dell 1703fp - stuck in power save mode - problem solved

All,

I have had the pleasure of my dell 1703fp monitor getting stuck in power save mode whilst connected by the DVI digital input.  My Video Card is a Nvidia GForce FX5200. 

The problem happened suddenly without any obvious cause aside from a custom download of the Nvidia GForce FX5200 driver availabel in XP Updates.... very suspicious.

At first the cause of the error is not immediatley apparent, my VGA is connected to my plasma.  I discovered (eventually ) that the screen was not totally shot when I connected a spare vga to the monitor.  It is not immediately apparent that the DVI is in power save mode, it just looks like it is dead.  To check if you have the error try the following. Note:  There are 3 buttons and a power button on the front of the monitor.

a) connect both the vga and digital cables

b) press the middle control button to get the analogue input showing windows

c) press the middle control button again - digital will now be the selected input but you get a Black screen

d) press ( and maybe hold) the left button - if it shows Digital Input Power Save Mode ( or the like)

Also you will not now see the digital monitor when you Control panel - display - settings.  You only see the analogue ( and mine showed as Plug and play monitor not dell 1703fp )

If it shows this then you have the problem.

Anyway after 5 hours of research, looking at NVidia video card issues and eventually went to the dell site and came across the thread http://forums.us.dell.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=dim_monitor&message.id=33721&view=by_date_ascending&page=1.

The instructions on the first page are not complete and I will elaborate:

1) DVI_Recover_CDIMAGE.iso - you need to copy this to your desktop and double click. It will start your CD creation application, Roxio EasyCDCreator in my case.  Insert a blank disk and it will do the copying for you.  If you don't do this and just copy the DVI_Recover_CDIMAGE.iso file to the CD instead and follow the instructions, guess what - no fix is applied!

2) You need to have your machine boot drives set up properly. 

a) turn off your machine and switch on again

b) Press F2 to enter setup when the message shows at the top right.

c) press the down arrow to Boot disk line

d) ensure that the CD drive is the first drive to boot from NOT the hard drive

e) press and save settings.

If you do not do this and follow the instructions the machine will always boot  to windows and the fix does not get executed.

Guess, what I had both of these problems and I call myself an Advanced User (25 years in IT).  Shows what happens when you slavishly follow instructions!

I suggest that many other people who have failed to apply the fix will have fallen foul of one of the above problems.  This is especially the case as you cannot monitor the sucess of the fix without having theVGA cable in, which it says you should remove.

Anyway, followed the following procedure to fix the problem: -

1) Download the fix from http://www.jeffgeiger.com/stuff/dvi_recover.htm to desktop

2) Unzip the file by double clicking and following unzip instructions

3) Double click the DVI_Recover_CDIMAGE.iso icon

4) Insert a CD and burn it… several files are written to it, including and autoexec.bat file then eject the CD

5) Check the boot disk order and reset if necessary

a) Turn off your machine and switch on again

b) Press F2 to enter setup when the message shows at the top right.

c) Press the down arrow to Boot disk selection line

d) Ensure that the CD drive is the first drive to boot from NOT the hard drive

e) Press and save settings

6) Let the machine boot

7) Insert the CD again

8) Shut down the computer.

9) Disconnect the power cables from both the monitor and the computer.

10) Disconnect the VGA cable, and reconnect the monitor to the computer via the DVI cable (if not already connected).

11) Press the power button for both the monitor and computer while unplugged to drain any remaining power.

12) Re-attach the power cables to both the monitor and the computer.

13) Switch on the monitor and screen - the machine will boot from the CD

14) Let the fix do its stuff! – I left it alone for a couple of minutes

15) Remove CD

16) Switch off machine by holding down the power button for a few seconds (a tip I learns few days ago – saves pulling out the power lead!)

17) Say a small prayer

18) Switch on the pc and the digital input should be working straight away!

 I feel joy!  This has been a true challenge, I discussed the problem with my colleagues, my works PC support staff and the local computer shop and none of them could help!

Hope this helps!

Brandy999