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Service Hints & Tips

Document ID: DETR-3S9Q67

MM55/MM75 Monitor - Volume control not working

Applicable to: World-Wide

What to check FIRST:
Before doing any troubleshooting on the Aptiva 2140/2142 systems or the MM55/MM75 Monitors, check the following items FIRST:
- Make certain that an MM55 or MM75 Monitor is being used.
- Verify that ALL connections are correct and secure.

Troubleshooting Steps

1. Does the monitor volume control adjust the sound level in Windows?
- Turn the monitor off, wait for 15-20 seconds, then turn monitor back on. Try the monitor volume control again. Does it change the volume now?
- Try changing the volume using Windows Mixer or AudioStation. Do they both change the speaker volume level appropriately?
- Shutdown the computer (full power off), turn system on and allow to boot normally. Try the monitor volume control again. Does it change the volume?
- Uninstall and Reinstall the audio drivers.
- Verify correct TIER card setting in BIOS.
- Reseat the cable that connects the amplifier card to the planar.

2. Does the On Screen Display come up when the monitor buttons are pressed?
- Try the monitor volume control again, does the On Screen Display appear now? Does it change the volume?
- Shutdown the computer (full power off), turn system on and allow it to boot normally. Try the monitor volume control again.
Does the On Screen Display appear now? Does it change the volume?
- Press either the "left arrow" or "right arrow" menu buttons on the monitor. Does the On Screen Display come up?
- Uninstall and Reinstall the audio drivers.
- Verify correct TIER card setting in BIOS.
- Reseat the cable that connects the amplifier card to the planar.
- The monitor may be defective.

3. Does the On Screen Display come up when the Monitor buttons are pressed?
- Turn the monitor off, wait for 15-20 seconds, then turn the monitor back on. Try the monitor volume control again. Does the On Screen Display appear now? Does it change the volume?
- Shutdown the computer (full power off), turn system on and allow it to boot normally. Try the monitor volume control again.
Does the On Screen Display appear now? Does it change the volume?
- Press either the "left arrow" or "right arrow" menu buttons on the monitor. Does the On Screen Display come up?
- Uninstall and Reinstall the audio drivers.
- Verify correct TIER card setting in BIOS.
- Reseat the cable that connects the amplifier card to the planar.
- The monitor may be defective.

4. Poor sound quality from monitor speakers (MM55/MM75) and/or Bass Module.
- Check all connections.
- Uninstall and Reinstall the audio drivers.
- Uninstall and Reinstall the application or drivers being used to play audio.
- Verify correct TIER card setting in BIOS.
- Boot from the Recovery CD and choose "Recover WITH format".

5. Poor sound quality when using external speakers connected to planar audio out.
- Check all connections.
- Verify correct TIER card setting in BIOS.
- Uninstall and Reinstall the audio drivers.
- Uninstall and Reinstall the application or drivers being used to play audio.
- Boot from the Recovery CD and choose "Recover WITH format".

6. No Bass & Treble controls on monitor.
- What TIER card does the unit have? The Bass & Treble controls on the monitor are only available when a
TIER-2 card is installed. The TIER-2 card will have two ports: 1 for the monitor, and 1 for the bass module.
- If a TIER-2 card is installed, and you still do not have Bass & Treble controls, check these items:
- Turn the monitor off, wait for 15-20 seconds, then turn the monitor back on. Try the monitor volume control again. Does the On Screen Display appear now? Does it change the volume?
- Shutdown the computer (full power off), turn system on and allow to boot normally. Try the monitor volume control again, does the On Screen Display appear now? Does it change the Volume?
- Uninstall and Reinstall the audio drivers.
- Press either the "left arrow" or "right arrow" menu buttons on the monitor. Does the On Screen Display come up?
- Verify correct TIER card setting in BIOS.
- Reseat the cable that connects the amplifier card to the planar.

7. Bass & Treble controls under 'Advanced' in Windows Mixer (Volume Control) are not available ('grayed out').
- What TIER card does the unit have? The Bass & Treble controls on the monitor are only available when a
TIER-2 card is installed. The TIER-2 card will have two ports: 1 for the monitor, and 1 for the bass module.
- If a TIER-2 card is installed, and you still do not have Bass & Treble controls, check these items:
- Turn the monitor off, wait for 15-20 seconds, then turn the monitor back on. Try the monitor volume control again. Does the On Screen Display appear now? Does it change the volume?
- Shutdown the computer (full power off), turn system on and allow it to boot normally. Try the monitor volume control again.
Does the On Screen Display appear now? Does it change the volume?
- Uninstall and Reinstall the audio drivers.
- Press either the "left arrow" or "right arrow" menu buttons on the monitor. Does the On Screen Display come up?
- Verify correct TIER card setting in BIOS.
- Reseat the cable that connects the amplifier card to the planar.

8. No audio from monitor speakers
- Turn the monitor volume control, does the On Screen Display come up? Turn volume level to 100 and play a file in Media
Player. Do you hear it?
- Open the Windows Mixer. Is "Master Out" volume also at 100?
- Verify external audio connections.
- Is there sound coming from the Bass Module?
- Plug a set of headphones or external speakers into the PLANAR AUDIO jack on the back of the tower. Do you get sound from those?
- Uninstall and Reinstall the audio drivers.
- Verify correct TIER card setting in BIOS.
- Reseat the cable that connects the amplifier card to the planar.

9. No audio from bass module
- Turn the monitor volume control, does the On Screen Display come up? Turn volume level to 100 and play a file in Media
Player. Do you hear it?
- Open the Windows Mixer. Is the "Master Out" volume also at 100?
- Verify external audio connections.
- Is there sound coming from the monitor speakers?
- Uninstall and Reinstall the audio drivers.
- Verify correct TIER card setting in BIOS.
- Reseat the cable that connects the amplifier card to the planar.

10. Audio from speakers even with monitor turned off
This is NORMAL. The amplifier in the tower drives the speakers. The speakers will play audio as long as the system is on, and audio is being sent. Monitor power state has no effect on speakers.

NOTE: The MM55 & MM75 monitors are MICROPROCESSOR controlled. If the power is turned off or interrupted for just a second or two, the micro will get 'confused' and the volume control and On Screen Display will stop working properly. To fix, simply turn the monitor OFF for 10-15 seconds, turn it back on and check the volume control. About 99% of the time, this will fix this problem, the monitor is NOT defective!

	Search Keywords
	Hint Category	Display/Monitor, Audio, Diagnostics
	Date Created	04-03-98
	Last Updated	19-02-99
	Revision Date	19-02-2000
	Brand	IBM Aptiva, IBM Monitors
	Product Family	Aptiva, Multimedia (MM50/MM70/etc.)
	Machine Type	2140, 2142, 2116, 2128
	Model	All
	TypeModel
	Retain Tip (if applicable)
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