, and running the monitor self-test.
Move the subwoofer away from the monitor —
If your speaker system includes a subwoofer, ensure that the subwoofer is at least 60 cm
(2 ft) away from the monitor.