Errrrrr ~ ahaaaa...

You didn't mention your Operating System?  IF it's Windows, how are your 'updates' set and are all systems set the same or differently (update-wise)?

Could be Windows did a few "updates" just before you left and didn't actually install those updates until ya'all got back?  Needless to say, sometimes those 'updates' are tainted and often create more problems than they resolve.

Have you tried swapping hard drives with a known good System?

Anthony

Hey SoGlad,

Sorry for the delayed response. 

Most of the systems we're running are Windows 10 with a vast majority of them being current on Windows Updates, but there were no Windows Updates immediately before this started happening. It was working when I left the office around that Friday morning and not upon return after the weekend. So far, only two or three of the current machines are having issues with the Display Port. I have a workaround involving USB video cards. However, I haven't been using that solution on my machine. I've just been waiting to find time to troubleshoot mine further. 

I tried plugging in the monitor to a known good PC and it didn't work, so I ended up swapping out the DP to DVI adapter, then the DVI Cable, a few times. However, this monitor works just fine when running HDMI to DVI. A known good DP to DP monitor also didn't work on my system. 

Since I have a little free time between projects, I'm going to image a new machine for myself and see how that goes, but it's rather strange that DP would just stop working.

Also strange that it happened on several computers. I would suspect a power surge or lightning strike. Do the computers have USP battery backup or other surge protection? Any storms or power outages in the area while you were gone? Try the suspect cables on a working computer to see if they are damaged.

Mmmm...  A lightning/voltage strike is more than reasonable, especially considering how many failed at the same time... 

Video cables are (usually) 'built' with larger conductors (with many wire strands)... expecting many connects and disconnects over the years... but really, considering the construction, I think a cable would act like a rather large fuse ~ saying it would take quite a LOT of current to blow a cable out? 

Now I HAVE seen PINS pushed back into "connector bodies", but I doubt if this is your problem because of the number of failures you discovered ~ at the same time?

I suspect video CHIPS (actual IC components) may be at fault (because so many failed at the same time)?  Most IC's do have strict maximum voltage specs... exceed that limit and they could be toast!  Of course most card (and motherboard manufactures/vendors) expect stable and regulated voltages, but SOME "line-spikes" and lightning hits break all of the rules!. 

Also if your video cables have poor shielding, that cable could act almost like a 'antenna' and deliver killer spikes directly to your video components just past the connectors?... Of course this INCLUDES your monitors?

Could be the systems that are 'still running' had better 'spike protection' (power strips etc) and/or perhaps those crippled 3040's had none at all?  I dunno?   

The 'strange' thing is that so many had similar 'hits' or failures (and assuming) these are all identical 3040 models, voltage spikes just may be your villain? 

This is a mystery and I do hope you will keep us posted as to the actual hard failures, your solutions  and what you think caused them?  Inquiring minds want to know...

Anthony

I think it rained in my area over Memorial Day weekend, but no power surges our outages that we could tell. All of our devices are on either surge protectors or UPS's. I've been using the same surge protector for about a couple months on my system and all lights show good.

In contrast, we just had a major storm roll through over the weekend and the entire building our office is in got kicked to backup generators, and I've yet to see any new issues related to this.

I did try the cables on new PCs and monitors. Still didn't display. May be possible we just have multiple bad DP to DVI adapters in a batch (manager does say he hates this brand C2G, but I'm not familiar with them myself) along with bad chip?

I'm caught up on tickets for now, so maybe I'll be able to switch out my PC today.

Well, made some time to do some more troubleshooting today. Got ready to swap my HDD into a PC who's HDD failed, but realized all the PCs we have never had our TPM turned off, so decided I didn't want to deal with that.

I tested the "bad" monitor with another PC using same cable; it wasn't recognized. So I went to get another cable. Then got distracted and came back with another monitor and another cable. Just to be sure, tested the new monitor with same cable again and it failed. Then tore everything apart, power cycled the PC, replaced cables and tested new monitor again. Still failed. 

At this point I've already uninstalled and reinstalled drivers a few times, making sure to delete the residual files. I decided to test my insanity and uninstall one more time. No reboot. No reinstall. Went to Device Manager to make sure it was removed. Verified it said unkown VGA graphics blah blah blah. Just went to the Dell Support and had it detect drivers like I was going to reinstall, but before I could, both monitors popped on. Went back to Device Manager and it showed the Intel 510 HD driver was back and working properly.

YIKES!  After all that can I buy you a BEER??

(My next recommendation was going to be a CALL to the Auto Club)?

So ya... looks like your Drivers got clobbered and firm replacements finally fixed them.  My big fear was 'hits' and failures at your Display Port... thankfully you are spared that!  The really odd thing is that so many systems were hit at the same time?

Guess it's safe to say you had your flogging this month?  

Anthony