Dell 2300 Video and Monitor Problems

50 Solving Problems

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Video and Monitor Problems

If the screen is blank

HINT: See the monitor

documentation for

troubleshooting

procedures.

DISABLE DIGITAL MODE —Your headphones do not work if the CD drive is

operating in digital mode. To disable digital mode:

1Click the Start button, click Control Panel, and then click Sounds, Speech,

and Audio Devices.

2Click Sounds and Audio Devices.

3Click the Hardware tab.

4Double-click the name of your CD drive.

5Click the Properties tab.

6Uncheck the Enable digital CD audio for this CD-ROM device box.

You may also need to change the playback mode in Windows Media Player:

1Click the Start button, point to All Programs, and then point to Windows

Media Player.

2Click Tools.

3Click Options.

4Click the Devices tab.

5Double-click the name of your CD or DVD drive, and then select Analog as

playback mode.

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.

CHECK THE MONITOR CABLE CONNECTION —Check the connector for

bent or broken pins. (It is normal for monitor cable connectors to have missing

pins.) Ensure that the video cable is connected as shown on the setup diagram for

your computer.

TEST THE ELECTRICAL OUTLET —Ensure that the electrical outlet is

working by testing it with another device, such as a lamp.

Contents

Main Dell Dimension 2300 Hints, Notices, and Cautions Abbreviations and Acronyms ____________________ Contents 1Setting Up and Using Your Computer 2Solving Problems 3Advanced Troubleshooting 4Adding Parts 5Appendix Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125 CAUTION: Safety Instructions General CAUTION: Safety Instructions Page When Working Inside Your Computer Protecting Against Electrostatic Discharge Ergonomic Computing Habits Battery Disposal Finding Information for Your Computer Page Page Page Page Setting Up a Printer Printer Cable Connecting a Parallel Printer Connecting a USB Printer Transferring Information to a New Computer Setting Up a Home and Office Network Connecting to a Network Adapter Network Setup Wizard Connecting to the Internet Setting Up Your Internet Connection Copying CDs Using Easy CD Creator Basic Using Blank CD-R Discs or Blank CD-RW Discs Helpful Tips How to Copy a CD Turning Off the Computer Page Solving Problems 30 Solving Problems Finding Solutions Tell M e H ow Solving Problems 31 Finding Help Information Tell Me How Battery Problems Drive Problems Floppy drive problems CD drive problems Problems writing to a CD-RW drive DVD drive problems Hard drive problems E-Mail, Modem, and Internet Problems Page Error Messages General Problems x The computer stops responding A program stops responding A program crashes repeatedly A program is designed for an earlier Windows operating system Other software problems A solid blue screen appears Other technical problems General hardware problems Keyboard Problems Mouse Problems Network Problems Power Prob lems Page Printer Problems Scanner Problems Sound and Speaker Problems No sound from speakers No sound from headphones Video and Monitor Problems If the screen is blank If the screen is difficult to read Page Page Using System Restore Creating a Restore Point Restoring the Computer to an Earlier Operating State Undoing the Last System Restore Drivers What Is a Driver? Identifying Drivers Reinstalling drivers Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities Reinstalling Windows XP Before You Reinstall Page Page Page Adding Parts Front and Back View of the Computer Front View Page Back View Removing the Computer Cover Page Looking Inside Your Computer System Board Adding Cards Page Page Adding a Second CD or DVD Drive Page Page Page Page Page Adding Memory Page Replacing the Computer Cover Appendix Specifications Page Page Standard Settings The system setup program contains the standard settings for your computer. See the following figure for an example of the Main program screen. Viewing Settings System Setup Program Screens Clearing Forgotten Passwords Replacing the Battery Page Dell Technical Support Policy (U.S. Only) Definition of "Dell-Installed" Software and Peripherals Definition of "Third-Party" Software and Peripherals Contacting Dell Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Returning Items for Warranty Repair or Credit Regulatory Notices Page NOM Information (Mexico Only) Page Limited Warranties and Return Policy Limited Warranty for the U.S. What is covered by this limited warranty? What is not covered by this limited warranty? How long does this limited warranty last? What do I do if I need warranty service? What will Dell do? Appendix 115 NOTE: What if I purchased a service contract? How will you fix my product? What do I do if I am not satisfied? "Total Satisfaction" Return Policy (U.S. Only) Limited Warranty for Canada One-Year Limited Warranty (Canada Only) Two-Year Limited Warranty (Canada Only) Limited Warranty Coverage During Year One Limited Warranty Coverage During Year Two General Provisions Three-Year Limited Warranty (Canada Only) Limited Warranty Coverage During Year One Limited Warranty Coverage During Years Two and Three General Provisions One-Year End-User Manufacturer Guarantee (Latin America and the Caribbean Only) Guarantee Exclusions Making a Claim Limitation and Statutory Rights Page Page Index A B C D H I K M N T V W