Dell fixes flat-panels on the fritz

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Dell says it has a fix for a driver problem that has some of its customers' flat-panel screens drawing a blank.

Some people who purchased a Dell Optiplex or Dimension desktop PC with a Dell UltraSharp digital video interface or DVI-capable flat-panel displays have reported that the monitors refuse to work after a while, when used with the DVI interface. Dell spokeswoman Mary Fad said on Friday that the company believes that the software drivers for certain graphics cards may cause the problem. Drivers are software that allow hardware such as a monitor to communicate with an operating system such as Microsoft Windows.

Dell prides itself on customer service. However, from time to time, the company has problems with its systems. Often it fixes them using software updates or replacement parts. Last year, for example, Dell launched a service campaign to replace motherboards in nearly 20,000 Inspiron notebooks. The fix involves updating the affected PC's drivers and resetting the monitor's EDID, or extended display identification data, which contains the settings for the monitor. When the EDID is corrupted by the driver mismatch, it can cause a display not to work, according to Dell.

News source: C|Net News.com

The 32 bit version supports Drag&Drop from and to explorer/desktop, delete to the recycle bin, and Explorer style context menus/property sheets. FTP servers on the Internet can be accessed like local drives.A configurable directory hotlist (bookmarks) and history list make directory navigation easier.

The sync function allows to synchronize two complete directory trees, and the compare function shows the difference of two binary or text files highlighted side by side. The new parallel port connection works between any combination of Windows 95/98/ME, Windows NT 4, Windows 2000/XP, Windows 3.1 and even DOS through a separate server.

NOTE: The update is still free for all registered users (also of Windows Commander)

What's New in This Release:

Fixed: With file panels above each other, the mouse wheel may have scrolled the wrong window
Fixed: Ctrl+Q on drive in "My Computer" turned off quick view permanently

#1 LordHatrus on 05 Mar 2004 - 22:53

"The fix involves updating the affected PC's drivers and resetting the monitor's EDID, or extended display identification data, which contains the settings for the monitor."
And they couldn't get the user to do this?
Honestly.....

#2 bluebsh on 05 Mar 2004 - 23:05

now if they'd just fix the same problem on the Inspiron 5100 laptops where if you leave it with the lid closed long enough and not suppended when you pull the lid back up the screen stays off yet windows resumes....

(1 reply) #3 dougkinzinger on 05 Mar 2004 - 23:13

Dell has always made good on their faulty products, even drivers. I don't know about your 5100 problem, though, Bluebush...

#3.1 bluebsh on 06 Mar 2004 - 00:14

it's really common, dell when i contacted them about it they said they had a list of about 2,000 reported cases, and thats just reported ones... they said there is no fix for it yet, but they where working on a bios patch... but that was how many BIOS versions ago i was told that... way back at A06 now were at what A26? i think

I mean I love dell, they are my fav company, good systems at very good prices. But I just wish they'd get that fixed, it doesn't happen consistantly either... so it gets hard to reporduce the glitch.

#4 OptiPlex on 05 Mar 2004 - 23:41

i see my name in there woot!!1

#5 mercuryx013 on 06 Mar 2004 - 01:38

We have had a ton of Dell FP1900 fry at the office. The DVI burns out but the Analog connection still works. I called to report one last week.. Dell always denied that there was a problem. I must have sent 20 of them back by now.

#6 yashiro on 06 Mar 2004 - 03:39

QUOTE

When the EDID is corrupted by the driver mismatch, it can cause a display not to work, according to Dell.

Hehe, yeah...

#7 electic102 on 06 Mar 2004 - 05:06

Why would you buy Dell anyway? lol

#8 MitchShrader on 06 Mar 2004 - 10:33

Dell would do themselves a BIG favor if they'd just offer a 'No Lemon' warranty, and replace common issue failures with a new comp. What it'd cost em in parts would be more'n repaid in customer satisfaction, lowered complaints, fewer service calls, and bigger market share. They have a 'good' hardware average, but whoever set up their customer service model was a lousy salesperson.. If their service was equal to their hardware, the small percentage of (unavoidable) issues would be POSITIVE sales vectors. Listening? I doubt it..

#9 acidsex on 06 Mar 2004 - 22:08

Dell prides itself on customer service.

Please, Dell has one of the worst customer service and billing departments around. I sent my payments in 6 months straight and they cashed each one yet had the audacity to harrass and send me to collections. When I faxed them the cashed check receipts, the guy said "mistakes happen, so we hope you dont hold it against us and continue to purcahse our products in the future." Sure Ill get right on that one ... NOT!

#10 demorgoron on 07 Mar 2004 - 00:44

uff,crapped my pants,tought my dell lcd was dysfunct,the only thing it has bad, its a burnt pixel at the right side of the screen,been thinking to replace it.

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