Thinkpads Forum

Tried using my T260hd Samsung monitor with the W700ds dvi output today. I have been using it in analog mode and it works great. Also be aware that I have never before tried to use a dvi connection.
These are the steps I used: (computer was already booted up)
1. Plugged the dvi connector onto the computer
2. Plugged the dvi connector onto the monitor
The moment I plugged the dvi connector to the monitor the laptop screen went black (I have my screen saver set to black - don't know if that is pertinent).
3. Plugged the power cord for the external monitor onto the monitor and then to the power source
4. I then turned on the external monitor and a message came up on the black external monitor screen that said something like "Check the cable".

So I'm there with no screen. I tried Fn-F7 a few times just to see if anything would happen but nothing. I don't think I blindly hit enter though.
When I unplugged the dvi connector from the computer the laptop screen returned.

I tried the T260hd monitor on a desktop using dvi output and the same thing happened. Works just fine in analog but not digital. That desktop runs Xp x64.
I bought two of these monitors so I had two dvi cables and two monitors to try - same result.
Back on the laptop - I looked in Device Manager and the Samsung T260hd was there but as "Generic" so I updated the driver using the Device Manager update button. After it did update the monitor was then there and showed the correct name but I did notice that the entry specifically showed the word "analog" in parenthesis. (the xp x64 computer showed "analog" as well)
I assume that somehow I need to get an entry in that Device Manager list that shows "Digital" in parenthesis for the T260hd but I haven't been able to do that. The monitors came with disks but they apparently only have the 32 bit drivers on them or they don't cover windows 7 or some such. I ran wetup and was referred to the Samsung site but i never could get the Samsung site to respond properly - that is, the driver list screen never completely displayed correctly.
My video display adapter is an NVIDIA Quadro FX 3700M with a gig of memory. Laptop has 8 gig of ram. Processor is Intel Quad core 2 Extreme Q9300 at 2.53 GHz.

A few questions:
1. Why did the laptop screen go blank when I connected the dvi connector from the monitor to the laptop?
2. Is there a problem or is this pilot error (ignorance) somehow?
2. Does someone have a driver that will make this work?
2. If you don't think the driver is the problem, How can I make this work?

That display apparently has problems identifying itself (or signaling it's resolution) properly when using DVI cables. You might check the following guide:

Troubleshooting DVI problems

Regarding the display itself, see:

http://forums.cnet.com/5208-13973_102-0 ... dID=341916

The driver is at the following link, but it's fairly old (version 1.0 from 5/6/08), so you may have already installed it in the device manager (I had to open this page in Internet Explorer, and it popped up a window saying I'd have to click Okay to enable Microsoft's Silverlight player to display the page -- crazy):

http://www.samsung.com/us/support/detai ... class_cd=P

Also see:

http://forums.cnet.com/5208-13973_102-0 ... dID=352435

"Bought a new T260HD display... I went to the Samsung site and found there are no drivers for Windows 7, so I thought I'd try the Vista-64 driver. Unfortunately the drivers are included in an EXE that looks at your OS and it upchucks when it sees Windows 7. I can't find the Vista drivers standalone anywhere..."

"...about an hour after I posted my message, Windows update said it had a driver for my monitor. I think it is actually a Vista driver since the date is 4/4/2008 version 3.0.0.0. It isn't perfect but it works and I can now wait until the official rollouts."

"...note the update won't run in Windows 7 unless you use the Vista SP2 compatibility mode." (I'm not sure if he's talking here about the EXE file for the driver, or something else.)

Anyway, I just looked up the above for entertainment purposes after reading your post (not that your misfortune is entertaining in any way). I don't have that display, and know nothing else about this, so if you ask me further questions, all I can respond with is a blank stare. Best of luck.

Thanks QFoam.

I had seen some of this but certainly not all. Very helpful. I suppose I'll just be content to run in analog for awhile and check for drivers in a few months.

I am still curious as to why the W700 screen goes blank when I plug in the dvi cable.

After reading the dvi link QFoam posted I checked and I do have single link cables trying to run 1920X1200.

Does that limiitation for the single link cables still exist that was mentioned in the article or has technology done away with that requirement.

I tried to get an answer from Samsung as to why they shipped the single link cables when they are selling a 1920X1200 resolution monitor but to no avail.

Addendum:

I booted the computer with the dvi connector in place and the boot screens showed on the W700ds correctly.

Only after the Starting-windows-screen with the dancing colors did the W700ds screen go dark.

Didn't help the computer to see the external screen - same message - check the cable.