ARGH!!!

Can I just say that I HATE monitor controls!!

I just got my new Samsung 24" Curved CF39 Series monitor and managed to hook it up. Just like with every other monitor I've ever had though, I cannot adjust anything without getting frustrated. I have NEVER understood how to use the adjustment controls on monitors. I was determined to learn these but I may never touch them again. There is some button on the back that you are supposed to push in to open the Function Key Guide and then TURN??? to get to the adjustment you want to make??? Hardly turnable so maybe I am doing something wrong. I managed fairly easily to turn on the Eye Saver Mode but then went through hoops to turn it off again. I don't know if I would like it or not - no way I can keep trying it out. Got stuck in the Menu and couldn't figure out how to get to the Exit. I don't even know how I finally did manage to exit. Just luck!

Thank you! I just had to get this out of me!

If you have any suggestions, I'd appreciate them but this was more of just a rant!

No, you don't "turn" it! I have the same control and am NOT fond of it either. But you press the top, right, bottom, left of the button to get to different adjustments. Once I got mine set, I'm never touching them again!

I did download the Users Guide and that finally helped. I don't know what your series is, but they all work the same.

https://www.samsung.com/us/support/owners/product/curved-led-monitor-cf39x-series

Also take a peak at this video.... click to about 4 minutes in.. he shows how he clicks in the back to set it up... I like visuals..


Monitor

Thanks to both of you. I will check those out shortly.

Drac, I'm surprised I didn't already break the button which is also the on/off switch. I have a Samsung TV with that same garbage on it that I had to try to use one time and could not get anything done with it.

My colors on my spreadsheets are all darker now. I hope I can figure out how to make adjustments. I don't think I've ever adjusted brightness or contrast or anything because I have never known how to use monitor controls. Once you open up the adjustment screen, how do you move anything around? I've tried arrow keys to no avail. (Maybe Winfrey's video will help with that? I hope!)

Unfortunately, I don’t think the video explains that. Perhaps the enter button or space?

"You can adjust the brightness, contrast, and sharpness settings using the JOG multi directional button or the On-Screen Display menu. Move the JOG button up to select the setting you want to change, and then adjust the slider to increase or decrease the setting. Alter the brightness for a rich, intense picture, and adjust the contrast if the picture looks too dark or too light. If objects appear blurred, change the sharpness for a clearer image."

See, the above just says "and then adjust the slider" but how???

I haven't watched the video yet. Going there next.

And now I have no sound either. How do I get my sound back? I have my headphones plugged into my sound card.

EDIT: Forget this question. I found it!

Question, seeing this 'using the JOG multi directional button " does this mean if you press on the left side of the button it moves the volume or what ever to the left> lean on the right of the button and it goes right???? just asking

No, I don't think it does that. It brings up something to "change the input signal" (I don't know what that means.), the on screen display, or the eye saver mode button.

In the video it just looks like he is using the keyboard somehow to change brightness or whatever. I was in that function (by accident) but my arrow keys didn't do anything that I noticed although, I was trying to move to the exit area, not trying to change brightness or whatever so maybe it was moving the slider. I really don't know but that still doesn't tell me how to move from "brightness" to "contrast" or "exit" let's say.

If I manage to figure this out, what adjustment would my dark colors in excel sheets fall under? I don't want to have to play around with the settings. The colors are dark but it is also very bright.

I have the 390, not that 396. I did not get some of the stuff in that box the video guy had. I did get this extra cable (just what I need - more clutter) that connects the monitor to the wall cable. In other words, the cable doesn't go from my monitor to the wall. I have 2 cables. One is plugged in the monitor and into the other cable and that other cable is what plugs into the wall. Just weird.

I watched a music video that I like and it looks more blurry in the middle now with this monitor. I don't know if that is the curve or something that can be adjusted somewhere. So far, I definitely notice the curve. I can see it in my spreadsheets too. I do like that this monitor stands a little taller than my old one does but it also feels more wobbly.

EDIT: Actually, I just found a video for the 390 and I didn't get the same stuff in my box as in this video either. No CD and a different type of wall plug. Packaging is different too. I'm still watching it. Watched a few of them. One was exactly what I got except this is supposed to tilt a little but doesn't seem to. I guess they packaged some of the same monitor with some different things.

Another Edit: I'm a little afraid the curve is going to make me get even more dizzyish in some games.

I just looked at Drac’s link and on page 9 I believe. Control panel it shows the Jog button and it shows that it does go left if you press on the left side right on the right top is up bottom is down

That's it!

Well, I have gotten in and reduced some settings but nothing looks different and I keep shutting the screen off somehow so I guess I will just get used to it the way it is just like I have with all my other screens, because I cannot really figure out how it works. What I changed was mostly accidental.

Thanks for trying to help me. The info about pressing the button as opposed to turning it was very helpful as the instructions are not clear about that at all. And, last but not least, thanks for listening to my rant!

Believe me, I felt your pain! I've had this monitor for almost 4 years and I STILL hate that control on the back! I avoid it like the plague! Once I got things the way I wanted them, I've left it alone.

Actually, I don't know if the colors are right or wrong. When I set this Windows 10 computer up, the excel spreadsheet colors looked way too bright but I got used to them. Now they seem too dark but maybe this is how they're supposed to look. I'll get used to them. Most everything else looks okay. The whole screen seems kind of bright but...

Tomorrow I'm going to finally start the new Carol Reed game. I've been waiting for this monitor. I think it will look great!

EDIT: One thing though, I'm trying to shut down for the night and can't shut the monitor off. How do I shut it off?

I usually just put my computer to sleep every night and do a shut down on Sunday night. You turn it off by pressing that button in the middle on the back with all the toggling options. That link to the User's Manual I posted should help. You really don't have to turn it off though. If the computer is shut down or asleep it's just in standby.

Thanks. I managed to turn it off. I guess the blue light staying on is just showing a connection to the outlet. I don't like it blinking that's why I want it off. I did download the manual and read through most of it but that doesn't mean I am not having trouble with that switch (just like you don't want to use it). Sometimes moving it is moving a slider and sometimes it is kicking me to somewhere I don't want to be and I can't get it to move me to where I want to be. I'm done playing with it for now though!

I feel your pain! That has got to be the most UN-user friendly thing I've ever encountered! I probably haven't touch mine in 3 years!

Again. It will not shut off. I press the button and it keeps blinking in the top left corner: Analog - HDMI. It's making me crazy!!

If it's in your bedroom and you don't like the blinking light, you can always throw a towel over it.

Also if you don't like the brightness, and don't want to mess with monitor controls, you can adjust brightness settings using your video card. I think most video cards allow you to adjust brightness separately for each program.

I think to power off, you have to hold the middle button for about 5 seconds.

Thanks for your suggestions Jenny. It's in my kitchen and I'm not throwing a towel over it. I am also no good at using video card settings. Most everything seems to look okay now. It doesn't seem quite as bright or dark.

I turned it on quickly today. Press down and then in. Unless I just got lucky with that. I will try this when I shut it down. I think holding the middle button down was what got it in that top left blinking loop. It seems it is only supposed to blink that stuff up there when you turn it on. That was a different blinking than the power light blinking.

I have to shamefully admit that often anything more complicated than a standard "On/Off" switch can absolutely do me in

I hope you win, oldbroad

I think the goal was to just have one "button" to do the work of many different buttons. However, in my opinion, it is a huge fail!

Thanks Mad!

It's still giving me trouble. What works one time doesn't seem to work the same way the next time. What are you gonna do.

You know, I believe this IS what has been working for powering off and on

I hope so! Now you see why I never turn mine off. I did find out there is a way to have that flashing notice in the upper left turned off in that users manual.

Oldbroad, I have to tell you that I had to order a new monitor this morning. I checked and I've had this Samsung curved screen monitor for longer that I thought - almost 5 years. I never physically turn it off, it just goes to sleep when I put my computer to sleep at night. As I commiserated with you, I also HATE that little round button control on the back! For the last month or so, it has started not "waking up," but I've always been able to get the screen back. Not this morning, even after rebooting... I'm not sure if the HDMI port has gone belly up, but I'm sure not going to use a VGA cable/adapter with my high end video card. Because I work on a lot of computers, I always have a cheap spare monitor, so connected it. I have LOVED this 24" Samsung monitor, but when shopping this morning, I scrolled on by the Samsungs because of that stupid control! Ended up getting a 27" curved monitor ASUS with buttons on the back. I may hate those too, but thought you'd appreciate this!

5 years doesn't seem that long for a monitor. My Dell that I replaced with this Samsung is almost 10 years old. It still works but it started buzzing at times and a couple of times when I tried to open my Outlook program it wouldn't open due to some "monitor, hardware" something. I Googled that and it didn't really seem to have to do with the monitor but I think it did. I'm using both ports as this is the one that shares XP and Win 10 which was another reason this monitor worked for me.

I hope you like the new monitor. 27" was just too big for me right now. For some reason, I thought you already had at least a 27" screen.

Come back and let me know about the buttons. I just don't understand buttons on the back or on the underlip (where my Acer (Win7) has them) where you can't see them. Of course, the Dell's were on the front right side but "touch" so you really couldn't see those either. Do any monitors have maybe just a button you push and then use your keyboard to change the settings?

I didn't think it was very long either. But then my beloved ViewSonic only lasted about 5 years too. I don't know of any that allow you to change settings using your keyboard.

OK. Finally have a lazy afternoon to myself so I can post this. Got my new monitor Wednesday and set it up yesterday. OMG! This thing is amazing. Now, I'm going to preface this with how much I LOVED, LOVED my Samsung curved 24" monitor in spite of the dreadful control on the back. Once I got things set up the way I wanted them almost 5 years ago, I haven't touched it since. I do not turn my monitor off every day - I just let it go into "suspension" when I put my computer to sleep every night. I shut my computer down completely every Sunday night. There is nothing going to the monitor, so no need to physically turn it off.

My new 27" ASUS curved screen monitor is amazing. I didn't expect it to be this big, but that curved screen is so easy on the eyes. The thing is built like a tank which is something new for me with monitors! Now matter the price of the monitor, the stands/bases always seemed flimsy to me. Not this one! There is even a nod to cable management in the heavy duty stand. And if I want to turn it off physically, oldbroad... it has a dedicated BUTTON on the back! Yippee! Now it did have a small little round thingie similar to the Samsung thingie, but it was much easier to use. One of the real buttons has pre-set picture options such as Racing, Theatre, FPS gaming etc. I could scroll through them to get the picture I liked best. I am very sorry to lose my Samsung, but this new monitor is amazing!

Sounds great Draclvr!

How does the bigger screen work though as far as sitting distance? Do you have to put it farther away from you than your smaller screen was? I can't imagine a 27" where my 24" is as I'm sure it would be too close. I think I have even pushed this 24" back farther than where my older monitor was and that was only, maybe, an inch or so smaller. Yet at times, I have to lean in close to see detail better.

Did you have to scroll using the "small little round thingie" or some other way?

I found I had to move it back several inches. Yes, I have to use the little round thingie to scroll up and down the menu. But the fact that I can use an actual button to bring up the menu option and then just use it to scroll is huge. Using the round thingie to bring up menu items never failed to mess me up!

Well, enjoy!!