Jim_VA,

Welcome to the Dell Community Forum (DCF).
Power off that monitor. Disconnect that monitor from any system. Power it on. Does anything appear on the screen?

ChrisM:

I realized my write-up did not mention that I had acquired two used SUN branded Hitachi 19" monitors for this setup.  model cm751u    serial#365-1380-01

To answer your question, when I do as asked I get:

1) black screen with a blue stripe about 3/4 inch high across the middle of the screen with words INVALID SYNC in white letters.  This stays on a short period, about 10 seconds, then screen goes black and the green ON light [next to power button] starts blinking.

The monitors specs are:

http://sunsolve.sun.com/handbook_pub/Devices/Monitor/MONITOR _19_Color_365-1380.html

ChrisM:

Sun community responded:

"Consider changing your configuration in the Dell computer. e.g. change the BIOS setting for which framebuffer is made active first. You may also have to change the screen resolution or vertical refresh rate to one that functions better on the monitor. Your final configuration may not be what you consider ideal, but you'll then be able to make a judgement call whether to accept the current functionality or accept whatever you might change it to."

The Nvidia GEFORCE4 mx440 has been working well for several months driving this monitor, the same model on the stock GEFORCE2 GTS AGP card works fine.   I used this computer this week with a single monitor at a meeting to record audio and I think W2k changed the video settings to match the monitor.

Also, remember the monitor work through POST and WINDOWS start. At about the time the WIndws start-up screens clears and monitors click/pop and static crackles and usually the DUAL monitor starts up.  Now I get the INVALID SYNC message.

ChrisM; Can you suggest which of these monitor settings [resolution, freq] listed in the hyperlink are what I should try with the machine?

SUN:
"Why can't I find a monitor driver for my Sun monitor to hook it up to a PC ?

Monitors do not require drivers. Monitors seek a graphics card that offers a resolution/timing that they are compatible with and can sync up to. The only driver involved with a monitor would actually be a driver for the graphics/video card that might allow it to offer a resolution that a monitor can work with. We recommend that you check with the manufacturer of your graphics/video card about what resolutions your card is capable of and/or if they have a driver for you card that will allow it to work with a Sun monitor. They may also be able to help you adjust your graphics card to offer a compatible resolution. You might also check with the manufacturer of your operating system (assuming that you're trying to hook this monitor up to a PC and not a Sun). If you're hooking up this monitor to a Sun system, it will work if your graphics card offers one of the resolutions listed on the Sun System Handbook page for your monitor.

Information about specific models of Sun Monitors

http://sunsolve.Sun.COM/handbook_pub/Devices/Monitor/MONITOR_TOC.html

Video cards used in the PC world typically output separate horizontal and vertical sync signals. Any monitor used with them must be able to accept these separate sync signals, or it will not work at any resolution. Unfortunately, some Sun monitors only accept a single "composite" sync signal, while other Sun monitors will accept either composite or separate horizontal and vertical sync. Sun monitors that are capable of using either type of sync are identified in the Sun System Handbook with the following statement: "This monitor is PC compatible". Likewise, monitors that can only accept composite sync will state: "This monitor is not PC compatible". Use of a composite sync monitor with a PC video card would require the use of a cable adapter that combines the separate sync signals from the video card into a single, composite sync required by that monitor. It would be the customer's responsibility to acquire such an adapter for use with non-Sun equipment.

To summarize, in order for a sun monitor to work with a PC video card, the video card must be capable of outputting at least one resolution, timing, and sync signal(s) that are compatible with the monitor. "

I noticed the secondary video card, Geforce4 MX 440, had the older GEforce2 GTS drivers loaded and that I couldn't set higher resolutions and refresh rates.  Ahhh haaa!

 So I downloaded the latest W2k video drivers from Invidia and lo and behold the problem is resolved.

Jim