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support.dell.com Basic Troubleshooting 3-5
• If you have not already done so, plug the monitor directly into an electrical outlet,
bypassing any power protection devices, power strips, and extension cables to
verify that the monitor turns on.
• If the power indicator is not lit, check for a bad power cable by turning off the sys-
tem and swapping the monitor and computer power cables.
• Perform the monitor self-test as described in the documentation that came with
the monitor.
If the picture quality is poor, perform these checks:
• Rotate the monitor to face a different direction. If the picture changes, see
“Environmental Factors” found earlier in this chapter. Monitors are particularly
susceptible to EMI, which causes colors to fade and blend.
• If the orientation of the computer affects the display geometry, check the docu-
mentation that came with the monitor for information on adjustments.
• Degauss (demagnetize) the monitor as described in the documentation that
came with the monitor.
• If you changed the resolution or refresh rate settings of the monitor, return the
monitor to its manufacturer’s recommended settings (see the monitor
documentation).
• Turn off the computer system, and examine the video-interface cable connector
for bent, pushed in, broken, or missing pins. Check the documentation that came
with your monitor for additional information.
NOTE: Some missing pins may be normal for your monitor; check the documen-
tation that came with the monitor.
• Remove any video extension cables, reseat the monitor’s video-interface cable
connector, and securely tighten the captive screws. Then reboot the computer
system.
• Perform the monitor self-test as described in the documentation that came with
the monitor.
• If another monitor or computer is available, try swapping monitors between
systems.
• Move the computer and the monitor to another room.
If you completed the basic monitor checks and suspect a problem with the video, per-
form the following checks:
• Click the Start button, point to Settings, and click Control Panel. Double-click
the Display icon, and click the Settings tab. Try different settings for Colors and
Screen area (Windows 98, Windows Me, and Windows 2000) or Desktop Area
(Windows NT).