On startup I get message: 2: Digital Input. Cannot display this video mode.

I have exactly the same system with exactly the same problem. I reinstalled the video drivers, no change. Dell sent a new video card (ATI x300) which I knew wouldn't solve anything...and it didn't. Now they want to replace the motherboard, which I guess I'll let them do but don't see it working either. Still searching these posts for answers. The only workaround I've found (to get into the BIOS setup) is to switch to analog mode temporarily by pressing the '-' button on the monitor, or attaching the analog cable and removing the digial cable, which seems stupid.

Last week I received my Dell Dimension 4700 with the 128MB PCI Expressâ„¢ x16 (DVI/VGA/TV-out) ATI Radeonâ„¢ X300 SE Video Card, running the 1704FPT Ultrasharpâ„¢ Digital Flat Panel Display and I get exactly the same message upon start up as you.

Even though I get the error message, everything seems to be working fine...

Last week I received my Dell Dimension 4700 with the 128MB PCI Expressâ„¢ x16 (DVI/VGA/TV-out) ATI Radeonâ„¢ X300 SE Video Card, running the 1704FPT Ultrasharpâ„¢ Digital Flat Panel Display and I get exactly the same message upon start up as you.

Even though I get the error message, everything seems to be working fine...

Dell seems to have finally fixed the problem. You need to reinstall the MONITOR driver. Go to the downloads page, enter your tag number, and select "monitor" as the type. You need to download and run the one for the 1704FPT, r78777.exe. Problem seems to have gone away!

i have the same problem with my 1703fp and ati 9800 pro. i have also noticed that the monitor has flickered twice which is resolved with swithing the monitor off and on.
Is there a driver for this monitor as well? please help

I don't know if there's a file unique to your monitor. But Dell went around and around, replacing the video drivers, video card, monitor, monitor drivers, and motherboard. Nothing worked permanently. Finally they came back and said the problem is "normal". Yes, turning the power to the monitor off and then back on fixes it. To quote Dell:

"I did more research on this, even consulted with an engineer or two and
it turns out the error message you are receiving is normal for your
configuration. What is happening is the system is, by default, looking
for an analog monitor and, not finding one, displays this error. Once
you get past the error the operating system digital drivers kick in and
your display is fine.

As to why it worked when the monitor drivers were initially installed:
The problem reappeared only after you had shut the system down. A
system shutdown clears the system NVRAM (Non-Volatile memory). Going
into and coming out of suspend did not release the monitor driver from
the NVRAM so it saw the correct driver to display.

I went and looked through the forum and found someone also tried
replacing the video card with a different one but the error message
still appears.

The bottom line is there is no "fix" for the message you are receiving
as the hardware is performing as designed and there is no way to hide
the message."

is that for the 1703fp as well? it used to work fine for months. my vid card went bad and had to replace it and then this happens the odd time.
why did it used to work?

I'd assume so but really I haven't a clue. I'm not a Dell tech, just a user...

I finally got rid of the startup message: "2. Digital Input. Cannot display this video mode", though not knowing that this would stop the message.

I bought a second harddrive and put my 8400 into RAID-1. A screen flashes on startup showing the RAID drives. The digital input message is gone. I really don't think that the message was anything to worry about, but now that its gone I don't miss it.