Driver for Sylvania computer monitor, Model F74

[TallTravel]

I have Googled til my fingers are black and blue....

This is a monitor made by Sylvania in 1999, called the F74. The Sylvania web site doesn't seem to have drivers for this, and results elsewhere have yielded nothing useful.

Anyone have a link to download this driver? Installing it on a Windows XP Dell.

[glc]

Not trying to be a smartaleck, but why do you need the driver? It should work fine either as a "default monitor" or "plug and play".

[TallTravel]

Originally Posted by glc

Not trying to be a smartaleck, but why do you need the driver? It should work fine either as a "default monitor" or "plug and play".

Thanks. I plugged it in to the XP Dell, and it came up with some 4 bit resolution or some default type resolution, and the hardware console in XP has a yellow question mark next to it. The screen is virtually unreadable, it is connected via a traditional RGB cable issued standard with all old monitors.

Any guidance would be helpful....

[glc]

Doesn't it have a VGA jack?

[TallTravel]

Originally Posted by glc

Doesn't it have a VGA jack?

Sorry, I don't know. Are you talking hardware for the monitor, or for the Dell XP Optiplex desktop? The physical interface is a traditional monitor interface, with what I call a RGB monitor interface. Maybe that is what you're calling VGA jack. It is on virtually every monitor I've seen for the last 15 years, for virtually all monitors except the new HDMI types. I don't know the name on it, but that is the common monitor cable which connects the 2-3 year old Dell XP to the monitor.

If I had to guess, I'd say that my not understanding the term. I connect the monitor cable and go to Device Manager, and DM tells me the monitor can only produce 4 bit something or other.

Based on this, I guessed the monitor needs a different driver.

Your guidance is appreciated.

[glc]

RGB uses three or five coax cables at the monitor end. VGA is a 15 pin "D" connector.

Open up display properties. Click the Advanced button, then the Monitor tab. Click Properties, then Driver. Update Driver, do NOT connect to Windows Update, install from a list or specific location, don't search, I will choose. Uncheck show compatible hardware, standard monitor types, 1280x1024 Super VGA.

Note - NONE of this is going to work if the video driver is not installed correctly.

[flanzig1]

Go to www.driversguide.com and sign up for the membership. Then search for "Sylvania f74". Should be something there for you.

Could try to go into the Display settigs/settings/advanced/uncheck the "Hide modes that this monitor cannot display" and try a resolution that monitor should support like 1024x768.

[glc]

It supports 1280x1024, which is why I recommended that generic driver.

[TallTravel]

Originally Posted by glc

It supports 1280x1024, which is why I recommended that generic driver.

I'll try the above suggestions this evening when I get home from work. This all started when I did a fresh install of Windows XP for Dell computers before the resolution went back to the most basic (weeks ago). Days before that, the monitor and the system displayed in 1280/1024 mode perfectly, which I why I know the system simply needed to find the right driver.

[glc]

First thing to do is make sure the video driver is properly installed. If it is, it SHOULD detect the monitor as something - generic plug and play or default monitor - and you should have the full range of resolutions available.

[TallTravel]

Originally Posted by glc

First thing to do is make sure the video driver is properly installed. If it is, it SHOULD detect the monitor as something - generic plug and play or default monitor - and you should have the full range of resolutions available.

OK, here is what I found last night when I followed your step by step two posts ago:

The properties screen for this montior does not allow me to click on it, nor to direct the system anywhere to locate the correct driver. In device manager under monitor, the screen display/resolution shows up as 4 bit. No other option shows up.

Before re installing Windows XP on this Dell Optiplex/Sylvania monitor set up--exactly the same hardware, the only change being my XP installion--the screen was displaying at the full 1280/1024.

So if that is true, using your quote above, we can assume the video driver is the problem, correct? If so, can you guide me to how I can get that installed correctly on an Windows XP configuration?

[glc]

Go to the Dell support website and download the video driver and install it. Note that you have to install the CHIPSET driver first, before installing any other drivers, or stuff like this happens.

[TallTravel]

Originally Posted by glc

Go to the Dell support website and download the video driver and install it. Note that you have to install the CHIPSET driver first, before installing any other drivers, or stuff like this happens.

Thanks. I might be able to get this done tomorrow. I'll update the thread then. Once again I appreciate the guidance.

[TallTravel]

Originally Posted by glc

Go to the Dell support website and download the video driver and install it. Note that you have to install the CHIPSET driver first, before installing any other drivers, or stuff like this happens.

I spent some time on the Dell website under the driver downloads section. They don't specifically label the Chipset drivers as such. Are they in another category, or do they go by another type/name? Is it the BIOS set of drivers by chance?

[glc]

What exact model is this machine?

[TallTravel]

Thanks! I am finally looking at a real monitor! Same hardware, just followed GLC's advice, loaded a WiFi/USB port, and downloaded from the Dell site. I am writing from this machine as we speak!

Now, I need to find out the best place to purchase memory, how much and what type to purchase, and then decide if it is worth it to purchase a new monitor....

For that, now that I'm on the Internet with this thing, I can research it myself. I hope Newegg has some memory configurator for me to use....

Originally Posted by glc

What exact model is this machine?

My Computer Information - General

100% (collecting Local Disk information)

Refresh screen
Specifications
Dell Computer Corporation
System Model: OptiPlex GX260
BIOS Version: Dell Computer Corporation A05


Operating System
Microsoft Windows XP Professional
Version: 5.1.2600
Service Pack: 3.0
Location: C:\WINDOWS
PID: 76487-OEM-0011903-00102
Hot Fix: KB975467


Memory (RAM)
Capacity: 512 MB


Processor
Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 2.00GHz
Version: x86 Family 15 Model 2 Stepping 7
Speed: 1992 MHz


General Computer Info
System Name:
Domain: WORKGROUP
Time Zone: US Mountain Standard Time
Connection: Workstation (standalone)
Proxy Server: None
IP Address: Security
IPX Address: Not Enabled

[glc]

http://www.crucial.com/store/listpar...GX260%20Series

[TallTravel]

Almost all is well with the computer now, thanks to glc. However, I do not see an audio device on this computer. While in device manager, under sound, it says " no audio device ". However, before the Windows re install mentioned above the sound worked fine. Nothing has changed with the hardware, just an XP reinstall which caused the lack of audio.

Dell website, oddly, when I put in my service tag, shows no options for audio devices for which I can download the drivers. Could this be because I am logged to the Dell account, with the registered computer, but the audio drivers are no where to be found.

Any ideas? I have rebooted numerous times since the loading of all the above drivers for the video, but audio device is " not installed ".

Any guidance?

[glc]

When I load up the XP driver page for an Optiplex GX260, I see an "Audio" listing - open that and get the driver for the ADI 198x Integrated Audio.

You did open Chipset and get the Chipset Software Installation Utility, right?

[TallTravel]

Originally Posted by glc

When I load up the XP driver page for an Optiplex GX260, I see an "Audio" listing - open that and get the driver for the ADI 198x Integrated Audio.

You did open Chipset and get the Chipset Software Installation Utility, right?

Yes, I did download the chipset, and the sound is now playing as I type this. Thanks again glc.


It turns out the dell web site somehow chose the wrong Service tag, which brought up the wrong set of drivers, etc. I bypassed the service tag option and went directly to the System choice, then found the drivers and downloaded them.

Thanks.