ATI 2400 Pro problems

I have a new Inspiron 530 with an ATI 2400 video card. I think it's
really called "ATI 2400 HD Pro" or something similar. Since I got the
computer, almost two weeks ago, the display intermittently becomes
corrupted and sometimes it resets itself but sometimes not. I've
worked through most of the self help stuff on the ATI website,
downloading latest driver (the newest of which is less than one week
old), completely turning off hardware acceleration, and it still does
it. There was one last step on the ATI page saying something about
turning off shadowing, a bunch of other miscellaneous stuff, but I'm
thinking if I need to do all that, there must be some problem with
either the card or the software.

Anyway, is there a shortcut to getting through to someone at Dell that
can authorize either sending me a replacement card, or allowing me a
discount on an upgraded card purchased from Dell? Their phone service
is poor, and their chat tech options haven't yet seemed worthwhile.
But, if I have to go back to either of them and just bide my time, I
guess I can. I'm just hoping that other newsgroup readers might know
of some easier ways of customer service.

Thanks,

Mark

"Mark Rathgeber" <alvamark@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:01d4fdfe-4779-4f9c-aa51-4b81fb5da10e@k37g2000hsf.googlegroups.com...
>I have a new Inspiron 530 with an ATI 2400 video card. I think it's
> really called "ATI 2400 HD Pro" or something similar. Since I got the
> computer, almost two weeks ago, the display intermittently becomes
> corrupted and sometimes it resets itself but sometimes not. I've
> worked through most of the self help stuff on the ATI website,
> downloading latest driver (the newest of which is less than one week
> old), completely turning off hardware acceleration, and it still does
> it. There was one last step on the ATI page saying something about
> turning off shadowing, a bunch of other miscellaneous stuff, but I'm
> thinking if I need to do all that, there must be some problem with
> either the card or the software.
>
> Anyway, is there a shortcut to getting through to someone at Dell that
> can authorize either sending me a replacement card, or allowing me a
> discount on an upgraded card purchased from Dell? Their phone service
> is poor, and their chat tech options haven't yet seemed worthwhile.
> But, if I have to go back to either of them and just bide my time, I
> guess I can. I'm just hoping that other newsgroup readers might know
> of some easier ways of customer service.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Mark


Hi Mark,

I prefer using the online hardware chat for their tech support versus either
the phone or e-mail. Those are the only (3) options we have, and to me chat
is the least painful. Plus it gives me a written record of what the tech
did/says during the conversation - for possible future use.

I also have that same card in an XPS420 with WinVistaHomePremium.

Mine does something similar (intermittently/periodically) as well. Usually
it occurs when waking the system from sleep via mouse or keyboard. The
screen will flash (multiple times quickly) with corrupted display; it will
do this for just a few seconds until it finally resets itself properly and
then it seems to be okay. I don't recall the system doing it while fully
powered on while either idling at desktop or while in use - primarily when
waking from sleep. I'd just dismissed it as a 'Vista quirk'.

I'm using the original factory image drivers from a December 2007 timeframe.

My eventual plan (if I don't re-sell the system) was to replace the video
card anyway to either a 256mb or 512mb card of my choice.

You could contact Dell to have the card replaced and see if that cures the
problem. Post back with your findings if you get a chance.


Stew

"Chat is the least painful..." I like putting it that way. It seems
a BIT more bearable, but still quite clunky.

Anyway, last night I completed the fourth, or maybe fifth, chat, this
time with "Sukhpreet," another presumably Asian Dell tech dude, and I
think relief is finally on its way. They agreed to send me a new
video card. So, we'll see.

Also, I don't mean to disparage that fact that Dell is apparently
using India for it's tech support. They are always friendly and they
do try to be helpful. It's just obvious that they are probably trying
to help other chats at the same time because I'm sitting here waiting
on a response. And sometimes their grammar and word choice are a bit
off. I find myself carefully choosing what I say, trying to be
completely clear, trying to avoid colloquialisms, etc. I guess it's
probably good for me in a cultural exchange kinda way.

I'll try to post again with the results after the replacement card
comes. Meanwhile, I will be removing the card and using the
motherboard video for now.

Mark

P.S. Who let in all of these wris****ch ads?

The new card came in last Thursday, I believe, and I got installed
Friday evening. (While I had the box open, I also put in a new LiteOn
Lightscribe DVD burner.) I reinstalled the ATI driver and software,
and there hasn't been any problems since, and it's been on nearly
continuously. SOOO simple. The only aggravating thing about all of
this is that it took at least four chats to get them to send me a new
card, and what they did at the last to see what I needed is what I had
done before I even contacted them. It's irritating, but I guess it
could be worse. And the DVD burner works like a charm, too. I am
back to enjoying a new computer with a huge hard drive and lots of
RAM!
Mark