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Article Number: 000145340

Using and Troubleshooting Dell S2x40 Series Monitors

Summary: Learn how to setup and troubleshoot Dell S2x40 Series monitors. Find information about how to setup, run diagnostics, troubleshoot common issues with Dell S2240L, S2240M, S2340L, S2340M, S2440L, or S2740L monitor. ...

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Article Content

Symptoms

This articles covers information for the following Dell S2x40 series monitors:

  1. Dell S2240L
  2. Dell S2240M
  3. Dell S2340L
  4. Dell S2340M
  5. Dell S2440L
  6. Dell S2740L

For help with video or display issues such as: no video or no display, blank or black screen, flickering, resolution or color issues, horizontal or vertical lines, etc. refer to an expanding section below.

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Ensuring that your Dell monitor is setup properly - assembling the monitor stand and setting up the monitor ergonomically, connecting the cables and organizing them, will only help make the viewing experience the best it possibly can be.

Attaching the stand

The standard monitor stand is detached when the monitor is shipped from the factory. To learn more about attaching the standard monitor stand, refer to the Setting Up the Monitor section in the User's Guide of your Dell S2x40 Series monitor.
To learn how to setup any other stand with a monitor, refer to the respective stand setup guide for setup instructions.

Ergonomics

Where you put your monitor is almost as important as what model you buy. The monitor should be directly in front of you, at an arm’s length away (between 20-40 inches from your eyes), with the top edge of the screen at eye level when you’re sitting comfortably. You may need to adjust your chair height or the height of the monitor to achieve this.

Connecting your monitor to the PC

To connect your Dell S2x40 Series monitor to your PC:

  1. Turn off your PC and disconnect the power cable.
  2. Connect the DisplayPort, Mini-DP or DP (DisplayPort), HDMI or VGA cable to the corresponding video or display port on the back of your PC.
  3. Connect the USB upstream cable to the monitor and PC (if applicable).

To learn more about connecting your monitor to the PC, refer to the Dell knowledge-base article How do I connect a monitor to a PC?.

Use the buttons at the bottom of the monitor to access the On-Screen Display (OSD) menu of the monitor. To access the On-Screen Display (OSD) menu, press Button 3 (Figure 1) at the bottom of the monitor.

To learn more about how to use the On-Screen Display (OSD) menu, refer to the Operating Your Monitor section in the User's Guide of Dell S2x40 Series monitor.

SLN127784_en_US__1icon Note: Any changes you make are automatically saved when you move to another menu item, exit the OSD menu, or wait for the OSD menu to automatically close.

SLN127784_en_US__21347388921112.built_in_diags
Figure 1: Dell S2x40 Series Front Panel Buttons

Resetting a monitor to factory defaults can help resolve many video or display issues. To reset your Dell S2x40 Series monitor to factory default settings, follow these instructions:

  1. Press Button 3 (Figure 2)on the monitor to enter the On-Screen Display (OSD) Menu.
  2. Press Button 1 or Button 2 to highlight Others option in the menu and press Button 3 to select.
  3. Press Button 1 or Button 2 to highlight Factory Reset option in the menu and press Button 3 to select.
  4. Press Button 3 to confirm the reset action.

If your Dell monitor has a blank or black screen, fuzzy or blurry image, flickering, distorted or any other screen abnormalities, running a diagnostic test will help determine if the Dell monitor is functioning normally. To learn more about diagnostic options on a Dell monitor, refer to the Dell knowledge-base article How do I run diagnostics on a Dell monitor?

It is always essential to isolate the monitor while troubleshooting your computer for the following scenarios:

  • No Power - Your computer is not powering ON or showing any signs of power.
 
  • No POST - Your computer is not showing any indication of activity, the screen might be blank and will not display the Dell logo during start-up.
 
  • No Video - You are unable to see any display on the screen, able to hear the windows chime but no display is seen.

Your Dell S2x40 Series Monitor provides a self-test feature check that allows you to check whether the monitor is functioning properly. If the monitor and computer are properly connected but the monitor screen remains dark, run the monitor self-test by performing the following steps:

  1. Turn off both your computer and the monitor.
  2. Unplug the video cable from the back of the computer. To ensure proper Self-Test operation, remove the video cables (VGA, DVI, HDMI or DisplayPort) from the back of the computer.
  3. Turn on the monitor.
  4. Turn off your monitor and reconnect the video cable: then turn on both your computer and the monitor.
  5. If your monitor screen remains blank after you use the previous procedure, check your video card (GPU) and computer, because your monitor is functioning properly.

Your Dell S2x40 Series monitor has a built-in diagnostic tool that helps to determine if the screen abnormality you are experiencing is a problem with the monitor or with the video card on your computer.

When you notice screen abnormalities like distortion, clarity, horizontal or vertical lines, color fade etc., it is always a good practise to isolate the monitor by running the Built-In Diagnostics.

  1. Make sure that the screen is clean (no dust particles on the surface of the screen).
  2. Unplug the video cable(s) from the back of the computer or the monitor. The monitor will now enter self-test mode.
  3. On the front panel, press and hold Button 1 for 5 seconds. A gray screen appears.
  4. Carefully inspect the screen for abnormalities.
  5. Press Button 1 on the front panel again. The color of the screen changes to red.
  6. Inspect the display for any abnormalities.
  7. Repeat step 5 and step 6 to inspect the display in green, blue, black, white and text screens.
  8. The test is complete when the white screen appears.
  9. Press Button 1 to exit the Built-In Self Test diagnostics.
SLN127784_en_US__1icon Note: If you do not detect any screen abnormalities upon using the built-in diagnostic tool, the monitor is functioning properly. Check the video card (GPU) and the computer.
If you notice any abnormalities during Built-In Diagnostics, you may get the monitor repaired/replaced if it is under warranty by contacting Dell Technical Support.

During the LCD Monitor manufacturing process, it is not uncommon for one or more pixels to become fixed in an unchanging state which are hard to see and do not affect the display quality or usability. For more information, refer to the Dell knowledge-base article Dell LCD Monitor Pixel Guidelines.

This section provides information on troubleshooting steps that can help resolve the most common issues with the Dell S2x40 Series monitor. Alternatively, to learn more about troubleshooting common issues on Dell monitors, refer to the Dell knowledge-base article Troubleshooting Display or Video Issues on a Dell Monitor.

SLN127784_en_US__1icon Note: When using DVI-D or HDMI input, the Auto-Adjust function will not be available.
 
Common Problem What User Experiences Possible Solution
Screen Image Is Too Small Image is centered on screen but does not fill the viewing area
  • Check the Scaling Ration setting in the Image Setting On-Screen Display (OSD) menus.
  • Reset the monitor to Factory Settings.
Cannot Adjust the Monitor with the Buttons on the Front Panel OSD menus do not appear on the screen
  • Turn off the monitor, unplug the power cord, plug it back in, and then turn on the monitor.
  • Check whether the OSD menu is locked. If it is, press and hold the button above the power button for 10 seconds to unlock it.
No Input Signal when User Controls Are Pressed No picture, the LED is bright blue
  • Check the signal source. Make sure the computer is not in the power saving mode by moving the mouse or pressing a key on the keyboard.
  • Check whether the video cable is plugged in properly. Re-plug the video cable if necessary.
  • Reset the computer or video player.
The Picture Does Not Fill the Entire Screen The picture does not fill the height or width of the screen
  • If a DVD is being played, check the specifications as some DVDs will only play in full-screen mode.
  • Run the built-in diagnostics.
No Video - Power LED Off No picture
  • Make sure that the power cable connecting the monitor is properly connected and secure.
  • Verify that the power outlet is functioning properly using any other electrical equipment.
  • Make sure that the power button is depressed fully.
  • Test with known good cable and known good system if possible.
No Video - Power LED On No picture or no brightness.
  • Increase the brightness and contrast of the monitor through On-Screen Display Menu (OSD).
  • Perform monitor self-test feature check.
  • Check for bent or broken pins in the video cable connector.
  • Reseat both ends of video cable.
  • Try with known good video cable.
  • Run the built-in diagnostics.
  • Make sure that the correct input source is selected via the Input Source Select button.
  • Test monitor with known good system if available.
Poor Focus Picture is fuzzy, blurry or ghosting.
Shaky/Jittery Video Wavy picture or fine movement.
Missing Pixels LCD screen has spots.
  • Cycle power on-off.
  • Pixel that is permanently off is a natural defect that can occur in LCD technology.
  • Run the built-in diagnostics.
Stuck-On/Off Pixels LCD screen has bright spot.
  • Cycle power on-off.
  • A few permanently bright or dark pixels are considered normal by industry standards. The exact number of pixels allowed varies depending on the monitor. Refer to Monitor Quality and Pixel Policy for more details.
  • Run the built-in diagnostics.
Brightness Problems Picture too dim or too bright.
Geometric Distortion Screen not centered correctly.
SLN127784_en_US__1icon When using DisplayPort input, the positioning adjustments are not available.
Horizontal/Vertical Lines Screen has one or more lines.
SLN127784_en_US__1icon When using DisplayPort input, the positioning adjustments are not available.
Synchronization Problems Screen is scrambled or appears torn.
  • Reset the monitor to the Factory Settings.
  • Perform Auto Adjust via On-Screen Display Menu (OSD).
  • Adjust Phase and Pixel Clock controls via On-Screen Display Menu (OSD).
  • Perform monitor self-test feature check to determine if the scrambled screen appears in self-test mode.
  • Check for bent or broken pins in the video cable connector.
  • Restart the computer in the power safe mode.
Safety-Related Issues Visible signs of smoke or sparks.
  • Do not perform any troubleshooting steps.
  • Contact Dell Technical Support immediately.
Intermittent Problems Monitor malfunctions on and off.
  • Make sure that the video cable is connected properly with the monitor and the computer.
  • Reset the monitor to the Factory Settings.
  • Run the self-test feature and determine if the intermittent problem occurs in the self-test mode.
Missing Color Picture does not have color.
  • Run the monitor self-test feature check.
  • Make sure that the video cable connecting the monitor to the computer is connected properly and is secure.
  • Check for bent or broken pins in the video cable connector.
Wrong Color Picture color is not good.
  • Change the color-setting mode in the Color Settings On-Screen Display Menu (OSD) to Graphics or Video, depending on the application.
  • Try a different color preset setting in the Color Settings On-Screen Display Menu (OSD).
  • Adjust the R, G, B value in the Color Settings OSD, if Color Management is turned off.
  • Change the input color format to PC RGB or YPbPr in the Color Settings On-Screen Display Menu (OSD).
  • Run the built-in diagnostic tool.
Image Retention from a Static Image Left on the Monitor for a Long Period Faint shadow from the static image appears on the screen.
  • Use the Power Management feature to turn off the monitor when it is not in use.
  • Alternatively, use a dynamically changing screensaver.
  • Use LCD Conditioning feature under Other Settings to eliminate image retention.
 
Troubleshooting USB Issues
Specific Symptoms What User Experiences Possible Solution
USB interface is not working USB peripherals are not working
  • Check that your monitor is turned On.
  • Reconnect the upstream cable to your computer.
  • Reconnect the USB peripherals (downstream connector).
  • Switch Off and then turn On the monitor again.
  • Reboot the computer.
  • Some USB devices like external portable HDD require higher electric current; connect the device directly to the computer.
High-Speed USB 2.0 Interface Is Slow High-Speed USB 2.0 peripherals are working slowly or not at all
  • Check that your computer supports USB 2.0 or higher.
  • Verify the computer port is a USB 2.0 port (or higher). (Some computers have both USB 2.0 and USB 1.1 ports.)
  • Reconnect the upstream cable between the monitor and the computer.
  • Reconnect the downstream connectors between the monitor and the peripheral device being used.
  • Restart the computer.

To learn more about how to view or download the User Guides & Manuals for your Dell product, refer to the Dell knowledge-base article Manuals and Documentation for your Dell Product.


Frequently asked questions

Using Windows Display Settings

In Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1 and Windows 10:

  1. For Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 only, select the Desktop tile to switch to classic desktop view.
  2. Right-click on the desktop and click Screen Resolution.
  3. Click the dropdown list of the Screen Resolution and select maxres.
  4. Click OK

Using Nvidia Control Panel

To change the resolution using the Nvidia Control Panel:

  1. Right-click on the desktop and click Nvidia Control Panel.
  2. Click the + symbol next to Display on the left pane.
  3. Select Change Resolution under Display.
  4. In the dropdown menu on the right pane, select the resolution maxres.
  5. Click Apply.

Using AMD Catalyst Control Center

To change the resolution using the AMD Catalyst Control Center:

  1. Right-click on the desktop and click AMD Catalyst Control Center.
  2. Click the + symbol next to Display on the left pane.
  3. Select Change Resolution under Display.
  4. In the dropdown menu on the right pane, select the resolution maxres.
  5. Click Apply.
SLN127784_en_US__1icon Note: If you do not see the recommended resolution as an option, you may need to update the video card (GPU) driver by visiting the Dell Drivers & Downloads website or the video card (GPU) manufacturers website.

To reset the Dell S2x40 Series Monitor to factory defaults, refer to the Reset to Factory Settings section of this article.

The Dell S2x40 Series monitor has two built-in diagnostics that are available:

  • Self-Test Feature Check - The self-test feature check on the Dell S2x40 Series monitor allows you to check whether the monitor is functioning properly.
  • Built-In Self Test - The Dell S2x40 Series monitor has a built-in self test that helps you identify if the screen abnormality is with the monitor or the video card (GPU) on your computer. When you notice screen abnormalities like distortion, clarity, horizontal or vertical lines, color fade etc., it is always a good practice to isolate the monitor by running the Built-In Diagnostics.

To learn how to run a diagnostic test, refer to the Running Diagnostics on Dell S2x40 Series Monitor section of this Dell knowledge-base article.

The Troubleshooting section of this Dell knowledge-base article provides information on troubleshooting common issues with the Dell S2x40 Series monitor. The section has troubleshooting steps on how to resolve power issues, video issues, color or clarity issues, distortion issues, horizontal or vertical lines, brightness issues or pixel issues etc,.

To navigate the On-Screen Display (OSD) menu, use the buttons on the monitor. The monitor control buttons are usually on the right side , either on the side, front or bottom of the monitor. To access the On-Screen Display (OSD) menu, press Button 3 on the monitor.

For more information on using the On-Screen Display (OSD) menu and different menu options, refer to the Operating Your Monitor section in the User's Guide of your Dell S2x40 Series monitor.

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Cause

No Cause information.

Resolution

SLN127784_en_US__8Monitors More information and support for your Dell monitor, laptop or tablet screen can be found on our Monitor Support site.

Article Properties

Affected Product

Dell S2240L, Dell S2240M, Dell S2240T 21.5 Multi-Touch Monitor with LED, Dell S2340L, Dell S2340M, Dell S2340T, Dell S2440L, Dell S2740L

Last Published Date

23 Jul 2021

Version

5

Article Type

Solution

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