Monitor randomly shuts off.

[Cawchy87]

Well, every 10 minutes or so the power cuts out on the monitor (light goes off screen goes black) for about 2 seconds and then comes back on. This happend to me on 2 other dell monitors and the other just had issues. I absalutly hate their tech support so i figured i would ask you guys first. Anything i can try to fix this before callling tech "support"?

I have tried:
1. diferent vid cards (geforce and ati)
2. re-setting monitor to factory defaults
3. different resolutions and hz


Anything else?

Thank you soooooo much!

 

[sharq]

Have you disabled any, and all, power saving features for the monitor? Does your screen saver come on around that time? Does it go off every 10 minutes?

 

[Cawchy87]

i'll be browsing around the fourms, playing games, burning a cd. It happens any time, not just when i leave it alone. And now it seems to be better and only shut off once in the last hour. Really annoying when playing games tho.

and all power saving features are off. screen saver does not come on.

 

[sharq]

What are the specs of the monitor?

 

[cubanx]

I know I had this problem years ago with a PC/Monitor combo and I had to change something in the Power Managment section of the BIOS to fix the problem. "I think" it it had options like VSync/Blank, turn off, and something else maybe.

 

[Cawchy87]

http://www.gawwkstore.co.uk/monitors/m782p-midnight-grey-.htm

for the monitor specs, if you need more, just type: m782p into google.

 

[sharq]

Sorry, I can't think of anything to tell you.
I do know how you're feeling though, I've had to exchange a 19" monitor I bought 4 years ago (KDS brand) around 5 times. On the 5th one right now and the warranty has been over for a year. I was lucky KDS had a good warranty called the Kares program. The one piece of advice I can give you is, push for something better. It sounds like they are giving you refurbs, push for a new one, or an upgrade. You can tell them this is your third replacement so far. I got upgraded from a refurbished 19" Trinitron tube to a brand new 19" FD Trinitron tube monitor on my third one simply cause I spoke to one manager after another and gave them hell. I'm guessing their tech support is offshored to India (correct me if I'm wrong), most of those ppl have 0 authority in calling any shots, so demand a manager, and demand to talk to someone local to you. If not offshore then just demand to talk to a manager. Hope that helps.

 

[Cawchy87]

thanks for the advice and i will try my hardest to get a new one, but after arguing with the support guy for about 15 minutes last time all i got was "sorry sir we only give out refurbished". but i had his word "Sir although i cannot give you a new one, i can make sure that this one is tested well before we send it out to you."

Thanks...thanks alot dell.

 

[sharq]

That last line they gave you is just BS to get you off the phone. I was given that each time by KDS, and one time one of the monitors I got didn't even work right out of the box. As in literally didn't turn on.
Here is what I found from the Dell manual for your monitor for "Monitor malfunctions on & off":
* Check connection integrity of mains cables.
* Check the signal cable connection between computer and monitor.
* Ensure monitor is in proper video mode.
* Perform monitor "Reset"
* Use the monitor Self test feature described under trouble shooting.

 

[Cawchy87]

after 4 monitors i acctully have those things memorized :S . But even after telling them that i did them the tech support guys want me to do it over again... I really appreciate your help on this and going through all that reading. But i guess what i need now is suggestions on how to get them to send me a new monitor. You have told me to try to talk to the manager. So hopefully that works. Any others suggestions? thanks!

 

[sharq]

One thing I tried that got me attention was when the tech support guy picked up, I gave them the necessart info and when they asked how they can help me, this is what I said:
"I have a 19" <insert model here>, this is the 3rd one I have recieved from you in this <put months/years here> time. I just checked the cables, tried different cables, did the self test and did the reset. I have tried it on another computer on which the video card works guaranteed and got the same problem (even though I didn't run any such test), I have tried a friends monitor on my pc and it works fine (this I did do). If you will notice this is the 3rd one you have sent me so, I'll give you a minute to check if you want. Please do not waste my time, I want to speak to a manager, someone who will give me a refund or an upgrade."
That is pretty much what I said, calmly but firmly. The guy started with the "we can't do this/that" I said "I know you can't that is why I asked you to put me on the phone with your manager." Personally, when I was having to call up 2 months after getting the replacement that my 3rd monitor wasn't turning on after I got back from class, I was pissed, really pissed. I pushed and pushed for 10 mins with the manager for a refund. Told him I spent $400 on it cause of what I had heard from friends and cause it had a sony trinitron tube and this is not what I expect, to have to waste my time on the phone for something I spent all this money on. After 10 mins of telling me that he can't give me a refund I asked what he could do, and he gave me an upgrade.
I guess the key (which I'm sure you're aware) is to stay calm and composed at all times. I'm sure he knew I was pissed, and I did let him know I wasn't happy, but never gave a hint of anger. Oh, another thing I bought up was loss of productivity, kept saying that no monitor means that I can't do my work (I hinted I do some big job related work on this monitor).
Hope that helps. Sorry if its a lot to read, I'm off to bed now though. Best of luck.

 

[Cawchy87]

no worries about lenghth, i like reading posts and suggestions. also, since i bought it through dell with my computer i won't be able to get a direct refund for it. should i still use this as leverage? Also, i am not sure if i like completely bypassing the tech support guy. I suppose i can try this, but if it doesn't work immediatly then i think i will take his stupid suggestions and then pretend like i am doing it. Then ask for the manager. Because otherwise it sounds like i am trying to get something for free rather than something i deserve.

I would like to thank in advance anyone who helps me construct this tech support call and any suggestions!

 

[sharq]

I bought mine from BestBuy and not from KDS. They told me that I could ask BB, and I told em that it is way past 30 days they say they will have nothing to do with it. I knew from the start they were going to turn down the refund, but I was pissed and I wanted my money back.

 

[Cawchy87]

any other suggestions? i got my dell complete from mail order, so not really a store i could complain to either.