Plug and Play detection of Monitor

[Ken]

I have a Gigabyte 7VM400M - RZ motherboard and am running XP Pro. I
have changed the monitor to a BENQ 900W wide screen but it would seem
that the screen is not being detected by Plug and Play.
Only "Default Monitor" is shown and I cannot adjust the resolution to
the wide screen resolution. The monitor came with a CD containing
drivers and instructions on how to load the drivers but in the Device
Manager window there is no entry for Display adapter or for Monitor so
there is no means of loading drivers.

How can I get the new screen recognised and the driver loaded.

 

[philo]

I have a Gigabyte 7VM400M - RZ motherboard and am running XP Pro. I
have changed the monitor to a BENQ 900W wide screen but it would seem
that the screen is not being detected by Plug and Play.
Only "Default Monitor" is shown and I cannot adjust the resolution to
the wide screen resolution. The monitor came with a CD containing
drivers and instructions on how to load the drivers but in the Device
Manager window there is no entry for Display adapter or for Monitor so
there is no means of loading drivers.

How can I get the new screen recognised and the driver loaded.

"Default Monitor" is fine for virtually all monitors
(except the touch screen variety)

The problem is simply with the video resolution...
so it a matter of the setting of your video card.

Look at the specifications that came with your monitor and find the
recommended setting or "native resolution".

Now...right click on your desktop...go to

properties

settings

screen area


Now move the slider to the recommended setting for your monitor.

Unless you have a very old video card, the resolution you need should be
available.

If for any reason that specific setting is not present in your list of
choices...
I'd try going to the website of your video card's manufacturer and get the
latest drivers for your card...
then install them

 

[Paul]

I have a Gigabyte 7VM400M - RZ motherboard and am running XP Pro. I
have changed the monitor to a BENQ 900W wide screen but it would seem
that the screen is not being detected by Plug and Play.
Only "Default Monitor" is shown and I cannot adjust the resolution to
the wide screen resolution. The monitor came with a CD containing
drivers and instructions on how to load the drivers but in the Device
Manager window there is no entry for Display adapter or for Monitor so
there is no means of loading drivers.

How can I get the new screen recognised and the driver loaded.

Is that the G900W ? 1440 x 900 ?

http://www.benq.com/products/LCD/?product=1280&page=specifications

The user manual mentions a "monitor driver", but their web site
doesn't offer one for download. Better check for a CD that came
with the monitor for that.

ftp://12.145.38.159/monitor%2flcd%2fmanuals%2fg900%5fg900w%5fg2000w%2epdf

This is an example for another monitor, the FP93G. Benq doesn't
seem to be putting drivers on their FTP site for newer monitors.
What you would try, is right click on the INF file in the ZIP,
and select "install" as the option. Install might be the option
right under the highlighted "open" option (at least on Win2K it
is).

ftp://12.145.38.159/monitor/lcd/drivers/fp93g/FP93G.zip

Before installing the driver, you can also try this.

To test to see whether the EDID monitor information is coming
across the DDC serial link inside the monitor cable, try this
tool.

http://www.entechtaiwan.com/util/moninfo.shtm

Normally, the information on the EDID, should be enough to
identify the monitor. If the Entechtaiwan tool can see the
monitor, then there should be a page of returned info.

Installing the monitor driver, does a couple things. It
usually sets a registry entry, for max resolution. It
also installs the ICM file, which presumably has some
color management information. (Something that Photoshop
might consult.) It allows making gross color corrections
for the tendencies of the monitor. For example, if the
monitor was "blue" by nature, then they could reduce the
blue a bit in Photoshop, to make pictures match the real
thing.

Nvidia and ATI have the capability to set a custom
resolution. Powerstrip from Entechtaiwan ($) can do
that. Nvidia, in the classic control panel, has a
custom resolution dialog. With ATI, there can be a
list of resolutions you can get to show up in a
menu. So there are ways to try to deal with it.

Powerstrip is for cases where all else fails.

So try the monitor driver first, and select "install"
when right-clicked on the INF on the driver CD.

Paul

 

[philo]

Is that the G900W ? 1440 x 900 ?

http://www.benq.com/products/LCD/?product=1280&page=specifications

The user manual mentions a "monitor driver", but their web site
doesn't offer one for download. Better check for a CD that came
with the monitor for that.

ftp://12.145.38.159/monitor%2flcd%2fmanuals%2fg900%5fg900w%5fg2000w%2epdf

This is an example for another monitor, the FP93G. Benq doesn't
seem to be putting drivers on their FTP site for newer monitors.
What you would try, is right click on the INF file in the ZIP,
and select "install" as the option. Install might be the option
right under the highlighted "open" option (at least on Win2K it
is).

ftp://12.145.38.159/monitor/lcd/drivers/fp93g/FP93G.zip

Before installing the driver, you can also try this.

To test to see whether the EDID monitor information is coming
across the DDC serial link inside the monitor cable, try this
tool.

http://www.entechtaiwan.com/util/moninfo.shtm

Normally, the information on the EDID, should be enough to
identify the monitor. If the Entechtaiwan tool can see the
monitor, then there should be a page of returned info.

Installing the monitor driver, does a couple things. It
usually sets a registry entry, for max resolution. It
also installs the ICM file, which presumably has some
color management information. (Something that Photoshop
might consult.) It allows making gross color corrections
for the tendencies of the monitor. For example, if the
monitor was "blue" by nature, then they could reduce the
blue a bit in Photoshop, to make pictures match the real
thing.

Nvidia and ATI have the capability to set a custom
resolution. Powerstrip from Entechtaiwan ($) can do
that. Nvidia, in the classic control panel, has a
custom resolution dialog. With ATI, there can be a
list of resolutions you can get to show up in a
menu. So there are ways to try to deal with it.

Powerstrip is for cases where all else fails.

So try the monitor driver first, and select "install"
when right-clicked on the INF on the driver CD.

Paul

You have supplied a lot of good info there.
I went back an re-read the OP's post and now see that the video adaptor is
not even installed...
so that would need to be sorted out first.

XP is very good at configuring video and will generally give at least
acceptable results
even using it's built-in...so called generic drivers...
but the video card will definatly need to be properly installed .

So what's needed is to determine exactly what video card is in the machine
and installing the latest drivers for it.

 

[Paul]

You have supplied a lot of good info there.
I went back an re-read the OP's post and now see that the video adaptor is
not even installed...
so that would need to be sorted out first.

XP is very good at configuring video and will generally give at least
acceptable results
even using it's built-in...so called generic drivers...
but the video card will definatly need to be properly installed .

So what's needed is to determine exactly what video card is in the machine
and installing the latest drivers for it.

I basically had the OP's symptoms when I changed from a CRT
to an LCD. My chipset drivers, video card drivers and DirectX
had been in place for some time. The EDID actually worked (moninfo
could see it), but the control panel still showed the monitor as
"default", and did not name it.

Once I installed the NEC monitor driver (only a 6KB download) for
my new LCD, then it was properly named in the control panel.

That is why I suspect, all that is needed, is to use the monitor
driver on the CD. I don't know why my Win2K install would not use
the EDID information without me having to help it. My Win2K is
up to SP4 and is regularly updated in Windows Update.

Paul

 

[philo]

I basically had the OP's symptoms when I changed from a CRT
to an LCD. My chipset drivers, video card drivers and DirectX
had been in place for some time. The EDID actually worked (moninfo
could see it), but the control panel still showed the monitor as
"default", and did not name it.

Once I installed the NEC monitor driver (only a 6KB download) for
my new LCD, then it was properly named in the control panel.

That is why I suspect, all that is needed, is to use the monitor
driver on the CD. I don't know why my Win2K install would not use
the EDID information without me having to help it. My Win2K is
up to SP4 and is regularly updated in Windows Update.

Paul

I know it's not a bad idea of course to install the monitor driver
that came with it...
but I've setup plenty of LCD's and never had to do so for it to work
properly...
of course, most of the machines I setup have Photoshop on them and use the
Adobe gamma loader

 

[Ken]

Is that the G900W ? 1440 x 900 ?

http://www.benq.com/products/LCD/?product=1280&page=specifications

The user manual mentions a "monitor driver", but their web site
doesn't offer one for download. Better check for a CD that came
with the monitor for that.

ftp://12.145.38.159/monitor%2flcd%2fmanuals%2fg900%5fg900w%5fg2000w%2...

This is an example for another monitor, the FP93G. Benq doesn't
seem to be putting drivers on their FTP site for newer monitors.
What you would try, is right click on the INF file in the ZIP,
and select "install" as the option. Install might be the option
right under the highlighted "open" option (at least on Win2K it
is).

ftp://12.145.38.159/monitor/lcd/drivers/fp93g/FP93G.zip

Before installing the driver, you can also try this.

To test to see whether the EDID monitor information is coming
across the DDC serial link inside the monitor cable, try this
tool.

http://www.entechtaiwan.com/util/moninfo.shtm

Normally, the information on the EDID, should be enough to
identify the monitor. If the Entechtaiwan tool can see the
monitor, then there should be a page of returned info.

Installing the monitor driver, does a couple things. It
usually sets a registry entry, for max resolution. It
also installs the ICM file, which presumably has some
color management information. (Something that Photoshop
might consult.) It allows making gross color corrections
for the tendencies of the monitor. For example, if the
monitor was "blue" by nature, then they could reduce the
blue a bit in Photoshop, to make pictures match the real
thing.

Nvidia and ATI have the capability to set a custom
resolution. Powerstrip from Entechtaiwan ($) can do
that. Nvidia, in the classic control panel, has a
custom resolution dialog. With ATI, there can be a
list of resolutions you can get to show up in a
menu. So there are ways to try to deal with it.

Powerstrip is for cases where all else fails.

So try the monitor driver first, and select "install"
when right-clicked on the INF on the driver CD.

Paul

The monitor is a G900W with 1440 x 900 resolution. The BENQ site has
drivers which seem to be the same as those on the CD that came with
the monitor.
Right clicking the .inf file that is included with the driver and
selecting install does nothing apparent - perhaps it is installing the
driver but because plug and play is not detecting the monitor I cannot
see the driver.
I have downloaded the Monitor Asset Manager and will see what it
shows.

 

[philo]

The monitor is a G900W with 1440 x 900 resolution. The BENQ site has
drivers which seem to be the same as those on the CD that came with
the monitor.
Right clicking the .inf file that is included with the driver and
selecting install does nothing apparent - perhaps it is installing the
driver but because plug and play is not detecting the monitor I cannot
see the driver.
I have downloaded the Monitor Asset Manager and will see what it
shows.

But the installation of your video card or display adaptor is essential
if you want to get it working. I'd really concentrate on that first.
If your video card cannot be set to 1440 x 900
there is nothing monitor related you can do to make it so

 

[Ken]

<snip>







But the installation of your video card or display adaptor is essential
if you want to get it working. I'd really concentrate on that first.
If your video card cannot be set to 1440 x 900
there is nothing monitor related you can do to make it so

All I know is that the motherboard has a built in adapter using the
UniChrome graphics engine according to the Gigabyte website. There is
no adapter showing up in the hardware list.

 

[philo]

All I know is that the motherboard has a built in adapter using the
UniChrome graphics engine according to the Gigabyte website. There is
no adapter showing up in the hardware list.

If you know the exact model of your motherboard
you should ber able to go to the website and download the correct driver
for your on-board graphics...
once that;s installed, hopefully things will get better.

Just out of curiosity.
what does it show if you right click on the desktop
and look at properties ===> settings ?

 

[Ken]

If you know the exact model of your motherboard
you should ber able to go to the website and download the correct driver
for your on-board graphics...
once that;s installed, hopefully things will get better.

Just out of curiosity.
what does it show if you right click on the desktop
and look at properties ===> settings ?

Settings shows the display as Default Monitor and if I click on
Advanced then there is no Adapter tab and the Monitor tab gives a
Monitor type of Default Monitor and the Properties button is shown as
disabled (grayed out)

 

[Paul]

Settings shows the display as Default Monitor and if I click on
Advanced then there is no Adapter tab and the Monitor tab gives a
Monitor type of Default Monitor and the Properties button is shown as
disabled (grayed out)

The chipset is KM400, and that is what drives the VGA connector
in the I/O area on the back of the motherboard. So far, I'm not
seeing encouraging things about KM400. But I also cannot find
a list of resolutions to go by. It could be that 1280x768 or some
other weird resolution, is as close as you're going to get.

There is an "openchrome" driver for Linux, and it claims to have
fixed dotclock values for the KM400 series. It is unclear if that
is an indication of fixed resolution choices or not.

It could take adding an AGP or PCI video card, to get better output
options. But first, you'll have to play with the driver you
got, and see what it offers.

If you run out of drivers to play with, try viaarena.com and
its download section.

http://www.viaarena.com/default.aspx?PageID=420&OSID=1&CatID=1160&SubCatID=102

(Click the icon to start the download, or use this URL)
http://downloads.viaarena.com/drivers/video/KN_KM400/KM400_16942416_XP_wIShld_logod.zip

Powerstrip won't work with the KM400.

Paul

 

[philo]

Settings shows the display as Default Monitor and if I click on
Advanced then there is no Adapter tab and the Monitor tab gives a
Monitor type of Default Monitor and the Properties button is shown as
disabled (grayed out)

Then you will definately need to get the drivers for your video card and
install them...
that should sort things out

 

[Ken]

The chipset is KM400, and that is what drives the VGA connector
in the I/O area on the back of the motherboard. So far, I'm not
seeing encouraging things about KM400. But I also cannot find
a list of resolutions to go by. It could be that 1280x768 or some
other weird resolution, is as close as you're going to get.

There is an "openchrome" driver for Linux, and it claims to have
fixed dotclock values for the KM400 series. It is unclear if that
is an indication of fixed resolution choices or not.

It could take adding an AGP or PCI video card, to get better output
options. But first, you'll have to play with the driver you
got, and see what it offers.

If you run out of drivers to play with, try viaarena.com and
its download section.

http://www.viaarena.com/default.aspx?PageID=420&OSID=1&CatID=1160&Sub...

(Click the icon to start the download, or use this URL)http://downloads.viaarena.com/drivers/video/KN_KM400/KM400_16942416_X...

Powerstrip won't work with the KM400.

Paul

You are right about the nearest resolution being 1280 x 768. I will
try the drivers from viaarena which has drivers for the KM400 chipset.
I note that S3 have a recent driver update for the 400 series chipset
and I will also try it.

 

[Cari \(MS-MVP\)]

Reinstall the drivers for your graphics card.

 

[Ken]

Then you will definately need to get the drivers for your video card and
install them...
that should sort things out

Installed the Viaarena driver that Paul suggested and lo and behold, I
now have Adapter and Monitor tabs in Settings/Advanced. Furthermore,
plug n play now detects the Benq monitor.

I then installed the Q900W driver for the monitor but I still cannot
get 1440x900 resolution. The resolution options are the same as
before.

Any ideas as to what to try next?

 

[Paul]

Installed the Viaarena driver that Paul suggested and lo and behold, I
now have Adapter and Monitor tabs in Settings/Advanced. Furthermore,
plug n play now detects the Benq monitor.

I then installed the Q900W driver for the monitor but I still cannot
get 1440x900 resolution. The resolution options are the same as
before.

Any ideas as to what to try next?

I'm not sure there are a lot of options left. It would help if I could
understand why the Openchrome driver has fixed dotclock values for that
chip. Normally, video devices have programmable registers for all that
stuff, programmable to multiples of 8 bits horizontally and multiples
of 2 bits vertically (some manage to do horizontal down to the nearest
bit). But the driver is all that you get as a user, and you cannot
know what the real capabilities are, with only the control panel to
go by. It doesn't seem to be a DAC limit, as there is one resolution
above 1440x900 that is supported.

(It is posslble, but I cannot make any guarantees, that you could
convince Linux to run the screen at 1440x900. I'd try something like
a Knoppix CD, as on the command line you could try "knoppix screen=1440x900".
All that such an experiment would prove, is that the KM400 is not
the limitation to achieving 1440x900.)

If Powerstrip worked with built-in video, there'd be another option.
But for the most part, Powerstrip works with ATI or Nvidia add-in
video cards. Chipset support is spotty, and I don't think VIA is
included.

1280x768 might be the closest resolution that is under the 1440x900
limit.

If you look in the monitor driver folder (on the CD) and open the
INF with a text editor, you should see 1440x900 being added as
a registry value. I'd just double check and see whether the Benq
INF file has done that or not. It probably has.

The Viaarena site used to have a forum, and using a search engine,
I can find references to such issues. But, for some reason, the
forum was moved to "tkforums.com", and I don't understand the reason
for that. That busted the ability for me to read the responses of people
dealing with the issue. It means the people who posted hard fought
information to viaarena, had it thrown away by uncaring admins.
One of the reasons I hate private sites!

(Another example would be the Matrox forums, where if they wanted,
they could have left the forum read-only, so anyone wanting the information
could have access to it.)

Paul