Firmware upgrade using Linux tool, requires no hardware

[Falkentyne]

It's usually a setting in the bios. Older bioses had a option for UEFI mode and legacy mode, due to compatibility issues. UEFI mode is designed directly for GFT And windows directly, so it probably blocks i2c addressing (and "probably" could interfere with some MS DOS based flashers also, but that's just a guess). I know Z68 and Z77 boards had the option to use legacy mode. I don't know about X99 or haswell boards or whatever was before x99.

[catastrope]

Something weird happened.

I have updated my firmware to V4, thanks to Falkentyne's guide on page 23. Everything went pretty smoothly and I actually checked the firmware too afterwards to see if it actually happened (couldn't believe at first )



As you can see here, V4 is installed.

But now I have a somewhat unusual problem (I think).

Computer doesn't see this monitor as a benQ, and when I plug it in, it detects it as a "Generic Non-Pnp Monitor" and it doesn't allow me to do anything with it basically. Here are a few screenshots below to show you what I mean:





So, how do I install the driver for my monitor and let the PC know that this is not some random monitor that I picked up from the street, but instead the one I paid good money for?


UPDATE1: I checked NVidia control panel and it detects the monitor as BENQXL2420Z. Here is the Screenshot:
I don't really understand what the problem is. I can't change the hz in nvidia either by the way. The only option is 60.

[Falkentyne]

There's a driver on the original CD.
Did you install that?

You need to install it through device manager. Go to the monitor properties and go to update driver and browse for the INF file on the cd.

Can you check the factory menu first, though?

Turn the monitor off, hold button 3 and 4 (MENU + ENTER) For 5 seconds, then press and release power, while holding menu and enter. Then release the two buttons.

That should unlock the factory menu.

press Exit to enter the factory menu. It should say "EDID: VALID"

Also, did you turn off burn-in mode?

[catastrope]

I know how to install the driver but it says it already has the driver it needs. There is a screenshot of that in the post.

I did what you said to enter the factory menu (I think). Is this what I'm suppose to be seeing?




And no, I did not turn off any modes. After the flashing was done, I disconnected it from my laptop and plugged in to my actual pc. So whatever that is, I might still be in that mode. Although, it says off in that picture as you can see.

[Falkentyne]

Looks correct.
what process did you do to try to update the driver?
Because usually it shouldn't say "windows is using the best driver" because you're forcibly installing a different driver.
It only says that if it cant find a better driver. But you can install 'older' drivers this way also.

You need to go to update driver, "don't do it automatically, I will choose a driver to install" then choose "have disk" then browse the CD for the inf driver there.

Sometimes you can uninstall the driver, reboot and then install again.

I didn't need to install a driver though if it was already installed before the flash.
Did you back up the existing firmware (it should be 2.1 mb in size, called backup.bin).
It would take awhile but what happens if you downgrade by flashing the backup?

[r80x]

Something weird happened.

I have updated my firmware to V4, thanks to Falkentyne's guide on page 23. Everything went pretty smoothly and I actually checked the firmware too afterwards to see if it actually happened (couldn't believe at first )



As you can see here, V4 is installed.

But now I have a somewhat unusual problem (I think).

Computer doesn't see this monitor as a benQ, and when I plug it in, it detects it as a "Generic Non-Pnp Monitor" and it doesn't allow me to do anything with it basically. Here are a few screenshots below to show you what I mean:





So, how do I install the driver for my monitor and let the PC know that this is not some random monitor that I picked up from the street, but instead the one I paid good money for?


UPDATE1: I checked NVidia control panel and it detects the monitor as BENQXL2420Z. Here is the Screenshot:
I don't really understand what the problem is. I can't change the hz in nvidia either by the way. The only option is 60.

Hi!

First download CRU and unpack it http://www.monitortests.com/forum/Threa ... tility-CRU

Open up the CRU folder then double click on reset-all.exe. It will tell you to restart your PC. Do that now.

After that you resolutions should be back to normal.

Want to add the sweet vertical trick? Dont do it through Nvidia controlpanel, do it through CRU. Then it will change you native 1080 to the one with the changed vertical so you can use it in games without having to use borderless.

Open CRU.
Select Custom extension block (from the drop down menu furthest down)
Press the edit button to the right og that drop down menu.
Click "Add" on Detail resolutions
Change the detail according to this picture.

Press restart.exe in the CRU folder. Now right click on desktop and press screen resolution --> Advanced Settings --> Monitor
Change screen refreshrate to 119. Done and Done!

[catastrope]

Looks correct.
what process did you do to try to update the driver?
Because usually it shouldn't say "windows is using the best driver" because you're forcibly installing a different driver.
It only says that if it cant find a better driver. But you can install 'older' drivers this way also.

You need to go to update driver, "don't do it automatically, I will choose a driver to install" then choose "have disk" then browse the CD for the inf driver there.

Sometimes you can uninstall the driver, reboot and then install again.

I didn't need to install a driver though if it was already installed before the flash.
Did you back up the existing firmware (it should be 2.1 mb in size, called backup.bin).
It would take awhile but what happens if you downgrade by flashing the backup?

Alright, we are getting somewhere. I installed the driver like you suggested. There were four options (Analog, Digital, DisplayPort and HDMI). I've picked digital and this happened:



Now it says something like this:


So, now even though the driver is installed, it still somehow doesn't recognize the monitor? I don't get it.

Hi!

First download CRU and unpack it http://www.monitortests.com/forum/Threa ... tility-CRU

Open up the CRU folder then double click on reset-all.exe. It will tell you to restart your PC. Do that now.

After that you resolutions should be back to normal.

Want to add the sweet vertical trick? Dont do it through Nvidia controlpanel, do it through CRU. Then it will change you native 1080 to the one with the changed vertical so you can use it in games without having to use borderless.

Open CRU.
Select Custom extension block (from the drop down menu furthest down)
Press the edit button to the right og that drop down menu.
Click "Add" on Detail resolutions
Change the detail according to this picture.
Image
Press restart.exe in the CRU folder. Now right click on desktop and press screen resolution --> Advanced Settings --> Monitor
Change screen refreshrate to 119. Done and Done!

Would that fix it? I also want to use the blur buster utility program (which I'm not able to atm since the pc doesn't see this one as a benq monitor). I already had the v3 on my monitor but I just really wanted to check the new setting on the AMA menu. Will I still be able to do that if I do what you've suggested?

[catastrope]

Did you back up the existing firmware (it should be 2.1 mb in size, called backup.bin).
It would take awhile but what happens if you downgrade by flashing the backup?

Yes, I have the backup bin. If you want, I can upload it to dropbox if you want to check that? Not sure if it would help with anything.

Oh boy, reflashing scares me for some reason. Should I really do that? :/


tinyedit: When I click "Detect" on the display menu, my benq screen goes black with "No signal". I need to re-plug the cable in to make it work. Just thought it might mean something.

MAJOR EDIT: I've managed to install the driver BUT I had to use my HDMI cable instead of DVI. And it installed the HDMI driver only, I think. So, there is a problem with the DVI port, which I used to flash the monitor.

[Falkentyne]

Try flashing the backup first. Sounds like a problem with the EDID

btw I flashed my backup from v4 to v2 then BACK to v4 by using the DVI port on my R9 290x. Flashing the backup is safe.
I've never heard of a problem like this before.

You can't keep the monitor in that state. Definitely flash the backup you made (since its already 2 mb, you don't have to do the "merge" and trunc commands...just flash the backup bin directly (as long as its 2 mb).

Also HDMI is limited to 60hz anyway.

[catastrope]

Try flashing the backup first. Sounds like a problem with the EDID

btw I flashed my backup from v4 to v2 then BACK to v4 by using the DVI port on my R9 290x. Flashing the backup is safe.

Alright, I will do it then. Btw, in that factory manu, it says PASS instead of VALID like you suggested. Are they the same or does PASS mean something else?

Starting flashing the backup in a minute. Fingers crossed. Btw, should take a backup of this firmware as well? Not sure if it is useful though.