Pointing Fingers - Not resolving problems

Randy: What command are you using and can you give an example of a test and your result?

Jim,

In case you were asking with command interpreter, cmd.exe

Randy

At a command prompt, I have a simple compiled C program that loops to create the cube of 43,690. On every other machine that I've tried this on, I get a whole, and correct, number. On the machine in question, I get a number that is incorrect and contains 2 significant characters to the RIGHT of the decimal.


So far, the Dell people want to say it's a software issue and aren't willing to consider anything else. I've been doing this for nearly 20 years and can tell the difference between software and hardware.

rwreas-
Are you using application accelerator by any chance?

Jim C


Message Edited on 12/14/01 09:32PM by Jim C

If you put the equivalent code in Excel’s VB and run it, do you get the correct answer? Note, Excel has a limit so you may have to print to the debug window.

If the result prints in other programs then the limitation is elsewhere. But I don’t see how this is a Dell problem.

Can you post the source to the C program so I can compile it and try it?

Jerry

#include
#include

double jraise(double num, double exp)
{
int i;
double ret=1;
for(i=0;i ret *= num;

//printf(" Raise %f^%f=%f\n",num,exp,ret);
return(ret);
}

main()
{
double tmp, y=43690.0, x=3.0;
tmp = jraise(y,x);
printf("%f raised to %f = %f\n",y,x,tmp);
getch();
return 0;
}



When compiled and ran at a command prompt, the results are incorrect.

Definitely not. This happens when booted to a command prompt, too.

Unfortunately, Dell's diagnostic program that Dell Support sent me has trashed the system. Now all I can do is boot to command prompt. Windows 2000 will no longer run. Of course, the error still is there.

Best of all, they sent me a nice little link to an article assuring me that it would solve the problem.

The crux of the article - check your monitor power connection.

You ask why this would be a Dell problem? Because Dell assembled the computer and the CPU is their responsibility.

I am surprised that code even compiled. There are so many syntax errors it is pitiful. Here is my version:

#include
#include
#include

double jraise(double num, int exp)

{
int i;
double ret = 1;

for(i=0; i < exp; i++) {
ret *= num;
//printf(" Raise %f^%f=%f\n", num, exp, ret);
}
return(ret);
}

int main(void)

{
double tmp;
double y = 43690.0;
int x = 3;

tmp = jraise(y,x);
printf("%f raised to %d = %f\n", y, x, tmp);
getch();
return 0;
}

The above code works.

well, fortunately, Dell in their infinite wisdom, has determined that reformatting the hard drive will fix it. At least it's out of my hands, finally.