Dell SP1908FP manual General Problems, Common Symptoms Problem Description Possible Solutions

Optimum Resolution 1280 x1024 60Hz Optimum Resolution 1280 x1024 60Hz

This means that the monitor cannot synchronize with the signal that it is receiving from the computer. Either the signal is too high or too low for the monitor to use. See Monitor Specifications for the Horizontal and Vertical frequency ranges addressable by this monitor. Recommended mode is 1280 X 1024 @ 60Hz.

Occasionally, no warning message appears, but the screen is blank. This could also indicate that the monitor is not synchronizing with the computer or that the monitor is in a power save mode.

General Problems

The following table contains general information about common monitor problems you might encounter.

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 Cleaning 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	Faint Shadow from the static image	•	Use the Power Management feature to turn off the monitor at all times when not
static image)	displayed appears on the		in use. Alternatively, use a dynamically changing screensaver left on the
	screen		monitor for a long period of time.
		• In OSD Menu, under Reset to Factory Settings, select Enable LCD Conditioning.
			Using this option may take several hours before the image is eliminated