Improving PC Performance

Bird · Jan 6, 2002

I'd appreciate it, Brandon, especially since I can't help with your current problem; never had a problem with my B7100 and don't know what could have happened to yours.

I called Dell back, and got a different kind of fellow this afternoon. He just insisted that the fact that the computer asks for that file and CD was just a mistake on Microsoft's part and that if I wanted the computer to accept faxes, I'd have to contact HP, then when I told him that was not the solution (the printer has nothing to do with it), he said I'd need to contact BVRP which provided the Phone Tools software, and when I told him it worked before under ME, he transferred me to another phone number that wanted a credit card number before you could talk to a person. So I called again and another guy also told me I'd have to call BVRP, but they're only open after 10 a.m. on weekdays. Needless to say, I'm pretty disgusted with Dell right now, since it appears that XP has a way to set up faxes. I checked BVRP's web site and I could buy Phone Tools for a little under $40 and may have to do that (or send this computer back to Dell).

TerryinMD · Jan 7, 2002

Bird,

Go to the HP site and check out if they've upgraded the G55 drivers and software for XP. I had to wait for HP to upgrade the software for our T45 (a multifunctional device). Once I got the updated software, the printer works as it did for ME.

To be honest, I wouldn't completely "trust" Dell to provide you with all of the lastest greatest. Probably best to hit each manufacturer site to get their latest and greatest software/drivers.

Terry

Bird · Jan 7, 2002

Thanks, Terry. I had done that and found that I had to uninstall the old HP software, and then XP has the necessary drivers for the printer built in. So it now prints, scans, and copies like it should. And this morning, I got through to BVRP and a nice lady there sent me an e-mail with all the instructions to download and install the latest version of Phone Tools for Dell (at no cost) for the fax function. So I did that, and it looks just like the older version. There's only one small problem; it doesn't work./w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif I'm guessing there must be some settings that I haven't figure out yet and I'm bound to either figure it out or get her back on the phone eventually./w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

Devildog · Jan 8, 2002

Bird, which dell did you get. Jim

Bird · Jan 8, 2002

Jim, I have the Dell Dimension 8100, 1.3 GHz Pentium 4, 128 MB ram, CD-RW, 20 GB hard drive, and 250 MB Zip drive. And when I called BVRP back about the fax software not working, they told me it was because I didn't have the right driver for the modem. XP installed a "generic" modem driver that worked for the Internet, but not for the fax; said I needed to call Dell and get the driver for the particular modem installed in the computer. So, I called Dell again, and the fellow I got was adamant that there were no other drivers and the problem was BVRP software and it wasn't Dell's problem.

I eventually realized that I was getting nowhere, but fortunately, when I bought this computer, I took advantage of their financing (not a good deal and I've always paid cash up front in the past, but for some reason decided not to when I bought this one). So, when I couldn't get any help, I finally told him to go get his supervisor to tell me where to ship this junk because if it wouldn't work right, I wasn't paying for it. He put me on hold for 4 minutes and miraculously found a place for me to download the right driver./w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif

So, once again, I think I'm through with getting it set up. I'm still not happy with the fact that XP changed the drive letters so that the hard drive is now E instead of C (and Dell has no explanation for that one; just says it shouldn't have happened), but it works as long as you remember which is which. XP is pretty on the screen, and as expected, has some nice features and some not so nice. Only time will tell whether it's any better than prior versions.

MossRoad · Jan 8, 2002

Persistence at its finest! Good job.

TerryinMD · Jan 8, 2002

Bird,

I hope you got adamant with the fellow and his supervisor!! There is no reason for that kind of support. You did the right thing. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Terry

Devildog · Jan 8, 2002

Bird, Like you I opted for the finance this time, And you bought up a good point with being able to use that to your advantage/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif I also 2nd what Terry said.
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Take care, Jim

MikePA · Jan 8, 2002

It baffles me how Dell can claim they are number 1 for support. I know that people tend to not share the good stories, but too many people I know have had very bad experiences from Dell support. Actually, not just Dell support, but Dell in general. Once person who works for me has not been able to get his $250 rebate from a system he bought early last winter. He gets run around their voicemail system, gets referred to web pages that don't exist, etc. No one at Dell will take ownership of his problem.

TerryinMD · Jan 8, 2002

The modern paradigm.... is it just great!! /w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif

Terry

Bird · Jan 8, 2002

Mike, I assume (whether correctly or not) that it just depends on the individuals. One of the six I talked to was very good, two were OK, and the other three obviously didn't know what they were doing. And of course, when that last guy came up with a place to download the right drivers for the modem (after assuring me no such thing existed), it was from one of Dell's own support sites. Weird things happen in this old world, and I guess I'd have just been out of luck if I'd paid cash up front for this machine./w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

But I'd have to admit I had just as much, if not more, trouble with IBM and the last computer I had. The difference is that it was hardware instead of software. The original monitor died completely in a very short time, and I had quite a bit of trouble getting it replaced. The second monitor also died before the warranty was up, and I had so much trouble getting it replaced, took so long, that I went out and bought another monitor Eventually, I got disgusted with IBM and wrote a letter to the chairman of the board, and while it took a long time, they finally decided to give me a new 17" monitor (to replace the defective 15" monitors) and $100./w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

Devildog · Jan 8, 2002

You got that right Bird. I looked around a little more today at some other computers(Micron,Compaq,Acer,Sony,etc)and for everything we ordered no one seems to be able to come close to that Price. Im going to check out costco because that is where we got thie compaq we have now. But its kinda hit and miss there/w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif it depends on what they have in.
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Take care all, Jim

GlueGuy · Jan 8, 2002

<font color=blue>I know that people tend to not share the good stories</font color=blue>

Well, maybe I oughta. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

I just had a relatively painless experience. I have had a Compaq computer for almost 3 years now. Lately, it had been slowing down unexpectedly, for no apparent reason. Well, I installed some new software that required a re-boot, and after the startup diagnostic, I got a warning message: "SmartDisk has detected that you have an imminent hard drive failure". Well, I was totally unaware of it. I checked the event log, and sure enough, I'd been getting 1, 2, 4, 8, 20 "events" a day indicating that parts of my hard drive are starting to go south.

Mind you, I still have the "defective" disk in there and running. However, I now have a new hard drive (about to be installed) to replace the "broken" one. This is slick. In the old days, you just had to scream when the hard drive crashed. Now, it tells you before it happens.

TerryinMD · Jan 9, 2002

Good story.

I purchased my first PC from a small shop at one of computer shows. That was four years ago. At that time, it was the more inexpensive ways to go. About a year later, I started to have motherboard problems, I took it into the shop and the fixed it - no questions asked.

In the meantime, I started to "upgrade" the system. New graphics card, new modems, more memory, another CDROM. I started to build up some extra parts.

About six months after that, the same problem appeared. I started to get a little smarter about building PCs also. I found that I could build my own for a little less than having someone else built it.

One of the things I learned along the way was to buy name brand components - Western Digital, Fujitsu, DiamondMM, etc. About a year after building my new machine, the Western Digital drive got flakey. Since it was under warrenty, I called them up. Needless to say, I had a new drive within a couple of days with the software to recover my old data. They also had an offer to upgrade the 8.4GB drive to a 13GB for a few dollars more. The people were pleasant and easy to work with. With that experience, I won't look at any other hard drive.

Terry

MossRoad · Jan 9, 2002

We have lots of western digital drives and they go out frequently and they replace them with no questions. Great service. I even use them in my home machines.

However, isn't this strange: we all love a company that sells a product that apparently breaks down often/w3tcompact/icons/tongue.gif. Just goes to show you what great customer service will do.

TerryinMD · Jan 9, 2002

MossRoad,

Is it a particular model that gives you guys fits or WD's in general?

What drives seem to outlast all of the others? Quantum, IBM, Fujitsu, ??

Terry

GlueGuy · Jan 9, 2002

The drive that is "failing" that I was referring to is a pretty ancient Maxtor 72004 AP. To give you an idea of its age, the capacity on it is 1.84GB. The other drive is an IBM DCAS-34330W.

I have had the best performance from IBM and Fujitsu drives. Seagate is up there too. I have had mised results from Western Digital.

MossRoad · Jan 9, 2002

We have many WD drives of different sizes, 1.2G up to 30G, and they are in use constantly, however, we have had better luck with the seagates. I'm not complaining, I like the WD drives and the service is great, but we probably have around 200 in service and on average replace 1 per week and a half. They have never had a warranty dispute and have always replaced them no questions asked. But the ones that are older than 3 years are no longer under warranty and we have to replace them at our cost.

brewerbob · Jan 9, 2002

Brandon:
Slightly different problem: New Dell 4300 with WIN2000P. New Kodak DC3400 digital camera. The software for the camera is not plug and play. How do I install it? My wife worked on this for a long time, finally got the computer in a loop where it would start up and immediately re-boot. Took her a lot of frustration and time to get it back to where we could use it. I still need to know how to install the software. Anything you can tell us would be appreciated.
Bob

Bird · Jan 9, 2002

Bob, as you may have guessed, these computers confound me. I assume you got a CD with the software with the camera? If not, I've noticed Kodak has <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.kodak.com/global/en/service/software/dc3400/new/dc3400Software.jhtml>this site</A> for downloading the software and it says for Windows 2000, but does not mention XP, although they have something about XP on their home page. Good luck. I'm still trying to figure out how to use Picture It!/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif