2005FPW / Dimension 9100

Question

Just received a new 9100 and 2005FPW monitor yesterday. The monitor is connected to the DVI port on the ATI X300 SE. I'd like to change some bios settings on the unit, but I seem to be unable to view the POST screens or startup screens - first action on the display is the Windows mouse pointer. No "Dell" screen, nothing.

There is an earlier post concerning the same problem that hypothesizes that POST is taking place at an unsupported resolution. I'd have to disagree with this, as the monitor does announce "unsupported resolution" - at least on the dsub. Plus, POST is at about the most least common denominator resolution as possible.

Any insight appreciated. I would really like to boot from a CD!

polydron · Answer

does your 2005FPW actually change the brightness using the brightness control on the monitor (not the Display control panel)?

i wanted to return mine because it doesn't change the brightness but after dealing with two replacements from dell that have the exact same problem, my return period expired, and dell now refuses the return.

so if you are going to use the monitor in a relatively dark room, and you can't stand the brightness, you should return it while you can.

2005FPW, REV A01, Mexico, May 2005.

GldRush98 · Answer

polydron - My brightness controls function perfectly fine and make quite a difference.

OP: Mine is the same way. If you need to see any pre-windows boot screens you'll need to connect the VGA cable and use that mode to see them. For some reaons it appears DVI only works inside windows, not before windows loads.

As I said in the other thread - if anyone knows a fix for this, feel free to chime in. Not that I NEED to see the POST screen or windows loading screen, it'd just be nice in case there is ever an issue in the future I won't have to un-bury my VGA cable from where ever it's going to be stored.

gsiegfried · Answer

I actually did find a solution to this.

Install the new ATI X300 bios contained in this patch:
R103296.EXE

The description is "Video: ATI Hyper Memory PCI-Express X16 (DVI/VGA/TV out) Radeon X300 SE, Windows XP, Multi Language, Dimension 5100, 9100, v.113-A62801-106, A02"

It worked like a champ.

Got Linux loaded on the box today. The next hurdle was getting a driver for the onboard ethernet port. After a little digging, I got one on the Intel website which has been working well for the 4-6 hours the machine has been active.

-Gregg

GldRush98 · Answer

hey, what do yah know! That took care of it! Thanks for the info man :)

Domik · Answer

Hi gsiegfried:

I'd like to know what's the exact name of the driver you downloaded for your Ethernet on intel web site because I recently installed Linux on my dimension 9100 and it doesn't detect my ethernet card.

tanks

gsiegfried · Answer

The Driver is here:

http://downloadfinder.intel.com/scripts-df-external/Detail_Desc.aspx?agr=Y&Inst=Yes&ProductID=407&DwnldID=2896&strOSs=39&OSFullName=Linux*〈=eng
(long URL, I know)

The ethernet componentry on the 9100 is referred to as the Intel Pro/100 VE.

BTW - what distribution are you using? I found that the initial release of Fedora Core 4 contains an earlier version of the above driver that does not include Pro/100 VE support. However, after getting networking working, I updated the system to current patchlevel, and found that the latest FC4 kernel includes a newer (but still 1-2 revs older than the above) driver which *does* support the Pro/100 VE. So, the separate driver was only necessary until the system was patched.

-Gregg

Domik · Answer

Thanks it worked (I'm using mandriva).

But I have another question. Linux detects my sound card but when I try to install the driver it says the snd-hda-intel driver is not in the list.

Can you help me?

Monitors

2005FPW / Dimension 9100

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