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How to Run the Dell Monitor Built-in Diagnostics

Summary: The following article takes you through the various integrated diagnostics that are built into the various generations of Dell Monitors.

This article applies to This article does not apply to This article is not tied to any specific product. Not all product versions are identified in this article.
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Instructions

Diagnostic tests built into the various Dell Monitors over the years

 

The Built-in Diagnostic (BID) or the Built-In Self-Test (BIST) helps determine any screen abnormalities. (Is it an internal problem with the Dell monitor, a graphics card (GPU), or a computer settings issue.) The functionality of the Monitor is confirmed by looking for symptoms during the diagnostic mode.

Example: If you are seeing vertical lines, you can check if they are visible during the BID or BIST. Any lines visible during the diagnostic indicate a problem with the monitor. If you cannot see any lines, then the monitor is fine. (The issue could be with the graphics card or the computer settings.)

The following common issues can be diagnosed using BID or BIST:

  • Horizontal or vertical lines
  • Distorted images or videos
  • Backlight (dim)
  • Color bleeding or clouding
  • Screen flickering

Monitor Service Manuals are available on the Dell Support Website. These documents are the best source of model-specific instructions.

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NOTE: The monitor you use may have a different button configuration or these instructions may not initiate the Built-in-Diagnostic or Built-in-Self-Test checks.
 

Monitors with a Joystick:

  1. Ensure that the screen is clean. (That there are no dust particles on the surface of the screen.)

  2. Press the joystick to launch the On-Screen Display (OSD) Menu Launcher.

    Joystick on rear of monitor

  3. Move the joystick up to select and open the Main Menu.

    Navigation arrows

  4. Move the joystick to navigate and select Others and then Self-Diagnostic to initiate the BID.

    On-Screen Menu

  5. When a solid gray screen appears, inspect the screen for abnormalities.

  6. Tap the joystick again. The color of the screen changes to solid red. When the red screen appears, carefully inspect the screen for abnormalities.

  7. Repeat step six to inspect the display in solid green, solid blue, solid black, solid white, and then on-screen text.

  8. Tap the joystick to exit the test.

  9. If you do not detect any screen abnormalities during the BID pattern, the monitor is functioning properly. Go troubleshoot the graphics card and computer.

Monitors without a Joystick:

  1. Ensure that the screen is clean. (That there are no dust particles on the surface of the screen.)

  2. Press the Menu button to launch the OSD menu.

    Menu Buttons

  3. Use the front panel buttons to go to Diagnostics.

    Front Panel Buttons

  4. Select Others and then Self-Diagnostic to initiate the BID.

    On-Screen Menu

  5. When the solid gray screen appears, inspect the screen for abnormalities.

  6. Press the front panel button again. The color of the screen changes to solid red. Inspect the screen for abnormalities.

  7. Repeat step six to inspect the display in solid green, solid blue, solid black, solid white, and then on-screen text.

  8. Press the front panel button to exit the test.

  9. If you do not detect any screen abnormalities during the BID pattern, the monitor is functioning properly. Go troubleshoot the graphics card and computer.

Alienware Monitors with a Joystick, without Function Buttons:

  1. Ensure that the screen is clean. (That there are no dust particles on the surface of the screen.)

  2. Press the joystick to launch the On-Screen Display (OSD) Menu Launcher.

    The joystick is under the monitor

  3. Move the joystick up to select and open the Main Menu.

    Navigation Arrows

  4. Move the joystick to navigate and select Others and then Self-Diagnostic to initiate the BID.

    On-Screen Menu

  5. When a solid gray screen appears, inspect the screen for abnormalities.

  6. Tap the joystick again. The color of the screen changes to solid red. When the red screen appears, carefully inspect the screen for abnormalities.

  7. Repeat step six to inspect the display in solid green, solid blue, solid black, solid white, and then on-screen text.

  8. Tap the joystick to exit the test.

  9. If you do not detect any screen abnormalities during the BID pattern, the monitor is functioning properly. Go troubleshoot the graphics card and computer.

Portable Monitors with ComfortView:

NOTE: The C1422H and P1424H monitors from Dell are portable monitors with folding bases that support the blue light reduction function.

  1. Ensure that the screen is clean. (That there are no dust particles on the surface of the screen.)

  2. The ComfortView button is marked with the icon of an eye. The button is on the left-hand side of the folding base.

    The ComfortView button is situated on the folding base of the Monitor

  3. Press and hold the ComfortView button for about three seconds to launch the On-Screen diagnostic pattern.

    The buttons on the left-hand side of the base

1 ComfortView Button 2 Brightness Rocker + (Increase)
3 Brightness Rocker - (Decrease)    
 

  1. When a solid gray screen appears, inspect the screen for abnormalities.

  2. Use the brightness button + to change through the remaining test patterns.

  3. Repeat steps four and five to inspect the display in solid red, solid green, solid blue, solid black, solid white, and then on-screen text.

  4. Use the brightness button + again to exit the test screens.

  5. If you do not detect any screen abnormalities during the BID pattern, the monitor is functioning properly. Go troubleshoot the graphics card and computer.

NOTE: The monitor you use may have a different button configuration or these instructions may not initiate the Built-in-Diagnostic or Built-in-Self-Test checks.
 

Monitors without a Joystick:

  1. Ensure that the screen is clean. (That there are no dust particles on the surface of the screen.)

NOTE: The following models U2520D, U2520DR, and UP2720Q can only run the integrated diagnostics with the video cable unplugged. The monitor must be in self-test mode.

  1. Press and hold the button to the left of the Power Button for four seconds until a menu appears.

    Front Panel Buttons

  2. Select the diagnostic tool to start the BIST pattern.

    On-Screen Icon

  3. When a solid gray screen appears, inspect the screen for abnormalities.

  4. Press the first button (one). (The button furthest away from the power button.) The color of the screen changes to solid red. When a solid red screen appears, carefully inspect the screen for abnormalities.

    Front Panel Buttons

  5. Repeat step five to inspect the display in solid green, solid blue, solid black, solid white, and then on-screen text.

  6. Press the first button (one) again, to exit the test.

  7. If you do not detect any screen abnormalities during the BIST pattern, the monitor is functioning properly. Go troubleshoot the graphics card and computer.

Monitors with a Joystick: (Non-Gaming)

  1. Ensure that the screen is clean. (That there are no dust particles on the surface of the screen.)

  2. Touch and hold the joystick up, down, left, or right for about four seconds until a menu appears.

    Joystick on the rear of the monitor

NOTE: Do not press the center of the joystick or move your finger when tapping and holding the joystick up, down, left, or right.

  1. Tap the joystick to highlight the Diagnostics icon. Press the center of the joystick to start the BIST pattern.

    Navigation arrows

  2. When the solid gray screen appears, inspect the screen for abnormalities.

  3. Press the center of the joystick again. The color of the screen changes to solid red. Inspect the screen for abnormalities.

  4. Repeat step five to inspect the display in solid green, solid blue, solid black, solid white, and then on-screen text.

  5. Press the center of the joystick again to exit the test.

  6. If you do not detect any screen abnormalities during the BIST pattern, the monitor is functioning properly. Go troubleshoot the graphics card and computer.

Monitors with a Joystick and Function buttons that support Free sync: (S-series, Gaming, and Alienware)

  1. Ensure that the screen is clean. (That there are no dust particles on the surface of the screen.)

NOTE: Alienware series models can only run the integrated diagnostics with the video cable unplugged. The monitor must be in self-test mode. The letter F in the monitor model indicates that it supports the Free sync function. (Example models: S2421HGF, AW2720HF, AW2521HF, and AW2521HFL.)

  1. Press and hold the fifth button (five) for four seconds until a menu appears.

    Joystick, buttons and menu

  2. Tap the joystick (button 1) to highlight the Diagnostics icon. Press the center of the joystick to start the BIST pattern. A solid gray screen is displayed.

    Joystick, Menu and Buttons

  3. When the solid gray screen appears, inspect the screen for abnormalities.

  4. Press the center of the joystick again. The color of the screen changes to solid red. Inspect the screen for abnormalities.

  5. Repeat step five to inspect the display in solid green, solid blue, solid black, and solid white.

  6. Press the center of the joystick again to exit the test.

  7. If you do not detect any screen abnormalities during the BIST pattern, the monitor is functioning properly. Go troubleshoot the graphics card and computer.

Monitors with a Joystick and Function buttons that support G-sync: (S-Series, Gaming, and Alienware)

  1. Ensure that the screen is clean. (That there are no dust particles on the surface of the screen.)

NOTE: Alienware series models can only run the integrated diagnostics with the video cable unplugged. The monitor must be in self-test mode. G-Sync models do not show the on-screen text pattern during the BIST. (Example models: AW3420DW, AW2521H, AW2721D, and AW3821DW.)

  1. Press and hold the third button (three) for five seconds to start the BIST pattern. A solid gray screen appears after one second.

    Joystick and Buttons

  2. When the solid gray screen appears, inspect the screen for abnormalities.

  3. Press the third button (three) again. The color of the screen changes to solid red. Inspect the screen for abnormalities.

  4. Repeat step four to inspect the display in solid green, solid blue, solid black, and solid white.

  5. Press the third button (three) to exit the test after the solid white screen appears.

  6. If you do not detect any screen abnormalities during the BIST pattern, the monitor is functioning properly. Go troubleshoot the graphics card and computer.

Large Interactive Monitors:

  1. Ensure that the screen is clean. (That there are no dust particles on the surface of the screen.)

  2. Touch and hold the seventh button (seven) for five seconds in lock Select Option.

    Monitor Settings Touch Buttons

  3. Touch the self-inspection icon. A solid gray screen appears.

    Self-Inspection Icon

  4. When the solid gray screen appears, inspect the screen for abnormalities.

  5. Touch the front panel. The color of the screen changes to solid red. Inspect the screen for abnormalities.

  6. Repeat step five to inspect the display in solid green, solid blue, solid black, solid white, and then on-screen text.

  7. Press the front panel to exit the test after the text screen appears.

  8. If you do not detect any screen abnormalities during the BIST pattern, the monitor is functioning properly. Go troubleshoot the graphics card and computer.

Alienware:

  1. Ensure that the screen is clean. (That there are no dust particles on the surface of the screen.)

  2. Unplug all video cables from the rear of the monitor. The monitor goes into the self-test mode.

  3. Press and hold the third button (three) for five seconds to start the BIST pattern.

    Front Panel buttons with Button three highlighted

  4. When the solid gray screen appears, inspect the screen for abnormalities.

  5. Press the third button (three) again. The color of the screen changes to solid red. Inspect the screen for abnormalities.

  6. Repeat step five to inspect the display in solid green, solid blue, solid black, solid white, and then on-screen text.

  7. Press the third button (three) to exit the test.

  8. If you do not detect any screen abnormalities during the BIST pattern, the monitor is functioning properly. Go troubleshoot the graphics card and computer.

Monitors manufactured from March 2016 through 2019:

  1. Ensure that the screen is clean. (That there are no dust particles on the surface of the screen.)

  2. Unplug all video cables from the rear of the monitor. The monitor goes into the self-test mode.

  3. Press and hold the first button (one) for five seconds to start the BIST pattern.

    Front Panel with Button One Highlighted

  4. When the gray screen appears, inspect the screen for abnormalities.

  5. Press the button one again. The color of the screen changes to red. Inspect the screen for abnormalities.

  6. Repeat step five to inspect the display in green, blue, black, white, and text.

  7. Press the button one to exit the test.

  8. If you do not detect any screen abnormalities during the BIST pattern, the monitor is functioning properly. Check the graphics card and computer.

Monitors manufactured before March 2016:

  1. Ensure that the screen is clean. (That there are no dust particles on the surface of the screen.)

  2. Unplug all video cables from the rear of the monitor. The monitor goes into the self-test mode.

  3. Press and hold both the first button (one) and the fourth button (four) simultaneously for two seconds to start the BIST pattern.

    Front Panel with Buttons One and Four highlighted

  4. When a solid gray screen appears, inspect the screen for abnormalities.

  5. Press the first button (one). The color of the screen changes to solid red. When a solid red screen appears, carefully inspect the screen for abnormalities.

  6. Repeat step five to inspect the display in solid green, solid blue, solid black, solid white, and then on-screen text.

  7. Press the first button (one) to exit the test.

  8. If you do not detect any screen abnormalities during the BIST pattern, the monitor is functioning properly. Go troubleshoot the graphics card and computer.

If you rule out the monitor, then you must switch to troubleshooting the computer and any graphics cards that are in use. You can use the following knowledge base articles:


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Affected Products

Alienware and Dell Gaming Monitors, C Series, D Series, E Series, Legacy Monitors, P Series, S Series, SE Series, UltraSharp Premier (UP) Series, UltraSharp (U) Series
Article Properties
Article Number: 000213901
Article Type: How To
Last Modified: 18 okt 2024
Version:  6
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