Troubleshooting An External Monitor - Dell Latitude CP Reference And Troubleshooting Manual

8. Did an error message appear on the display, or
did you see a flash code?
Yes. Refer to Table 3-2 or Table 3-3 to find the mes-
sage or flash code, respectively, along with its
explanation. If you can't find the message or code,
call Dell for technical assistance. (See Chapter 5,
"Getting Help," for instructions.)
No. If you still have a display problem but the dis-
play is not completely blank, run the Video test
group in the Dell Diagnostics. (See Chapter 4, "Run-
ning the Dell Diagnostics," for instructions.) Then
call Dell for technical assistance. (See Chap-
ter 5, "Getting Help.")
9. Turn off your computer, and connect an external
monitor to the computer.
Follow the procedure in the topic titled "Connecting
an External Monitor" in the online System User's
Guide.
10. Turn on the computer and the monitor, and
adjust the monitor's brightness controls. Is the
monitor readable?
Yes. The computer's display may be defective. Call
Dell for technical assistance. (See Chapter 5, "Get-
ting Help.")
No. The computer's video controller on the system
board may be defective. Run the Video test group of
the Dell Diagnostics. (See Chapter 4, "Running the
Dell Diagnostics," for instructions.) If you cannot
isolate the problem after running the diagnostics, call
Dell for technical assistance. (See Chapter 5, "Get-
ting Help.")

Troubleshooting an External Monitor

During POST, the computer checks to see if an external
monitor is attached to the computer; if so, the video con-
trol circuitry sends information to the external monitor
rather than to the computer's display. If no image appears
on the external monitor you are using when the computer
boots, make a copy of the Diagnostics Checklist found in
Chapter 5 and fill it out as you complete the following
procedure.
1. Make sure the external monitor's video cable is
firmly connected to the computer's monitor con-
nector, and verify that the monitor's power cable
(if it has one) is firmly plugged into an AC power
source. Make sure the monitor is turned on.
2. Reboot the computer, and then adjust the monitor's
brightness controls. Is the monitor readable?
Allow one minute for the computer to initialize its
components.
Yes. The problem is resolved.
No. Continue to step 3.
3. Raise the built-in display into viewing position,
if necessary, and press the <Fn><F8> key combi-
nation to switch the video image from the external
monitor to the display.
4. Use the <Fn> down-arrow key or <Fn> up-arrow
key combination to adjust the brightness. Is the full
display readable?
Yes. The external monitor may be defective. Con-
tinue to step 5.
No. The video controller on the system board may
be defective. Run the Video test group of the Dell
Diagnostics. (See Chapter 4, "Running the Dell
Diagnostics," for instructions.) If you cannot isolate
the problem, call Dell for technical assistance. (See
Chapter 5, "Getting Help," for instructions.)
5. Turn off the computer and any attached periph-
erals. Disconnect all peripherals from the
computer. Attach another external monitor to the
computer.
For instructions, see the topic titled "Connecting an
External Monitor" in the online System User's Guide.
If you do not have another external monitor, call Dell for
technical assistance. See Chapter 5, "Getting Help," for
instructions.
6. Reboot the computer, and adjust the monitor's
brightness and contrast. Is the monitor readable?
Allow one minute for the computer to initialize its
components.
Yes. The original monitor is defective. Call Dell for
technical assistance. See Chapter 5, "Getting Help,"
for instructions.
No. Call Dell for technical assistance. See Chap-
ter 5, "Getting Help," for instructions.
Troubleshooting Your Computer 3-25