Random Fix

I’ve got an interesting issue going on with a client. They have fairly new, purchased in 2022, Dell OptiPlex 7000 series Tower computers with Intel UHD integrated graphics.

Two end users are currently affected by an issue after upgrading to Windows 11 Pro from Windows 10 Pro.

Within a week one or both of their Dell monitors which are connected via DisplayPort to HDMI cables, have gone blank. Going into power save mode is what the monitors say. No monitors in Device Manager.

Dell BIOS works fine, the Dell splash logo appears upon first turning the computer on and or rebooting.

I tried updating the Intel graphics driver. When that didn’t work, I tried installing all available updates from Dell Command as well as Windows update. I even went as far as doing a refresh keeping documents.

No luck. The strange thing is initially both monitors didn’t work for one end user, but the second end user had one monitor working and the second not. They swapped cables from the working monitor to the second user and that monitor started working. They purchased the same DisplayPort to HDMI cable and tried with the second monitor to no avail.

Instead of putting anymore time into this issue, I suggested purchasing a monitor with native DisplayPort ports. That’s the end solution – I hope. I’ll know more when they get their monitors. In the mean time, if you find a solution to this, feel free to comment. I saw a Microsoft forum post where two users had similar setups and could not get their monitors to work after upgrading to Windows 11. My honest suggestion is to not use Windows 11 period. I am going to wait until Windows 10 goes completely end of life before even attempting to upgrade to Windows 11.

Windows 11 reminds me so much of Windows Vista and Windows 8. Both piece of shit products that I wouldn’t touch with a ten foot pole.

I just want to say FUCK IPV6 and anyone who claims that it’s not the problem. DNS? It’s always DNS and IPV6!

I guess for most of us the past two years have been crazy, to say the least. I hope to post more to this blog in the coming year. Hope you all have a great 2022.

I saw about two weeks ago that Logitech was releasing a new updated G915 without the ten key pad. I knew I was going to get this as I had purchased the G915 but due to the length of the keyboard, I returned it. I said if they come out with a TKL version, I’m sold.

The last version I had was the equivalent to the Cherry MX Blue switches. The one I have is called Tactile which is the equivalent of Cherry MX Brown switches. It’s so nice to type on. I was hoping the linear (Cherry MX Red) was available, but I’d have to order it online. I’m content with the Tactile (Cherry MX Brown) version.

This is my first Cherry MX Brown keyboard. Up to now I’ve only had blues and reds. I primarily like the feeling of the reds. I don’t like blue as it takes too much force to type and causes a lot of typos.

The build quality appears to be the same, sans the TKL.

The thing I liked the most of the G915 was how fast it connected to both the wireless and bluetooth. I’ll update this review as time goes on.

I am using the keyboard with my 2015 MacBook Pro 15″. I took it on one appointment and it was great typing on it. It fits into my InCase backup perfectly. It’s not bulky at all.

I used to do a lot of computer repairs. Things like replacing keyboards, fans, speakers, LCD screens, etc.

Early to mid 2000s, you could easily get spare parts for most notebooks and desktops.

Desktops are obviously easier because they usually follow a standard such as ATX. However, lately, I’ve noticed that Dell has its own proprietary power supply units which you can only get from Dell. The good thing is the motherboard still uses the ATX standard. This means I can take an everyday PSU and plug it in, it’s ugly and it’s hanging outside of the case on a desk, but it fixes the computer.

On the laptop front, things have gone down the shitter. They’re making them not be repairable if you ask me. Parts are scarce. Replacement batteries after your warranty run out are non-existent. Before you tell me to run over to eBay or some other surplus store, don’t bother. I have tried purchasing batteries from there and they claim to be true OEM replacements, but they’re not. I’d have to imagine they’re exceptionally good counterfeits.

I tried going direct to the manufacturer which you used to be able to do such as HP’s Part Surfer and 9/10 times the part you’re looking for is no longer being sold.

They call this planned obsolescence.

The one thing I do know is that business class laptops and desktops typically can come with a standard three-year next business day warranty. And in doing so, you guarantee yourself three years’ worth of parts if anything goes wrong. I can’t say for sure how the parts market looks after three years.

The only reason I’m writing this is because I left the computer repair world a few years ago and moved towards supporting small businesses with their IT needs. I help procure desktops and laptops, typically from Dell small business such as their OptiPlex and Latitude offerings. Again, three-year next business day warranty. You can add on, a four-hour window too.

Overall, I agree with the right to repair movement. Computer manufacturers are hurting consumers by not allowing us to repair our devices. Having readily available parts is one part of the right to repair, IMHO. Without it, you’re having to go to places like eBay and hope and pray that the part you order is the right one. They have so many different part numbers for a single laptop model, but most of the time there are a lot of small variances in the actual model.

In closing, the right to repair should be given to everyone. The way these companies hurt consumers is by and large. Planned obsolescence should not be a thing.

I contacted StarTech via their chat and they informed me that this card is not compatible with any version of ESXi. No idea if it’s compatible with Hyper-V. I’ve had luck getting some non-officially supported devices to work properly. No luck this time. I tried to pass it through to the virtual machine, including installing the StarTech official driver. No luck.