Microsoft KB Archive/253766

Monitor Is Not Detected Properly by Windows 2000

Q253766

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The information in this article applies to:

• Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
• Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional
• Microsoft Windows 2000 Datacenter Server
• Microsoft Windows 2000 Server

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SYMPTOMS

When you install Windows 2000, your monitor may not be properly detected, and your display may be limited to 640 by 480 pixels and 16 colors.

CAUSE

This issue can occur if the video adapter manufacturer did not properly implement Display Data Channel (DDC) support.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, contact your video adapter manufacturer to inquire about the availability of a fix for this issue.

To work around this issue, use the appropriate method:

You Have a Manufacturer-Provided Driver Disk

1. Right-click the desktop, click Properties, click Settings, and then click Advanced.
2. Click Monitor, click Properties, click Driver, and then click Update Driver.
3. Click Next, click Display a list of the known drivers, and then click Next.
4. Click Have Disk, insert the driver disk into drive A, and then click OK.
5. Click Finish.
6. Close all open Windows.

You Do Not Have a Manufacturer-Provided Driver Disk

If you do not have a manufacturer-provided driver disk, determine if Windows 2000 has an appropriate driver:

1. Right-click the desktop, click Properties, click Settings, and then click Advanced.
2. Click Monitor, click Properties, click Driver, and then click Update Driver.
3. Click Next, click Display a list of the known drivers, and then click Next.
4. Click Show all hardware for this device class.
5. In the Manufacturers box, click your manufacturer, click your model in the Model box, click Yes when you receive the update driver warning, click Next, and then click Finish. If your monitor is not listed:
   
   
   1. Click Standard monitor types.
   2. Click the monitor type that most closely matches your monitor, and then click Next.
   3. Click Yes when you receive the update driver warning, click Next, and then click Finish.
   4. Close all open Windows.

MORE INFORMATION

DDC is the Plug and Play standard for monitors. DDC monitors are designed to meet the Video Electronic Standards Association (VESA) standard that defines the DDC implementation. Windows 2000 automatically detects and enumerates a DDC monitor if it is connected to a display adapter that has also been designed to support the DDC standard.

Windows 2000 also installs the correct Setup information (.inf) file necessary for the video driver to set the proper refresh rate. If the monitor is incorrectly detected as a VESA Plug and Play monitor, it may not be listed in any of the existing .inf files. If this is the case, use the disk provided by the monitor manufacturer to install the appropriate .inf file. If the monitor manufacturer did not provide a disk, contact the manufacturer to obtain the correct .inf file for your monitor.

For more information on compatible hardware for Windows 2000, consult the Windows NT Hardware Compatibility List (HCL). This is a compilation of computers and computer hardware that have been extensively tested with Windows NT for stability and compatibility. Microsoft Product Support Services uses the HCL to determine whether or not a computer is supported for use with the Windows NT operating system. The latest HCL is available from the following Microsoft Web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/hcl/default.asp

NOTE: To obtain the text file of the Windows 2000 HCL, click the following Microsoft FTP site:

ftp://ftp.microsoft.com/services/whql/win2000hcl.txt

STATUS

This behavior is by design.

Additional query words:

Keywords : kbdisplay kbhw KBW2KHOME
Issue type : kbprb
Technology : kbwin2000AdvServ kbwin2000AdvServSearch kbwin2000DataServ kbwin2000DataServSearch kbwin2000Serv kbwin2000ServSearch kbwin2000Search kbwin2000ProSearch kbwin2000Pro kbWinAdvServSearch kbWinDataServSearch

Last Reviewed: October 24, 2000 © 2001 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Terms of Use.