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Service Hints & Tips |
Document ID: IDTM-3GCK2A |
Troubleshooting IBM Monitors
Applicable to: World-Wide
CRT technology poses a number of problems which are common to all manufacturers. Each manufacturer addresses these problems in a different way and with different degrees of success. Discussion of a particular problem does not necessarily indicate that any monitor in the IBM range suffers from this problem, it merely indicates something that may be experienced by the user when using a monitor based on CRT technology.
The following is a simple general guide covering some of the more common problems.
Monitor won't power on:
Switch the monitor off and after a half a minute, try turning the monitor back on again. Use the LED as the indicator of whether the monitor is "on".
Check that the power cord has not been dislodged from the socket at the back of the display.
In countries where power cords incorporate a fused plug, ensure that the fuse is intact. Only use cords approved by IBM for monitors. System unit or printer power cords, while appearing similar do not have the high rating required to sustain the monitors initial inrush current.
If the monitor still won't power on, check the wall socket using another appliance.
Screen is blank but the LED is on:
Disconnect the interface cable from the system unit and check that the TEST SCREEN appears. If it does, the problem probably lies with the system unit. Ensure that the video mode used by the system unit is within the monitors sync range. Try rebooting the system unit after reattaching the monitor.
NOTE:
The test screen feature is not available on 6314/7/9 PS ValuePoint monitors.
Screen is blank and LED is flashing:
In a correctly setup installation, this indicates that Power Management is in effect. Move the mouse, press a mouse button or a key on the keyboard. If the image does not reappear, check that the system unit is still running and that the monitor, keyboard and mouse cables have not been disturbed.
Current IBM multisync monitors also flash the LED if the sync signal received from the PC are not in the recognized frequency range.
Monitor has one color missing or the picture is rolling:
Check the connection between the interface cable and the system unit. In particular check for bent or broken pins in the cable connector.
Text is poorly focused:
The simplest action the user can take to improve focus is to reduce brightness. Legibility may also be improved by changing to a different, perhaps larger, font. Many newer monitors have user focus adjustments, accessible through an adjustment hole in the covers.
Color purity is poor:
The monitor may have been moved while still powered on or still warm (i.e. within 10 minutes or so of being powered off). "Moved" includes being rotated. If so, power off the monitor for ten minutes and then on again. If the monitor is near equipment containing magnets then move it. Less obvious sources of magnetism are hidden steel components in furniture and ac adapters for laptop PCs or telephone equipment which often plug directly onto a wall outlet immediately behind the monitor. If neither of the above apply, DOMING may be the problem. The solution then is to reduce the brightness and/or to choose darker screen background colors.
Image flickers:
The possible causes are low refresh rate and external alternating magnetic fields. Assuming that external fields have been minimized the problem is likely to be low refresh rate. If an older 85xx monitor must be used in a low refresh rate interlaced mode, the only thing that can be done to reduce the apparent flicker is to reduce the brightness. If running interlaced, the flicker may be due to the number of single thickness horizontal lines on the screen, which could be caused by fine graphics or a small character font. The user may be able to alter the application to remove these factors. With more recent monitors, make sure that the system is properly configured to select one of the high refresh rate non-interlaced modes supported by the monitor. Many systems default to 60 Hz VGA, which guarantees some sort of picture on most monitors where setup has not been completed.
IBM has recognized customer concern about flicker and since 1993, most monitors have supported refresh rates of 75Hz or greater.
It should be noted that attaching an IBM 951x monitor to an IBM 85xx system unit requires an XGA-2 adapter card, but no separate adapter is needed with the 95xx system units since the more advanced built-in video controller can support the newer modes. attaching an 851x to a 95xx system unit will produce "original" refresh rates up to the limit of the monitor and so flicker may still be seen in VGA and interlaced XGA modes. Because most multi-scanning monitors have 8514 ID bits, (see "ID Bits" on page 69) some graphics adapters may automatically select 8514/A interlaced mode. While this mode was state-of-the art in 1987, most users will now find the flicker unacceptable. The default must be over-ridden by installing software drivers which support non-interlaced operation at the required refresh rate in the specific modes.
It should be noted that some operating systems may not have the necessary drivers available to support the higher refresh rates. This applies to all levels of OS/2 prior to release 2.1, which will only support a maximum refresh rate of 60Hz at VGA 640x480x mode, and 87Hz (Interlaced) at XGA 1024x768 mode. Also, OS/2 does not support any SVGA 800x600 modes prior to release 2.1. Therefore users who have early releases of OS/2 as their operating system will not be able to take advantage of the higher refresh rates available on recent monitors. Upgrading to a more recent release of the operating system could bring significant benefits to some users. Users of non-IBM operating systems should inquire whether improved display drivers have been made available subsequent to their purchase. They are often available free or at low cost to existing customers.
However, if the user has the XGA device driver diskette available from dealers and shipped with system units pre-installed with OS/2, by following instructions in the READ.ME files, the user can configure the system to support any refresh rate up to 88Hz in VGA and 75Hz in XGA, and can also use 800x600 modes up to 72Hz. This applies to OS/2 versions 2.00, 2.00.1 and 2.01
Contrast control apparently functional over only part of its range:
This is normal when a bright screen is being displayed and is due to the operation of the beam current limit circuitry that helps prevent DOMING.
Image is unstable:
Ensure the monitor is not too close to another monitor or a source of alternating magnetic field. Remove the source if possible; otherwise screening may be required.
Ensure that the monitor is correctly installed, on a compatible system unit or video adapter and that it has been configured for a suitable video mode and refresh rate.
Static shock:
An electrostatic shock may be received by touching the glass of a monitor which has no electrostatic free (ESF) coating.
To avoid the possibility of static shocks it is best to avoid touching the screen, especially when powering the monitor on or off. All of IBM's new monitors feature permanent anti-static treatments which eliminate this problem.
Anti-static spray coatings are commercially available to add a degree of anti-static protection to conventional screens. Products not specifically designed for glass, such as furniture polishes, may cause damage and should not be used.
One point to note is that it is still possible to receive an apparent shock from an anti-static screen. The cause in this case is that a user who is charged up by static electricity can discharge himself by touching the screen. The screen merely acts as a grounding point.
Color monitor has come up in monochrome:
The reason is either that the video adapter card is unable to drive color or it has not recognized the monitor as a color display. Check for broken or bent pins in the interface cable in case the ID bits aren't being read correctly. It may be possible to set the adapter card either in software or in hardware to recognize the monitor correctly. If the monitor was not attached to the system unit when the system was booted, reboot the system unit with the monitor attached.
Image is offset to one side:
This is most likely to be seen when connecting multi-mode monitors to an OEM video adapter card. As above, check whether the card can be told in software or hardware which monitor is attached. IBM's new multi-scanning monitors are compatible with most OEM video subsystems and adapter cards. If the offset is small, and the image is otherwise satisfactory, it may be corrected via the use geometry controls. On some monitors it may not be possible to achieve centering of the VESA 1024x768 75Hz mode.
Screen is cloudy near the bottom:
In fault diagnosis, it is wise never to assume that someone else has already asked the "obvious" questions. This unlikely phenomenon, reported by phone, was due to steam from a cup of coffee set too close to the screen.
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Hint Category |
Diagnostics | |
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Date Created |
21-04-97 | |
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Last Updated |
02-02-99 | |
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Revision Date |
02-02-2000 | |
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Brand |
IBM Monitors | |
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Product Family |
C Series (C50/C70/etc.), Flat Panel, G Series (G40/G50/etc.), IBM logo only, Industrial, Multimedia (MM50/MM70/etc.), P Series (P50/P70/etc.), Personal System/2, PS/1, PS/ValuePoint, SE40, Size labeled (14R/15V/etc.) | |
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Machine Type |
4707, 9507, 8504, 2122, 6540, 6542, 6321, 6322, 8516, 9514, 9524, 2116, 2124, 2126, 6315, 6541, 6543, 6546, 6553, 9525, 9516, 2118, 2127, 2128, 6327, 6544, 6547, 6554, 6556, 9527, 6549, 6557 | |
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