How to set up the HP A4033A or HP A4331A monitor for a Windows PC using the .inf file which I have written:-

These instructions are written for Windows 95, however the driver does work in 98, 2000 and XP. The method of making it work is different though.

I haven't gotton around to writing new instructions.

This file drives my HP A4033A monitor just fine, however I can accept no responsibility for any damage to property, persons, or data that use of these instructions or file may cause. Use of the file defines that you agree to these terms.

    1: Download the inf file from here. Right click on it and use "Save link as.."

    2: Switch off your PC and plug in the A4033A monitor. To do this you'll need a VGA to 5 way BNC lead. You MUST have a lead which connects ALL FIVE BNC connections. Leads are available which have only three or four BNC connectors, they will NOT work.

    3: Boot up the PC and when it says "Starting Windows 95…" press F8 to boot in safe mode. Select safe mode from the list of options.

    4: Select Start then Settings then Control Panel.

    5: Double click on Display.

    6: Select the Settings tab.

    7: Select Advanced Properties.

    8: Select the Monitor tab.

    9: Click the Change button.

    10: Select Have Disk.

    11: Click the Browse button and find the disk / directory where you previously put the a4033av?.inf file.

    12: OK everything after that and reboot the PC.

Depending on your graphics adapter you may have options such as "optimum refresh rate", or you may be able to select the refresh rate. Go for optimum if you see it or the highest if you don't. If you select a refresh rate that is too high for the monitor then it will blank out. If this happens then reboot the PC in safe mode and change back to a known working configuration. The monitor will also work set up as a Standard SVGA monitor too, but you will get a better quality picture at the higher rates that this driver allows.

The HP A4033A monitor is a 20" workstation monitor containing a Sony Trinitron tube. Amongst others, it supports 640x480, 600x800, 1024x768, 1280x1024 and 1600x1200. It uses 5 BNC connections to connect to a video source, these being Red, Green, Blue, H sync and V sync, but it will also sync from "Sync on Green" type sources (which have only three BNC connections), and composite sources (which have four). The HP A4133A was the replacement and supports slightly higher refresh rates and on screen controls.

The actual refresh rates are:-

A4033A
Vertical 50-120Hz
Horizontal 30-80kHz

A4331A
Vertical 48-150Hz
Horizontal 30-82kHz

This might be useful to BSD, Linux or Windows NT users. Note that you must stay inside the limits of Vertical and Horizontal at the same time. For example at 1600 x 1200 you won't get to 120Hz vertical because the horizontal would be way over 80kHz.