7 Posts
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1408
June 14th, 2022 19:00
Trying to make an Inspiron 27 7000 a convenient swappable monitor for 2 systems.
So long story simplified:
I bought an Inspiron 27 7000 less than a year ago as an intermediate stage to a more powerful rig and with the intension of small system for little games or work documents that don't need intense graphics. And now I've gone through the trouble of getting a tower for my off time or if I want to do something particularly process intensive. The issue I am finding, is that the HDMI input doesn't seem to be working.
Things I have tried:
1. I tried simply plugging the HDMI input (naïve perhaps, but plug n' play is fairly common to try first as long as you don't break something plugging it in)
2. I tried the HDMI output, I doubted it would work but felt it was within the possibility it was swapped.
3. I tried with a tv with HDMI input to confirm the tower was outputting, and confirmed this.
4. I once again plugged the HDMI into the input and checked the online manual, with that I pressed the only other button on the exterior. The unlabeled one next to the power button. There was no change.
5. I connected the computers together via wifi, but the Inspiron seems to indicate there was a driver error after the restart it demanded.
Thus does anyone have any other ideas to try? Or able to tell me where I went wrong (though not financially because I already know that).
Chino de Oro
9 Legend
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8.1K Posts
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June 15th, 2022 23:00
Hello @G-Stan , you may want to install this Dell OSD Application as Dell On-Screen Display (OSD) will allows you to control the brightness bar, change the input source, and turn the screen on or off through the OSD button.
G-Stan
7 Posts
0
June 21st, 2022 12:00
Yes I did try that, the tech I got was smart enough to realize a certain application had to be on first before that button would work. Problem solved. I will be marking the comment in question where I had downloaded the wrong version and thought it.
DELL-Cares
Moderator
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27.2K Posts
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June 14th, 2022 20:00
Thank you! We have received the required details. We will work towards a resolution. In the meantime, you may also receive assistance or suggestions from the community members.
RoHe
10 Elder
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45.2K Posts
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June 15th, 2022 17:00
Does you Inspiron 27 7000 have a "discrete" graphics or only integrated graphics? HDMI Input/Outport ports are in different positions depending on the type of graphics in this PC. Check the back panel layout here.
Are you powering the Inspiron on after you connect that other PC to its HDMI-In, before you power on the other PC?
Is there a Windows Display setting on that other PC which needs to be enabled to allow use of a second monitor (eg, the Inspiron)?
G-Stan
7 Posts
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June 15th, 2022 19:00
In order of questions:
1. The Inspiron has discrete graphics, the HDMI input/output ports indicate this.
2. I have tried plugging the HDMI cord in first and powering on the tower after the Inspiron is active, and attempted while both are active.
3. The tower pc has capacity for multiple monitors and does not seem to indicate needing to be set. In fact using the tv it worked as plug and play with both systems. (Not that I'm pretending they're the same thing)
Bonus 4. Going to the manual there appears to be a "Built-in Self Test button/Input-source selection button" right next to the power button. This is the only other button I have found on the unit. And pressing it did not change anything.
G-Stan
7 Posts
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June 16th, 2022 08:00
Unfortunately the Dell OSD application is not compatible with the 7000 series it seems.
RoHe
10 Elder
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45.2K Posts
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June 16th, 2022 11:00
@G-Stan - Go to the Support page and enter your Service Tag (don't post it here), and see if a version of the Dell OSD app is offered for your specific system.
Have you gone to the Windows Display settings screen on that other PC and configured how you want to use the Inspiron as a monitor? Eg, duplicate same screen on both PCs, spread one screen over both displays or have different screens on each display. At least in Win 10, there's a button on the Display screen to force detection of a second monitor if it's not detected automatically, so give that a try.
EDIT: The Inspiron should be on and connected via its HDMI-IN port to the other PC's HDMI-OUT, and the button on bottom of Inspiron screen cycled to select HDMI-IN as the video source.
And if that other PC has an NVidia GPU, open the NVidia control panel and click the link on left side under Display to Set Up Multiple Displays. (I presume the AMD control panel has similar options too, if that PC has an AMD GPU.) See if those settings help.
BTW: What happens if you press/hold the display button on bottom edge of the Inspiron screen for ~3-5 sec, rather than just pressing and immediately releasing?
G-Stan
7 Posts
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June 16th, 2022 19:00
I made no progress finding the Dell OSD app for the 7000 series.
I did access the projection system however this made no change with using the Inspiron as a monitor instead of the temporary TV. I was however able to make the TV a second monitor for the Inspiron which only proves the HDMI cable works and I know the difference between an HDMI-in and an HDMI-out.
The multiple monitors function is rather meaningless since I can't adjust anything on the tower while the HDMI is plugged into the Inspiron. And the tower only seems to have one HDMI output port.
As for what happens if I press and hold the display button on the Inspiron screen it just turns the screen off. This is tested with the HDMI in and not.
DELL-Cares
Moderator
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27.2K Posts
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June 19th, 2022 20:00
Hi, We haven’t heard from you. You could get back to us with an update when you’re ready, and one of our experts will assist you further.
XPS_Man
5 Practitioner
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2.4K Posts
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June 20th, 2022 09:00
Provide the exact model in your post please. Inspiron 27 7000 is a series, your model may be someting like Inspiron 27 7775. Go to support.dell.com and enter service tag. You will find model number.
G-Stan
7 Posts
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June 21st, 2022 07:00
Thanks for your patience, I was busy with other events.
Inspiron 7700 AIO Service Tag: Operating System: Windows 10, 64-bit.
XPS_Man
5 Practitioner
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2.4K Posts
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June 21st, 2022 09:00
Did you try this button
When the computer is on, use this button to select the video input-source.
Press the button to switch the display between the internal system display and HDMI input.
When the computer is off (there is no power; neither is it in sleep state nor hibernate state), use this button to run the built-in self-test for the display.
Edit : BIOS should have OSD button enabled for this to work
In BIOS (F2) >> System Configuration menu > OSD Button Management > Enable