Dell complaints

sobe_drinker · Posted: Sat Jul 09, 2005 4:25 pm Post subject:

actually, the systems have a default warranty of 90 days. It is up to a customer to purchase additional support when customizing the configuration of the system. It's the same as when you buy a computer from Best Buy. If you want extended service you have to pay extra for it. If you want it cheap, then you take your chances with 90 day support. It's a pricing point to help sell computers. Just do research before you buy from any vendor.

Nebuchadnezzar · Posted: Sun Aug 14, 2005 12:35 pm Post subject:

Well, my Inspiron 1150 also has a problem with the motherboard - and this isn't the first time its had it. When moved, the computer has a tendency to shut down. I first had the problem about 6 months after it was first purchased, the computer was sent back to dell, and motherboard was replaced under warranty. So, i'm pretty sure this is the same problem as the symptoms are exactly the same - i imagine its a loose connection. What really pisses me off is that this is the second time i've had exactly the same problem - after they'd supposedly fixed it - and i'm not sure that i want to keep digging out hefty sums of money every 6 months just to have a working pc.

paul_dellcc · Posted: Sun Aug 14, 2005 5:01 pm Post subject:

Welcome to the forum Exclamation

That sucks man...

It will be worst when your warranty expires, cause you'll have to pay to get it fixed.

...Everything that has a beginning has an end...
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I see DELL people!!

If we don't remember our past, we can't understand our present and we can put in danger our future...

pspgamer89 · Posted: Sun Aug 14, 2005 7:03 pm Post subject:

when u moved it did u close the lid of the laptop Question

i know that some laptops equip an auto shut down or stand by feature if the lid is closed otherwise u have a bad connection somwhere.
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Hmmm They said its a feature looks like a defect to me.

Nebuchadnezzar · Posted: Mon Aug 15, 2005 7:11 am Post subject:

Nah - its just movement at any time (I know my own laptop well enough to know if there's any auto shut down features) - its definitely hardware (meaning i'm going to need to purchase a new dell mother board i imagine - and then what're the chances that in another 6 months... same problem). Anyway, after emailing dell, and following the "diagnostic" steps in their reply the laptop is failing to start up atall.

paul_dellcc · Posted: Mon Aug 15, 2005 11:18 am Post subject:

Nebuchadnezzar: why don't you post your problem in the Computer Help section so the Techs who visit it may help you Question

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I see DELL people!!

If we don't remember our past, we can't understand our present and we can put in danger our future...

Nebuchadnezzar · Posted: Mon Aug 15, 2005 5:26 pm Post subject:

There\'s no point - i know what the problem is (it looks like the RAM isn't working, but when tested in a similay system its fine, so its onnection between ran and motherboard). I just want to complain mainly about dells crappy hardware adn see if there's anyone else who's had similar problems.

Nebuchadnezzar · Posted: Tue Aug 16, 2005 10:27 am Post subject:

anyway, dell offered that i could pay them loads of money and get my computer repaired, so i asked them...

Prior to making any requests for out of warranty repairs, what is the
chance of this problem occuring again in the future - i have already
had the motherboard replaced once within warranty, and if it is likely
that it will break again after being repared then I would rather spend
more money on a newer, more reliable computer.

seems fair enough - if i dish out hundreds for a new motherboard whats the chance its gonna break again. Anyway, the issue was skilfully avoided with...

The system that is serviced after warranty, is given a 90 day warranty. Hence if you have any issues within these 90 days, we will be servicing the system free of cost.

which doesn't seem to +answer my question (and looks too much like a standard reply). Now, while i appreciate that my question wasn't easy to answer, that attempt was jst abysmal, so i replyed with...

While I appreciate that if my computer were to again stop working in
the 90 days after the repair had taken place, the last time my
computer was repared for a similar problem the problem did not reccur
within 3 months - instead it took nine months. I understand that my
motherboard needs to be replaced, and also understand that new
motherboards are expensive, so while i don't yet have the price for
the entire repair i'm sure it will be high. I cannot afford to pay
this amount of money every 9 months, and therefore was enquiring into
whether you had any idea what the likely hood of a similar problem
occuring in the future after the 3 month warranty had expired. While I
appreciate that this may not be the easiest information to obtain any
indication into the chances of this happening again would be
appreciated - for example, has the inspiron 1150 been shown to have
many faults with the motherboard - is this particular model's herboard
not as robust as some other models? Information like this would help
me decide whether i should simply replace the motherboard or purchase
an entirely new computer.

which i hope manages to convey a sense of calmness, while also suggesting that i thought ms. karlin was a total retard.

jcwjcw42 · Discovering Dellhate Joined: 16 Aug 2005 Posts: 2

The Inspiron 1150 shares a design flaw with the 5150. There is a tab on the "C" cover on the back that makes contact with an IC on the motherboard that eventually causes a solder joint on a pin to fail. I followed the procedure given at http://hardwareanalysis.com/content/topic/43678/ and successfully fixed my machine. I went ahead and stripped down the machine before doing the soldering. They say that it might be possible to do it with the machine assembled, but I would hate to try it.

If you have an 1150/5150 that hasn't failed, I would break off the tabs on the "C" cover immediately.

I've registered at several tech support sites to inform people that the 1150 has the same flaw as the 5150. I like the name of this site best!

Nebuchadnezzar · Posted: Tue Aug 16, 2005 1:52 pm Post subject:

Wow - thats brilliant (not that i'd trust myself with the soldering - i tend to be too high on caffeine to keep ands still Wink

) - but i'm sure i'll be able to find some shop where they'll sort it out.

Cheers

vashx727 · Discovering Dellhate Joined: 16 Aug 2005 Posts: 3

k.. somethings horribly wrong and i cant see m to know what it is. i have the suspicion that something is fried but i cant firgure out what is. whenever i play Counter Strike or any other game the frame rate drops and my ping goes up. i have reformated and even renstalled the games plenty of times including steam and it still is doing the same problem. my friend said it cant be my video card since theres no white or black dots on my screen. could it be ram? or should i just get a new mother board. its a dell inspiron 1150, 2.8ghz, 512mb. Confused

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jcwjcw42 · Discovering Dellhate Joined: 16 Aug 2005 Posts: 2

[quote="Nebuchadnezzar"]Wow - thats brilliant (not that i'd trust myself with the soldering - i tend to be too high on caffeine to keep ands still Wink

) - but i'm sure i'll be able to find some shop where they'll sort it out.

Cheers[/quote]

To be honest, I had our technician do the soldering, although I did strip the machine down myself. Please post a follow-up if you get it working.

I called Dell support last night to see if the support person would have anything about the design flaw in his data base. He didn't, of course. This problem has been discussed in the Dell user forums for months. so I hardly believe that they are unaware of it. It looks like Dell's response to producing a horribly flawed product is not to issue a recall or to inform their customers of a simple fix to prevent the problem (break off a plastic tab), but instead to reduce the warranty on the new ones they kept selling. Pathetic. IhateDell, indeed.

Nebuchadnezzar · Posted: Tue Aug 16, 2005 3:37 pm Post subject:

having just had a quick look it seems like the chip may have also been scratched - will go ahead with the slodering, but if it doesn't work i'm blaming this.

It does seem that dell must know of the problem - not onl because of the number of posts about it, but it seems (as mentioned in a site linked to by the site you mentioned) that the plastic cover has at least been extended to try to give that area a little protection - not that they succeeded.

And such an obvious design flaw.

vashx727 · Discovering Dellhate Joined: 16 Aug 2005 Posts: 3

k.. somethings horribly wrong and i cant see m to know what it is. i have the suspicion that something is fried but i cant firgure out what is. whenever i play Counter Strike or any other game the frame rate drops and my ping goes up. i have reformated and even renstalled the games plenty of times including steam and it still is doing the same problem. my friend said it cant be my video card since theres no white or black dots on my screen. could it be ram? or should i just get a new mother board. its a dell inspiron 1150, 2.8ghz, 512mb. Confused

_________________
Why fart and waste it when you can burp and taste it ?