I purchased a "state of the art" ß joke] Dell dimension 8100 P4 with ME. When I booted it up, it seemed to take a rediculous amount of time to boot up (3 min). After several frustrating attempts to get answers from Dell, I found the solution elsewhere online (Computer.net), and the problem was installing (or searching) for PS\2 mouse. Disabling in Sys Props\Devices\Mouse, took care of the problem and bootup was 55 secs. Recently I upgraded the BIOS to the latest version, and to my surprise, again it was taking 3 min to boot. I could not believe that they would leave such an annoying and obvious deterrent to future Dell purchases. Anyway, I went to Sys Props\Devices\Mouse , and not only was PS\2 device not enabled, but now there was no device at all. Again, questions to Dell were met with indifference and an attitude which leeads one to believe they have no clue as to what I am talking about. FACT 1: Dell was certainly aware the PS\2 was a definite problem with the original BIOS setup. FACT 2: In re-writing the BIOS they intentionally re-introduced the problem, and this time attempted to make it impossible for their customers to easily remedy the problem, because they intentionally wrote the BIOS so that there would be no device to disable. FACT 3: In order to remedy the problem, one must first edit the MOUSE.INF file, removing all PS\2 lines of code, then edit the registry. Otherwise, the INF file will simply replace the registry keys. Question: Is it possible to use the PS\2 to access the computer? Is it possible to emulate a PS\2 connection or address it remotely over the internet?
I cannot believe that any mfg would install something like this, that leaves their equipment operating sub-standard to competitor's, unless they were doing something underhanded. Just the fact that they attempted to mask the PS\2 function and made it impossible to simply disable it, seems obviously covert. And then to act as if they don't know what their customer is talking about. How obvious can it be, to be sitting in front of your computer for THREE minutes waiting for it to boot up??? Want to take any bets that the computers THEY are using do NOT take 3 minutes to boot????? I mean, anyone familiar with computers, post Win 3.11, would find it rediculous. I would like to think this was simply a result of stupidity, but I am afraid the nature of what they are doing, hiding the code, pretending not to understand, and refusing to offer a remedy, makes it impossible to believe that their intentions are anything other than dishonest and subversive. I am not a computer geek, but I do have knowledge and vast experience on the Industrial side of computer applications (Controls Engineer), and I intend to pursue this, soliciting whatever help I can find, until I get at the truth.
Your help would be greatly appreciated, even if it is to simply point me in the right direction.

Thank you,

Brant
aimsbmb@aol.com

Brant, sorry your going thru this with Dell but not really sure what you would be asking the forums here to do we have no control over Dell or any other MFG. My suggestion is not to call support but first try Customer service if no help ask for there supervisor and continually go up the ladder by not just calling but righting letter's to the higher ups.eventually you will get a responce that you are looking for I know I've been thru this with Gateway. and I have unlimeted support for my product but it takes time & patiance and a firm grasp of razzle and dazzle,You'll have to learn to do the Patomic Two Step And do not get ugly that will get you to a brick wall.And as a last resort go Postal and aquire a lawyer and let him Arbitrate the situation.Good luck and Keep your head about you on this Document everything.

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Death has come to our windows.

-- Jeremiah 9:21
(undoubtedly a Biblical reference to a Microsoft product!)

Thanks, Yoda, but if you will read the message completely, you will see that I already fixed the issue concerning what Dell did. My reason for posting this, is to hopefully find someone who can help me discover what they were up to in the first place. To begin with, what can they do by loading in this code that automatically looks for the PS\2 mouse. Is it possible to create a backdoor this way? Can they be looking for this PS\2 access remotely? I have no idea why they would insist on loading the PS\2 mouse, and am hoping someone who has a good understanding of PC architecture can help me figure it out. I know they intentionally put it in their updated BIOS and masked it from users. Maybe my experience with Windows ME (monitor everything) has me a bit paranoid, but the fact is, I doubt very seriously you will find one of Dell's people sitting in front of their PC waiting 3 minutes for their PC to boot?