BTW, it works fine in analog mode, but I'd really like to get the DVI working well so I don't have to switch back and forth all the time. The manual for the 2001FP is quite clear that having both connectors plugged in at once is a bad thing.
I don't intend to do anything in the BIOS to fix this problem, I'm just stating my reason for wanting to get it fixed. If it can't display anything in console mode (text on the screen rather than windows) then I'm in trouble if I want to change BIOS setting or load Linux or anything like that, unless I switch plugs to analog mode.
I read the link and it seems to be mostly about the DVI powersave isssue, which thankfully hasn't been affecting me. Thanks for your reply.
I have the same problem with my Dell 2001FP. I am using Asus 5900 ultra nvidia card. I tried using the dvi recovery files to fix the problem and it did not solve the problem. If anyone figure out how to solve the problem, please let me know.
The short answer is that, besides changing your video card, using a better quality DVI cable may improve matters. Unfortunately, as you can see in my last post above, a new cable isn't a completely reliable fix... I still get a blank bootup screen occasionally. As far as I know, Dell has not acknowledged the "DVI-D Cannot display this signal" problem at all. BFG says it isn't their problem either, by the way.
Sandy & Derek -- check your email for another link.
If I were you, I'd send the whole thing back. There is something seriously wrong with a LOT of the dell flat panels. We tried to resolve this issue in a different forum here for the last six months. Finally, Dell got sick of us complaining and LOCKED THE THREAD so we couldn't comment anymore. Send it back. This is only the beginning. Don't wait until you've had it for 3 months and your issue is not fixed and then they won't take it back. Or maybe 3 months down the road in an effort to troubleshoot your problem they make you send back your nearly new dell flat panel and in return they send you a refurbished one that has the same problem. Send it back. Send it back now. Just my advice. Don't get stuck with it like all the rest of us.
1. Bought a $50 dual-link Belkin DVI-D cable from Best Buy. At this point, I get POST and boot screens when I restart but I don't get them if I turn the computer and monitor entirely off then on again. I'm going to test some more. This was with the scaling on the driver set to "Display Adapter Scaling".
2. I went into the DOS prompt in Windows (win+R or "Run" > cmd > press alt+enter when the window opens), and it worked. I brought up the OSD and it said "DVI-D 1600x1200 @ 60hz". So it thinks it's still in it's native resolution. It was set to "Monitor Scaling" at this point.
3. While looking at the BIOS screen, the OSD still reported that it was at "DVI-D 1600x1200 @ 60hz"
4. Switched monitor to 1280x1024. Opened DOS prompt, went to full screen mode. OSD reported 1600x1200 even though Windows was running in 1280x1024 at the time.
5. The monitor can display any resolution on the list while in Windows, and the OSD usually reflects the resolution you set it to.
I'm a bit torn on it. It seems like a great gaming monitor, but the DVI thing and Dell's lack of response are big downers. The very faint horizontal lines are a little bothersome, but not too bad. I just don't know if I'm making a big mistake by keeping it.
Dont get obsessed by what I would call manageable technicalities. It is after all a great monitor and I personally spend most of my time in games or even some times more productive work and not rebooting the system.
I have an ATI card and the problem is somehow different, but finally all I have to do is wait for 15 seconds after switching on the PC to switch on the monitor (it sometimes goes blank after the boot sequence and when going into windows).
I also observed that the situation improved (it happens much less frequently) with the latest ATI drivers, which means to me that it is not entirely a Dell issue, but also a graphic cards problem in handling DVI mode in 1600x1200.
In summary I decided not to bother about this any longer and just enjoy the quality of the monitor.
I have it running in analog mode right now, and I have to say that even in that mode it's a great monitor, and I remember why I got it in the first place. The DVI problem is entirely avoidable by using analog and I haven't yet been able to discern any difference. Coming from a CRT, with it's inherent geometry and distortion problems, an analog mode with perfect geometry and clarity is a great upgrade.
BTW, does the "little horizontal lines" thing bother you at all? I never noticed them at all until I read a post about them in the forum, so I suspect I'll get used to them. I have to look hard to even notice what the posts are talking about, but they are there. My CRT was an aperature grille though, with the lines across the screen at the top and bottom, and I got so I never even noticed those.
...send it back... If you buy a brand new system, and some of it doesn't work right out of the box, send it back. You shouldn't have to spend time trying to figure out something like this. A lot of us have spent months trying to figure this out to no avail. Send it back. If I can convince even one person to return their junk while they still can, it would make my day.
I have a FP2001 with a ASUS Radeon 9600SE running Windows XP on a home-built system and the DVI works 'ok', but acts differently every time I boot. I am also using the Dell supplied cable. (I actually just bought another cable, but need to return it. The new cable not only has the 'missing' 6 pins, but there are also additional pairs of pins on either side of the flat connector. This is ok for the DVI on my video card, but cannot be used on the monitor DVI)
Basically, there are four points that the monitor may or may not display: 1) Initial POST where memory and BIOS info show and you can enter setup; 2) second part of boot where PCI devices are displayed and you can boot from a CD; 3) inital WindowsXP splash screen; and 4) Window logon screen. Between each of these steps the screen will clear, but it is always a mystery as to whether the next step(s) will display. That is, I may see 1, but not 2/3/4; or see 1/3/4, but not 2; or see 3/4, but not 1/2; and occasionally not see 1/2/3/4 and need to reboot. Usually, as long as something displays, the worst I have to do is turn the monitor off and then back on and Windows will display ok. I have not experienced any of the other power-saver issues or any other problems while in Windows. I have the latest ATI Catalyst 4.5 driver and did not do the Dell recommended change to Reduce DVI Frequency.
I get the best results I turn on my LCD first and let the Genesys splash screen clear before powering on the computer. If I need to boot from a CD, I can also turn on my computer first and then wait a few seconds so that the LCD initialization completes while the Boot from CD prompt is waiting for a response. It is after the clearing of the display between each of the steps that you never know if the next will show. But if the monitor comes on during the step, it will show the output.
Anyway, there is definitely something wrong in the signaling between the video card and LCD. In my case, it appears to be whether or not the FP2001 responds again after whatever type of signal is used when the screen blanks between each of the 4 steps during startup. Not too much of a problem, mostly just a curiosity of what will or will not display every time I power up.
I sent mine back a week ago. In the end, it came down to the fact that an 800+ dollar monitor must work perfectly in every regard. The problems with the 2001FP, while they didn't render it totally non-functional, are inexcusable in a product that's very modern and expensive. I plan to consider a Samsung 213T which I plan to get locally if I go for it, or a 17 inch LCD with 16ms response time.
I should also note that my main problem with the 2001FP was lousy picture quality in 2D. It lookwed very grainy in Windows, and I think that's what really ruined it for me.
Sandy Pratt
9 Posts
0
May 6th, 2004 22:00
ortleeb
575 Posts
0
May 7th, 2004 13:00
Hi Sandy,
There are several boot-up issues with both nVidia and ATi cards and the DVI signal on Dell LCD's as well as panels sold by others. Before you go into your BIOS, review this FAQ http://forums.us.dell.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=dim_monitor&message.id=33721 and/or contact Dell support. They are well aware of these issues.
Regards,
Tom
Sandy Pratt
9 Posts
0
May 7th, 2004 15:00
I read the link and it seems to be mostly about the DVI powersave isssue, which thankfully hasn't been affecting me. Thanks for your reply.
rorosch
13 Posts
0
May 8th, 2004 08:00
Sandy Pratt
9 Posts
0
May 8th, 2004 15:00
DW79
1 Message
0
May 8th, 2004 21:00
I have the same problem with my Dell 2001FP. I am using Asus 5900 ultra nvidia card. I tried using the dvi recovery files to fix the problem and it did not solve the problem. If anyone figure out how to solve the problem, please let me know.
Thanks,
Derek
derekw79@yahoo.com
Message Edited by DW79 on 05-08-2004 05:36 PM
PaintedJaguar
19 Posts
0
May 12th, 2004 09:00
About the "DVI-D Cannot display this signal" as well as the Power Save Mode problem -- see these threads for more info --
http://forums.us.dell.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=dim_monitor&message.id=32811
http://forums.us.dell.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=dim_monitor&message.id=32814
http://forums.us.dell.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=dim_monitor&message.id=33299
The short answer is that, besides changing your video card, using a better quality DVI cable may improve matters. Unfortunately, as you can see in my last post above, a new cable isn't a completely reliable fix... I still get a blank bootup screen occasionally. As far as I know, Dell has not acknowledged the "DVI-D Cannot display this signal" problem at all. BFG says it isn't their problem either, by the way.
Sandy & Derek -- check your email for another link.
-- PaintedJaguar
Nuclear Bus
2 Posts
0
May 12th, 2004 10:00
Dear sandy,
If I were you, I'd send the whole thing back. There is something seriously wrong with a LOT of the dell flat panels. We tried to resolve this issue in a different forum here for the last six months. Finally, Dell got sick of us complaining and LOCKED THE THREAD so we couldn't comment anymore. Send it back. This is only the beginning. Don't wait until you've had it for 3 months and your issue is not fixed and then they won't take it back. Or maybe 3 months down the road in an effort to troubleshoot your problem they make you send back your nearly new dell flat panel and in return they send you a refurbished one that has the same problem. Send it back. Send it back now. Just my advice. Don't get stuck with it like all the rest of us.
Best Regards.
Sandy Pratt
9 Posts
0
May 12th, 2004 22:00
1. Bought a $50 dual-link Belkin DVI-D cable from Best Buy. At this point, I get POST and boot screens when I restart but I don't get them if I turn the computer and monitor entirely off then on again. I'm going to test some more. This was with the scaling on the driver set to "Display Adapter Scaling".
2. I went into the DOS prompt in Windows (win+R or "Run" > cmd > press alt+enter when the window opens), and it worked. I brought up the OSD and it said "DVI-D 1600x1200 @ 60hz". So it thinks it's still in it's native resolution. It was set to "Monitor Scaling" at this point.
3. While looking at the BIOS screen, the OSD still reported that it was at "DVI-D 1600x1200 @ 60hz"
4. Switched monitor to 1280x1024. Opened DOS prompt, went to full screen mode. OSD reported 1600x1200 even though Windows was running in 1280x1024 at the time.
5. The monitor can display any resolution on the list while in Windows, and the OSD usually reflects the resolution you set it to.
I'm a bit torn on it. It seems like a great gaming monitor, but the DVI thing and Dell's lack of response are big downers. The very faint horizontal lines are a little bothersome, but not too bad. I just don't know if I'm making a big mistake by keeping it.
rorosch
13 Posts
0
May 13th, 2004 04:00
Dont get obsessed by what I would call manageable technicalities. It is after all a great monitor and I personally spend most of my time in games or even some times more productive work and not rebooting the system.
I have an ATI card and the problem is somehow different, but finally all I have to do is wait for 15 seconds after switching on the PC to switch on the monitor (it sometimes goes blank after the boot sequence and when going into windows).
I also observed that the situation improved (it happens much less frequently) with the latest ATI drivers, which means to me that it is not entirely a Dell issue, but also a graphic cards problem in handling DVI mode in 1600x1200.
In summary I decided not to bother about this any longer and just enjoy the quality of the monitor.
Sandy Pratt
9 Posts
0
May 13th, 2004 05:00
BTW, does the "little horizontal lines" thing bother you at all? I never noticed them at all until I read a post about them in the forum, so I suspect I'll get used to them. I have to look hard to even notice what the posts are talking about, but they are there. My CRT was an aperature grille though, with the lines across the screen at the top and bottom, and I got so I never even noticed those.
Nuclear Bus
2 Posts
0
May 14th, 2004 13:00
...send it back... If you buy a brand new system, and some of it doesn't work right out of the box, send it back. You shouldn't have to spend time trying to figure out something like this. A lot of us have spent months trying to figure this out to no avail. Send it back. If I can convince even one person to return their junk while they still can, it would make my day.
N-B
Wayne_E
1 Message
0
June 7th, 2004 23:00
I have a FP2001 with a ASUS Radeon 9600SE running Windows XP on a home-built system and the DVI works 'ok', but acts differently every time I boot. I am also using the Dell supplied cable. (I actually just bought another cable, but need to return it. The new cable not only has the 'missing' 6 pins, but there are also additional pairs of pins on either side of the flat connector. This is ok for the DVI on my video card, but cannot be used on the monitor DVI)
Basically, there are four points that the monitor may or may not display: 1) Initial POST where memory and BIOS info show and you can enter setup; 2) second part of boot where PCI devices are displayed and you can boot from a CD; 3) inital WindowsXP splash screen; and 4) Window logon screen. Between each of these steps the screen will clear, but it is always a mystery as to whether the next step(s) will display. That is, I may see 1, but not 2/3/4; or see 1/3/4, but not 2; or see 3/4, but not 1/2; and occasionally not see 1/2/3/4 and need to reboot. Usually, as long as something displays, the worst I have to do is turn the monitor off and then back on and Windows will display ok. I have not experienced any of the other power-saver issues or any other problems while in Windows. I have the latest ATI Catalyst 4.5 driver and did not do the Dell recommended change to Reduce DVI Frequency.
I get the best results I turn on my LCD first and let the Genesys splash screen clear before powering on the computer. If I need to boot from a CD, I can also turn on my computer first and then wait a few seconds so that the LCD initialization completes while the Boot from CD prompt is waiting for a response. It is after the clearing of the display between each of the steps that you never know if the next will show. But if the monitor comes on during the step, it will show the output.
Anyway, there is definitely something wrong in the signaling between the video card and LCD. In my case, it appears to be whether or not the FP2001 responds again after whatever type of signal is used when the screen blanks between each of the 4 steps during startup. Not too much of a problem, mostly just a curiosity of what will or will not display every time I power up.
Sandy Pratt
9 Posts
0
June 8th, 2004 01:00
I should also note that my main problem with the 2001FP was lousy picture quality in 2D. It lookwed very grainy in Windows, and I think that's what really ruined it for me.