Monitor Settings

TheBurg,

Thank you for using the Dell Community Forum.

It sounds like you need to install the video card drivers back into the system in order to be able to change to other resolutions and colors.

Actually the 2001FP CD does include the driver install.exe. And if you're running your monitor in DVI-D mode, the majority of the "monitor adjustments" in the OSD monitor setup listings aren't enabled. Pixel clock and phase adjustments are only available for D-Sub input (as stated in the user guide: ....."Note: Pixel Clock and Phase Adjustments are only available for D-Sub input.".....).

See the 2001FP user info here: http://docs.us.dell.com/support/edocs/monitors/2001fp/en/controls.htm

Message Edited by VCraig on 11-17-2004 08:15 PM

Thanks for the input from both of you guys. I guess I'm going to have to try and learn more about my system because I don't even know what DVI-D means LOL. All I know is I unhooked the 15"FP that came with the system and hooked up the 2001FP using the diagram in the box. I used the cable with the BLUE ends (it came with white also) and I did plug in the USB cable that came with it even though I don't know what I'd ever hook to the ports in the monitor. Turned the power back on and had no options to set pixels or anything else like I had with the 15"FP. I did put the CD in that came with the monitor but saw no where on it any drivers. It was all informatinal stuff. My problem now is, do I use the disk that came with the system originally to find the drivers or should I down load the specific drivers from the Dell site for the new monitor. Actually, I was told by our systems guys here at work that I don't need the Monitor drivers, I need to reload the Video drivers. As usual, I have my normal "deer in the headlights" look at the moment LOL.

First, the 2001FP is capable of both VGA (analog) and DVI-D (digital) display. Hooking up your monitor with the BLUE cable means you plugged it into the VGA (analog) output of your video card. And, with all due respect to your associates, you do need the monitor driver (not to be confused with the video card driver) for your video card to recognize your monitor as a DELL 2001FP vs a generic "plug and play" monitor. And from your description it sounds like your video card only has one output connector which would be VGA. You have to set the 2001FP monitor input for VGA using the left-most button with 2 LED lights on either side of it. Setting the monitor for the type of input plus how to load the driver from the CD is explained in the 2001FP user guide on the CD or online at DELL here:

http://docs.us.dell.com/support/edocs/monitors/2001fp/en/index.htm

Message Edited by VCraig on 11-18-2004 10:32 AM

Wow, thanks for all the great information. I was able to get the video drivers loaded again which made setting the pixels possible. Now that everything "fits" on the screen like I think it should, I just have one more question. While my pictures from "My Pictures" folder look real good and sharp, when I go into my email accounts or some other sites that have pictures, the pictures look real grainy. I guess I don't understand why "my" pictures would look great but not the pictures on these types of sites. My wife even commented that when she is shopping (looking around actually) on line, all of the pictures are not very sharp. However, I love the way the icons and font look on my desktop. Would reloading the monitor drivers OR choosing the right input mode as you mentioned above have an effect on these types of images? Thanks so much for your time. It's really appreciated!

I'm running my 2001FP in DVI mode at the monitor's native resolution of 1600x1200x32 bit color, not VGA mode (analog) like you have yours, but I would venture to guess the 2001FP native 1600x1200 screen resolution is what you should have your monitor set to for best image regardless of source. Again, this is only an opinion as I haven't tried running my FP in VGA mode. Just experiment with various resolutions and see what happens. As an aside, and for comparison, all images, from all sources (web sites, games, applications, etc...) are excellent running my 2001FP at the 1600x1200 monitor native resolution. But, again, this is DVI mode.  

Just another comment - my wife's (DELL) laptop LCD native resolution is 1024x768 and all image sources are fine at that resolution, but, she has a favorite game that only runs at 800x600 and the image is no where near as good as everything else at 1024x768. Point being, running your 2001FP at 1600x1200 even in VGA mode (if your video card will support this high of a resolution) may be what you need to do.

Message Edited by VCraig on 11-22-2004 02:23 PM

O.K., I've got everything set finally. In the display settings it's now showing Dell 2001FP monitor instead of Plug and Play. I've got my settings at 1600X1200 with 32bit color and per the instruction CD, refresh rate at 60Hz. Here comes the next "novice" question. Once I made all of the current settings, everything on the screen got real small and "shifted" towards the upper left of the screen. The icons and the font are miniscual. I tried going back to 800X600, which fills the entire screen and makes the font and icons bigger, but the sharpness of the pictures gets bad again. Any way to leave it set at 1600X1200 to get the picture clarity AND get normal sized font and icons? Oh, the tool bar across the bottom also got real "short". It's like maybe an 8th of an inch tall now where it was almost 1/2 an inch tall at 800X600. Sorry for being so ingnorant of how these things work, but you have already taught me a lot and I truly appreciate it.