How to Troubleshoot a Dell Desktop Monitor

If you are experiencing any of the issues that are listed below, go to the appropriate guide in the sections below:

• Are you having issues with it not powering on?
• Are you having issues with the buttons?
• Are you having issues with it overheating?
• Are you having issues with abnormal noise?
• Are you having issues with the display?
• How do you identify if you are Monitor is in warranty?
• What information you require to log a call with your Technical Support?

Display issues might be caused due to hardware failure or software issues such as outdated or corrupt drivers, incorrect display settings, and so on.

Monitor Not Powering On

1. Is there any damage to the Monitor? If so, it is not covered under warranty, and you must purchase a replacement Monitor. If not, go to the next step.

2. Is the Monitor Power LED (PLED) on? If so what color is it?

   1. A Green PLED means that the monitor is getting power and a signal from the computer. Go to section 6 step 3.

   2. An Amber PLED means that the monitor is getting power but is not getting a signal from the computer. Go to section 6 step 3.

   3. No PLED means that the monitor is not getting power. Go to the next step.

3. Is the PLED on your computer on?

   1. If so, swap the Power Cord on your monitor with the Cord plugged into your computer, does the monitor now give a PLED? If not we can rule out everything external to your Monitor. You must contact your Technical support about a replacement if the Monitor is still under warranty.

   2. If not, check if you are getting power from other power sockets in the same location. If so move the devices to those sockets and test? You must confirm that the issue is not a general power outage. Or an issue with the power sockets you have the Power Cords plugged to, before you can take this further.

Buttons on Monitor do not work

1. Is there any damage to the Buttons? If so it is not covered under warranty, and you must purchase a replacement Monitor. If not, go to the next step.

2. Do the buttons not work when pressed or are they physically stuck so that they cannot be operated?

   1. If the buttons do not work when pressed, disconnect all cables other than the Power Cord and try the following:

      1. For monitors manufactured before 2009, press and hold the menu select button. If the menu comes up - reset the factory defaults and test if this resolves your problem? If not then you must contact your technical support to take this further.

      2. For monitors manufactured between 2009 and March 2016, press and hold buttons1 and 4 simultaneously for two (2) seconds. If self-diagnostics appear, run them and reset the monitor to defaults if they pass. If not then contact your technical support with the error and troubleshooting done.

      3. For monitors manufactured after March 2016, press and hold button1 for five (5) seconds. If self-diagnostics appear, run them and reset the monitor to defaults if they pass. If not then contact your technical support with the error and troubleshooting done.

   2. If the buttons are stuck, then you must contact your Technical Support about a replacement if the Monitor is still under warranty.

The Monitor is overheating and shutting off

1. Is the monitor shutting down in use?

   1. If it does, disconnect all cables other than the Power Cord and advise if the issue continues when it is not plugged to the computer? If it does not, then replace the cables and test if the issue returns. If it does, then contact your Technical Support to see if you are covered for a replacement.

   2. If it does not, have you checked for any external environmental issue or if any power save modes have been configured? Is the Monitor powered off when not in use? Is there sufficient airflow around the Monitor when in use? Is the location having issues with heat that might affect the equipment that is used in that area? I would advise contacting your Technical Support to go over this with you.

2. Is the screen warmer than an identical Monitor that has been on for the same amount of time? Is the monitor too hot to touch? If so contact your Technical Support to confirm if your eligible for a replacement. If not, it would be considered to be working ok.

The Monitor is making an Abnormal noise

1. Is there any damage to the Monitor? If so it is not covered under warranty, and you must purchase a replacement Monitor. If not, go to the next step.

2. Isolate the Monitor from the computer by disconnecting all cables other than the Power cord and test does the noise continue?

   1. If it continues, go to section 5 step 3.

   2. If it does not, troubleshoot the computer instead, and you can find a guide for that on the link below:

      • A guide to identifying the source of an Abnormal Noise on a Dell computer

3. Is the noise louder and different to the noise an identical Monitor makes?

   1. If it is, then contact your Technical Support to check if you are covered for a replacement.

   2. If it is not, then it would be considered to be working ok.

There is a Monitor Display Fault

1. Is there any damage to the Monitor? If so it is not covered under warranty, and you must purchase a replacement Monitor. If not, go to the next step.

2. Disconnect all cables other than the Power Cord and try the following:

   1. For monitors manufactured before 2009, press and hold the menu select button. If the menu comes up - reset the factory defaults and test if this resolves your problem? If not then you must contact your technical support to take this further.

   2. For monitors manufactured between 2009 and March 2016, press and hold buttons1 and 4 simultaneously for two (2) seconds. If self-diagnostics appear, run them and reset the monitor to defaults if they pass. If not then contact your technical support with the error and troubleshooting done.

   3. For monitors manufactured after March 2016, press and hold button1 for five (5) seconds. If self-diagnostics appear, run them and reset the monitor to defaults if they pass. If not then contact your technical support with the error and troubleshooting done.

   4. If the self-test passes, swap out your Video cable and test if the issue is resolved. If so contact your technical support for a replacement cable if you are still in warranty. If it is still showing the same issue, proceed with the next step.

Display Faults are issues like Lines, Distortions, Occlusions, and No Displays.

3. Plug your Monitor to another known working computer, where it is known to be working fine with its own Monitor. Does your Monitor work ok when plugged to that computer?

   1. If so, then you must troubleshoot a No Post or No Video Issue with your computer. You can find a Guide on the link below. Your Monitor is fine.

      • No POST, No Power, No Video on a Dell OptiPlex or Vostro Desktop Computer

   2. If not then you must contact your technical support to check if you are covered for a replacement Monitor.

Is your Monitor covered under your Warranty?

Monitors are now sold with three (3) years warranty as standard. If your Monitor is under three years old, it is automatically in warranty as that is now the shortest possible warranty period.

Monitors that are purchased in a bundle with a computer take on the warranty of that computer. They can be covered for up to five (5) years, as long as the computer is in warranty.

You can tell how old your monitor is by looking at the manufacturing date on the back of the Monitor itself.

The Information that you must log a service call

Most Monitors do not have an individual Service Tag.

You must note down the Monitor serial number. Monitors have a Serial number which has a specific format:

• Two letters with a dash
• A mix of six letters and numbers
• A dash and five numbers
• Three letters and numbers 
• Another dash and then four letters and numbers
• Followed by a dash with a revision number

XX-XXXXXX-XXXXX-XXX-XXXX-A0X

(Figure.1 Serial Number Label)

You need either the Order Number that the monitor was purchased against or you require the Service Tag of the computer it was bought with.

You must be able to confirm the account details the Monitor is registered against.

For example: Company and/or Organization name, Shipping Address, or any other information registered against the order.

You must be able to go through the troubleshooting that was done and the results you got.

With this information, a Technical Agent can log a case for you. They take you through whether there are any problems with the warranty or log a service call with you.

Recommended Articles

Here are some recommended articles related to this topic that might be of interest to you.

• How to Troubleshoot Display or Video Issues on a Dell Monitor
• Monitor Has No Power, and the Power LED is Off
• How to Change the Video Settings or Improve Text in Windows 11 and Windows 10
• No POST, No Power, No Video on a Dell Desktop Computer
• Troubleshooting video issues with a Graphics card fitted in a Dell Desktop Computer