Chapter 3 Troubleshooting

This chapter contains solutions to problems you might be having with the Silicon Graphics MultiLink, in the following sections:

LED States

The LED on the top of the Silicon Graphics MultiLink indicates the state of the device. Table 3-1 explains the meaning of the LED colors.


Table 3-1 Explan ation of LED Colors
LED
Possible Causes and Solutions
No LED
No power. Check the power cord.
Solid red
Silicon Graphics MultiLink fails power-on diagnostics. Return the unit for service.
Blinking yellow
The Silicon Graphics MultiLink cannot support the current timing mode. Choose a different timing mode on your video card. (See Table A-3
through Table A-8)
Solid yellow
The video card has put the MultiLink into power save mode; wake up the CPU. Alternatively, the MultiLink may lack an input signal (no cable).
Solid green
Normal operation.

Troubleshooting Tips

The following are messages that may appear on your display when using the Silicon Graphics MultiLink:

screen.adjust.wait.gif

Figure 3-1 Screen Adjustment

no.sync.detect.gif

Figure 3-2 No Sync Detected

unsupported.mode.gif

Figure 3-3 Unsupported Mode

If the problems persist after using the following suggestions, call your service provider.

No Im age on the Flat Panel Display

  1. Make sure the DC power cables are connected securely between the AC adapter, the Silicon Graphics MultiLink, and the display.

  2. Make sure the correct AC power cable is connected securely to the AC adapter and the AC adapter is plugged into a working wall outlet. (See Chapter 1, "Connecting the Cables".)

  3. Make sure the video cables are connected securely between the computer, the Silicon Graphics MultiLink, and the flat panel display. (See Chapter 1, "Connecting the Cables".)

  4. Make sure the analog and digital input (A/D) switch is in the correct position (see Figure 2-5). The switch should be in the A position (left) for analog mode (VGA cable), and in the D position (right) for digital mode (DFP or DVI-D cable).

  5. Check to see if the flat panel display and computer are turned on. (Press the power button on the front of the display.) The flat panel display takes about a minute to warm up to full brightness.

  6. Make certain that all MultiLink cable connections were in place when your computer was turned on. If not, recheck your setup and then reboot.


    Note: When there is no signal from your video card, a "No Sync Detected" message appears and the LED turns solid amber when any MultiLink button is pressed. This could occur during normal video card power-saving mode.

  7. Check the color of the LED on the Silicon Graphics MultiLink and refer to Table 3-1.

  8. Make sure the video card in your computer is seated correctly.

    You may want to reseat the video card in the computer to make sure it is making proper electrical contact.

  9. If the video card has associated software, make sure the software is installed correctly. Refer to your video card instruction manual for more information.

Unsupported Mode Error

When you press the Select button on the MultiLink and an error box displays the message, "Unsupported Mode," you must change the refresh frequency of your video card to 60 Hz (except in special situations for legacy BIOS mode compatibility).

To check or change the refresh frequency, consult the manual for your video card.

Unsatisfactory Image Quality

Analog

To correct unsatisfactory image quality when the MultiLink is set to analog, perform a Clock Divider and Phase adjustment.

Clock Divider and Phase adjustments can be best performed by using a checkerboard or pinstripe background. If the clock divider is not correctly adjusted, vertical noise bars may appear. Adjust the clock divider setting until no noise bars are visible. Once the clock divider is correct, adjust the phase until you maximize image quality.

Analog or Digital

To correct unsatisfactory image quality when the MultiLink is set to analog or digital, perform or check the following:

  1. Perform a Force Detect or Factory Reset.

  2. Change the Overlapped Modes setting if applicable (see Table A-8).

  3. Center the screen manually. For more information on screen positioning, see Chapter 2, "General Menu".

  4. Check/Adjust the Color Temperature and Backlight settings. For detailed information, see Chapter 2, "Image Menu".

  5. Check to make sure that only the cables supplied with your MultiLink have been used in cable connections. Do not substitute third-party cables.

  6. Ensure all cables are properly seated without bent pins.

  7. Unshielded electronic devices can cause interference, which appears as horizontal lines, with the flat panel display. If this is the case, increase the distance between the flat panel display and the electronic device.

Images Appear Distorted

When the Zoom setting is Wide, the MultiLink stretches the image to fill the screen. A circle in Standard View appears as a horizontally-stretched oval in Wide View. To counteract this effect, change the Zoom setting, the first menu item in the General menu, to Standard. (See Figure 3-4.)


Note: Zoom menu functions are not available for all timing modes.

wide.and.standard.gif

Figure 3-4 The Zoom Feature

Returning the Silicon Graphics MultiLink

If your service provider instructs you to return the Silicon Graphics MultiLink, use the following instructions:

  1. Turn off your computer.

  2. Disconnect the power cables from the rear of the flat panel display and the Silicon Graphics MultiLink.

  3. Disconnect the video cables from the Silicon Graphics MultiLink.

If you receive a replacement Silicon Graphics MultiLink, use its shipping carton and packing materials to return the defective MultiLink, or use the Silicon Graphics MultiLink's original shipping carton and packing materials.


Note: If you are instructed to return the Silicon Graphics MultiLink along with the flat panel display, check in the documentation that came with the flat panel display for return instructions.