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Troubleshooting: Dell™ P1130 Color Monitor User's Guide

Monitor-Specific TroubleshootingCommon ProblemsProduct-Specific Problems


Monitor-Specific Troubleshooting

Self-Test Feature Check (STFC)

This monitor is equipped with a self-test feature. If there is a problem with your monitor perform the following steps:

On-Screen Messages

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

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, monitor’s 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.


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