How To: Monitor Testing

Author: Damian Revised: 23/08/07
Date: 11/06/04

Resources: Monitor Sizing Cheat Sheet as a PDF document (by Free Geek)

Initial Inspection: Before you start testing always check to see if:

• the plastic case is cracked or damaged;
• the monitor is 14" or less
  
• the year on the back is 1999 or before, or;
• the base is missing

If a monitor falls into any of these categories, it can be recycled without being tested.

If the monitor is okay, follow the steps below to test it.

1. Clear the monitor testing area so that you have a clear bench space.
2. Turn on the monitor testing P.C.
3. Get an unchecked monitor from the storage area and place it on the monitor testing bench.
   
4. Place a sticker on top of the monitor to record the date the monitor was inspected and your initials.
5. Check to see if there is a female to female connector cable on the monitor, If there is a cable connect it to the monitor switch, If there is no cable you can get one from the store area, connect the cable and plug it into the monitor switch.
6. Connect the power to the monitor using one of the power cables that you will find already set up on the monitor testing bench.
7. Turn on the monitor.
8. The monitor should now be showing a start up menu. Go to step 10. If the menu is not showing go to step 9
9.  If at this point there is nothing showing on the screen you should (a)Try to adjust the contrast buttons found just under the screen (b)Check to see if the cable running to the monitor switch is plugged in properly (c)Check to see if the monitor testing switch is on correctly, sometimes all you need to do is turn this switch off and on and this will remedy the problem (d)If the above fail see your supervisor.
10. The quality of the picture on the screen is the next test. If the picture is of good quality go to step 12
11. If the screen is a funny colour, has a ghost or is fuzzy then you should write on the sticker what the problem is and that the monitor should be recycled by cutting the  cord with wire cutters and placing it near the recycling bin.
    
12. If the picture is clear then you can begin to test the monitors resolution. There are three different resolution settings, which can be found written on top of the monitor testing P.C. They are- 1024x768, 800x600, and 600x480. The aim of this test is to find out what the monitors highest resolution is.
    
13. To start the test press CTRL, ALT, +. This will change the monitors resolution. The screen with the highest resolution will have the smallest start up menu displayed. If the screen is very fuzzy then press CTRL, ALT, +, again and change the resolution until you get a clear picture. If after trying the three resolutions you still dont have a clear picture then the monitor may be faulty and you should talk to your supervisor. When you have found the correct resolution you should write it down on the sticker.
14. Once you have found the correct resolution the next step is to set up the picture so that it takes up the whole screeen. To do this you will have to use the buttons found on the monitors control panel, these buttons may change with different monitor types but the process stays the same. If these buttons do not work then you should write this on the sticker and see your supervisor.
15. When you have completed these tests and the monitor is in good working order you should write OK and your initials on the sticker. You can now turn off the monitor and unplug the cables from the monitor and the monitor switch. The monitor should then be placed neatly in the monitor storage area.