Comments on: The Bit Where The Saga With Dell Limps On…And On… http://claire.nu/2006/07/03/the-bit-where-the-saga-with-dell-limps-onand-on/ @ Claire.NU Mon, 28 Nov 2011 18:03:50 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Robert http://claire.nu/2006/07/03/the-bit-where-the-saga-with-dell-limps-onand-on/#comment-527 Robert Thu, 17 Jan 2008 17:24:13 +0000 http://74.54.165.38/claire/?p=82#comment-527 I too, am in Dell hell. I have a Dimension E510 that won't power up, the power light just flashes amber. The machine is only 18 months old. After reading all the horror stories about Dell tech support, I will never call Dell. If I can't figure it out, it will give me great pleasure to smash it many times with a sledge hammer. Anyway, I did replace the power supply, which resolved the problem for a few minutes until I shut it down.. $ 65 bucks shot. If I unplug everything and open it up and wiggle all the connections, I can usually get it to power up. I have found that if I just leave the computer on, it's fine. As far as I'm concerned, this Dell will now run forever, or until the next power failure. I too, am in Dell hell. I have a Dimension E510 that won’t power up, the power light just flashes amber. The machine is only 18 months old. After reading all the horror stories about Dell tech support, I will never call Dell. If I can’t figure it out, it will give me great pleasure to smash it many times with a sledge hammer. Anyway, I did replace the power supply, which resolved the problem for a few minutes until I shut it down.. $ 65 bucks shot. If I unplug everything and open it up and wiggle all the connections, I can usually get it to power up. I have found that if I just leave the computer on, it’s fine. As far as I’m concerned, this Dell will now run forever, or until the next power failure.

]]> By: Claire http://claire.nu/2006/07/03/the-bit-where-the-saga-with-dell-limps-onand-on/#comment-526 Claire Wed, 12 Jul 2006 12:54:17 +0000 http://74.54.165.38/claire/?p=82#comment-526 Sounds like you've got a right saga going on there Karl. I hope you manage to get it sorted! My computer was returned to me on monday, complete with new HDD fitted, OS and drivers installed. *touches wood* things seem ok, its now just a matter of reinstalling all my software, moving all my files over and tweaking things back to the way I like them. Plus side is, the new HDD came with Norton Internet Security already installed on it, complete with a year's free subscription to LiveUpdate :D (original HDD didn't). So, that saves me from either buying it or digging out my old 2002 version. (Versions after 2002 require you to register the key online, so you can't use it for more than one machine (unless you buy a version with multiple licences). Complete pain in the arse, really.) Sounds like you’ve got a right saga going on there Karl. I hope you manage to get it sorted!

My computer was returned to me on monday, complete with new HDD fitted, OS and drivers installed. *touches wood* things seem ok, its now just a matter of reinstalling all my software, moving all my files over and tweaking things back to the way I like them.

Plus side is, the new HDD came with Norton Internet Security already installed on it, complete with a year’s free subscription to LiveUpdate :D (original HDD didn’t).

So, that saves me from either buying it or digging out my old 2002 version. (Versions after 2002 require you to register the key online, so you can’t use it for more than one machine (unless you buy a version with multiple licences). Complete pain in the arse, really.)

]]> By: Karl http://claire.nu/2006/07/03/the-bit-where-the-saga-with-dell-limps-onand-on/#comment-525 Karl Wed, 12 Jul 2006 10:26:54 +0000 http://74.54.165.38/claire/?p=82#comment-525 John, you're lucky. I've just been onto Dell Tech again today (argh). Of the 70 Optiplex GX60's we bought 18 months ago, I've now documented 22 failures! All power unit failures bar one mainboard going pop and one TFT expiring. When I called and said I had 6 to log for PSU replacement(6 dead in 2 days!) , they had to "consult with supervisors" to check they could do 6 at once! They then had the barefaced cheek to tell me that "We have no faults on our records for power units beginning "TH-0N2286-12782". Lies. 2 of their tech supports who were on their last day have told me that it's a "bad batch, and we've been told to replace them, no questions asked. Dell won't admit it though, it's against company policy. I'm only telling you because I'm leaving, so stuff them.". I've lost faith in Dell. We're giving major thought to threatening them with a detailed failure report of our kit, straight onto our website and to our LEA, who are a major customer. John, you’re lucky. I’ve just been onto Dell Tech again today (argh). Of the 70 Optiplex GX60’s we bought 18 months ago, I’ve now documented 22 failures! All power unit failures bar one mainboard going pop and one TFT expiring.

When I called and said I had 6 to log for PSU replacement(6 dead in 2 days!) , they had to “consult with supervisors” to check they could do 6 at once! They then had the barefaced cheek to tell me that “We have no faults on our records for power units beginning “TH-0N2286-12782″.

Lies. 2 of their tech supports who were on their last day have told me that it’s a “bad batch, and we’ve been told to replace them, no questions asked. Dell won’t admit it though, it’s against company policy. I’m only telling you because I’m leaving, so stuff them.”.

I’ve lost faith in Dell. We’re giving major thought to threatening them with a detailed failure report of our kit, straight onto our website and to our LEA, who are a major customer.

]]> By: Claire http://claire.nu/2006/07/03/the-bit-where-the-saga-with-dell-limps-onand-on/#comment-524 Claire Sun, 09 Jul 2006 15:46:35 +0000 http://74.54.165.38/claire/?p=82#comment-524 Ah no, myth and legend it is not. To quote Prince/ <img src='http://claire.nu/symbol.png' title='The Artist' alt='The Artist' /> : <em>"Everything you think is true"</em>, I promise ;) Ah no, myth and legend it is not. To quote Prince/ The Artist : “Everything you think is true”, I promise ;)

]]> By: J http://claire.nu/2006/07/03/the-bit-where-the-saga-with-dell-limps-onand-on/#comment-523 J Sun, 09 Jul 2006 14:37:53 +0000 http://74.54.165.38/claire/?p=82#comment-523 Heh oh noo! I have heard only horror stories of Dell. I thought the thickly accented Indian call centre story was only an urban legend to scare little Canadian kiddies into buying more expensive laptops by unfriendly salespeople. However I myself bought an incredibly dodgy "Learning4Life" computer for my little brother once and dealt with similar phone support experiences until the company went down entirely and I had no support. So basically what I am rambling on about is: I can relate :) Heh oh noo! I have heard only horror stories of Dell. I thought the thickly accented Indian call centre story was only an urban legend to scare little Canadian kiddies into buying more expensive laptops by unfriendly salespeople.

However I myself bought an incredibly dodgy “Learning4Life” computer for my little brother once and dealt with similar phone support experiences until the company went down entirely and I had no support. So basically what I am rambling on about is: I can relate :)

]]> By: Claire http://claire.nu/2006/07/03/the-bit-where-the-saga-with-dell-limps-onand-on/#comment-522 Claire Sat, 08 Jul 2006 17:01:03 +0000 http://74.54.165.38/claire/?p=82#comment-522 <strong>Meggan:</strong> Thanks - me too! Hopefully I should have it returned to me in the next week. <strong>John:</strong> Really? Maybe its a fault particular to those machines?... I'll keep you updated. I got a call from the Dell repair centre stating that they'd replaced my HDD, so all my data has gone down the drain, but atleast I have back-ups. Fingers crossed that the new HDD will fix things. Meggan: Thanks — me too! Hopefully I should have it returned to me in the next week.

John: Really? Maybe its a fault particular to those machines?… I’ll keep you updated. I got a call from the Dell repair centre stating that they’d replaced my HDD, so all my data has gone down the drain, but atleast I have back-ups. Fingers crossed that the new HDD will fix things.

]]> By: John http://claire.nu/2006/07/03/the-bit-where-the-saga-with-dell-limps-onand-on/#comment-521 John Sat, 08 Jul 2006 02:09:34 +0000 http://74.54.165.38/claire/?p=82#comment-521 My daughter plopped her 5150 in front of me yesterday evening. All the same symptoms as you've experienced were documented by her as well. Catch; they (Dell) had just installed a new motherboard about a month ago. 450USD spent on a machine that seems to be a POS! Odd though that I have 5 Dell machines and knock-knock, haven't had one problem as of yet. I will anxiously monitor your progress with the Dell repair outlet. My daughter plopped her 5150 in front of me yesterday evening. All the same symptoms as you’ve experienced were documented by her as well. Catch; they (Dell) had just installed a new motherboard about a month ago. 450USD spent on a machine that seems to be a POS! Odd though that I have 5 Dell machines and knock-knock, haven’t had one problem as of yet. I will anxiously monitor your progress with the Dell repair outlet.

]]> By: Meggan http://claire.nu/2006/07/03/the-bit-where-the-saga-with-dell-limps-onand-on/#comment-520 Meggan Sat, 08 Jul 2006 01:20:06 +0000 http://74.54.165.38/claire/?p=82#comment-520 So sorry about the dead computer! :( I have a Dell desktop and haven't had any problems that weren't already my own fault - it's awful that yours died. I hope it gets sent back to you quickly with everything repaired. :D So sorry about the dead computer! :( I have a Dell desktop and haven’t had any problems that weren’t already my own fault — it’s awful that yours died. I hope it gets sent back to you quickly with everything repaired. :D

]]> By: Lew http://claire.nu/2006/07/03/the-bit-where-the-saga-with-dell-limps-onand-on/#comment-519 Lew Wed, 05 Jul 2006 10:00:07 +0000 http://74.54.165.38/claire/?p=82#comment-519 Huzzah for you! Hope all works out now. BTW, I haven't forgotten you tagged me a few posts back but my site is down (it's complicated!) but it's the first thing on my list when I get it back up. Huzzah for you! Hope all works out now.

BTW, I haven’t forgotten you tagged me a few posts back but my site is down (it’s complicated!) but it’s the first thing on my list when I get it back up.

]]> By: Claire http://claire.nu/2006/07/03/the-bit-where-the-saga-with-dell-limps-onand-on/#comment-518 Claire Tue, 04 Jul 2006 18:57:08 +0000 http://74.54.165.38/claire/?p=82#comment-518 <blockquote>I have an elf key. When you push it, an elf pops out and sings Britney Spears’ songs. </blockquote> ...Must only be on US keyboards then... 'sounds about right... :P

I have an elf key. When you push it, an elf pops out and sings Britney Spears’ songs.

…Must only be on US keyboards then… ‘sounds about right… :P

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