It sounds to me as if you are going through the exact same thing that I went through...hours and hours on the phone to tech support...I had two in-home calls, but they seemed easier to get than what you are going through. That tech told me I shouldn't have to be going through all of what I was going through. I think "maybe" he could have fixed the problem, but all he was allowed to do was what he was told to do..ie come and replace the hard drive (I knew and he knew it wasn't a hard drive problem) I really forget what he came out the second time for and the problems were still there. They "did" give me a case number so the tech in India that I called each time could look it up and see what was done last. I finally gave up...called tech support and said I wanted to return the computer (it was on my son's Dell card). At this point, they told me I had had it too long for a full refunded return. I told them to look at when I made my first complaint and notice I hadn't had it for very long before I called tech support and that they had dinked around with it so long, that my refund time was up. They finally refunded the full amount. I was told how to ship it and I followed their instructions to the letter. They weren't going to refund eighty some dollars because they said that one object should have been packed separately...I had the documentation where they said to put "everything" in two boxes...they told me what to put in each box and to write on the box what was inside. Well, it ended up costing me forty dollars to get it packed, and I "might" have gotten that amount refunded (not sure) but, I was just glad to see the tail lights of the UPS car leaving my driveway with those boxes. Roselvr, I "probably" paid too much for the computer I ended up with...I bought locally, but I have a "smokin'" computer...it works and I have a place to go and personally ask questions if need be. I asked Dell to send me a questionaire to fill out and tell my story...yes, they need these horror stories documented along with the "happy" ones they produce. They didn't see it that way and didn't "want" my story on a questionaire. My son felt bad because he has a Dell and has been happy with it...although not happy with the Indian tech support...and he talked me into buying a Dell. I told him it was, "just one of those things" and I might have gotten a good one, it just didn't happen that way. But...as I said, I went through the same thing and finally got it out of the house. How long have you had it? "Can" you return it at this time? I would call tech support and start making arrangements to get it out of your house....but rememeber...you're not alone, I know what you are going through completely :o)

I would second the suggestion of checking the resolution settings. I see an amazing number of flat screen monitors with the wrong settings. Unlike conventional CRT monitors, LCD monitors have only one resolution. While they will accept other resolutions everything will look funny. If that doesn't do it, I would suggest trying another computer to see if something is amiss with the monitor. Resetting the monitor to factory defaults might not be a bad idea either.

Yes, I have unplugged everyting & re-plugged it all back to where it should be. I haven't tried the system restore yet. This is where I'm at now.... we found another old huge monitor & got it hooked up & it works just fine! Wonderful picture! But hate the size of that monster! So the problem must be in the flat screen monitor, right? Are they repairable??? The white screen with the blue triangle showed up again...it said that the desktop screen couldn't work, so I choose another desktop screen & everything seems to be fine. I really appreciate all the help here! Thanks so much!!!

So many issues here! Kittiemom, I am also a kittiemom! Anyway, the computer armoire is also from Stuart David. We will have three SD pieces in our home - a tall wide dresser in DH's study, and the armoire and console/bookcase in the LR. The last time I checked, SD had a pathetic website. To get their furniture you have to go to an independent furniture store. There you can look at floor samples, plus go through the SD catalogs. I chose the dresser after seeing a model on the floor. The armoire and console are strictly from the catalog, but I already knew what kind of quality we would be getting (excellent). The store will have a display of the various woods and finishes. I chose alder in a lightly distressed walnut and it is beautiful. They have a huge variety of wood finishes and also some painted ones. If you find a store that carries SD, ask for the Entertainment Center catalog, as that's the one that carries the armoire with pocket doors. They also have a catalog for office furniture and why that one doesn't show our armoire is beyond me. But you could ask for them both, just to see all your options. If you are interested in the style number of our armoire, let me know here, and I'll try to find the catalog number. If you are price-conscious, the armoire was about $2300, and the console was $685. Not cheap, but this is the first time in my life that I'm finally assembling a pretty, well-decorated living room, so I'm going for broke. Literally. But this furniture is built and styled for the long-term. As to the question of the chair, yes, that is an issue with computer armoires. After 13 years of having an office-type chair on wheels, which tore up the carpets (note plural), I switched to an old French-style armchair that I inherited from my mother. It looks perfect with the armoire. The armoire is always open - after all, I am always on this website - and the chair fits with the keyboard shelf. If we close it, I just turn the chair around and it becomes part of the main seating arrangement. It works for me. I did not mean to imply that computers *should* be hidden in a LR, just that I personally wanted that. We also have a new flat-screen monitor and love it, and it would look fine out on a desk. I also second Teacat's suggestion of Ballards. They have a good selection of computer stations, desks, etc. They are limited as to finishes, though! Sorry for the length of this post. Remodeling and decorating our home is my retirement obsession, as the DSs and their wives don't seem too interested in producing grandchildren. So it's fabrics and paint colors, rather than "Bring those babies over!"