View Full Version : Dell sucks.Kinda
Well here is my rant. Do not get me wrong the tech support person I talked to last night was amazing with helping me but here's the deal.
I keep getting shutdown due to thermal event cpu0 out of range.
The old dell optiplex 3000 series had this issue and it was because of the
motherboard caps, so I figured this may be my issue as-well on a newer
model. I contact there tech support and they will not help me unless I give
them 49 dollars which does not guarantee they will find the issue.They tell
me to extend my warranty which is 180 dollars and the mobo is only 130 so
either way if you include the less then 5 minute tech support cost they make
180 dollars off of me.
Then goes the forum. I tried going to the dell forum for advice and clicking join does not take me to the forum registration page. When after 2 hours I finally found a direct link It said duplicate email and username. 1: Brand new email I made just for the forum. 2: There is no other member with the usernames I tried.
So no access to the free forum for me and if you want a little help after helping them get an order of over 200 laptops * which I did for a school that ordered 200 and directed them to dell* They do not care. I buy from company's like gateway and asus and have had no issues with support. Hell I bought something off newegg a year ago and it was doa 3 times and the person I talked to still jumped through hoops to make sure everything was fine.
Just seems to me that dell has gone from *good* to an utter disaster.
/End Rant
4GHZ_or_bust
04-27-10, 05:32 PM
Dell is still around? :shock:
ratbuddy
04-27-10, 05:44 PM
I had the opposite experience with Dell regarding mobos with bad caps. We had some old P4 machines that were well out of warranty and the caps started blowing. They sent us 3 new motherboards free, no questions asked, no shipping charge. I just called, said the caps were bad and the systems were having intermittent boot issues, and they shipped em out next day. Didn't even ask for the old boards back.
I had the opposite experience with Dell regarding mobos with bad caps. We had some old P4 machines that were well out of warranty and the caps started blowing. They sent us 3 new motherboards free, no questions asked, no shipping charge. I just called, said the caps were bad and the systems were having intermittent boot issues, and they shipped em out next day. Didn't even ask for the old boards back.
I think they would only do this with ones known to have this issue... how long ago was this by the way? A few months ago they wouldive helped me past a warranty but it seems now that they don't care. Did you use phone support? If you go to tech support and type in your service tag and it is out of warranty it wont let you use the messenger version :/
ChinStrap
04-27-10, 07:02 PM
wow, not to team up on you here… a friend of mine just had her laptop’s HD take a dump 2 weekends ago. Called dell up and they sent us a (preloaded) replacement free of charge even though the laptop was out of warranty by 2 months. being as such, i'm VERY happy with them right now.
sorry for your bad luck man :(
Marshmallow64
04-27-10, 07:13 PM
A long time ago when I had a dell, I believe 1998, when I called and had problems they actually sent a technician over at no additional charge. He then fixed the problem. Guess they have gone a long way down since then.
wow, not to team up on you here… a friend of mine just had her laptop’s HD take a dump 2 weekends ago. Called dell up and they sent us a (preloaded) replacement free of charge even though the laptop was out of warranty by 2 months. being as such, i'm VERY happy with them right now.
sorry for your bad luck man :(
You get charged for the phone call I believe ... anyways they did not seem to want to really speak to me after waiting over an hour to become first in line. Who did you guys talk to so I may contact them myself?
ArcturusVi
04-27-10, 08:50 PM
I had a good experience with them, eight years ago. My dad ordered a pc for my sister and I and one for our mom. They didn't ship my mom's. Not a huge deal, but they upgraded the ram and harddrive and had next day air.
Since then, no idea. Anything that has happened to a Dell I've been around has been out of warranty, so no need to call.
I had a good experience with them, eight years ago. My dad ordered a pc for my sister and I and one for our mom. They didn't ship my mom's. Not a huge deal, but they upgraded the ram and harddrive and had next day air.
Since then, no idea. Anything that has happened to a Dell I've been around has been out of warranty, so no need to call.
Maybe its just me :mad: Talked to another rep and I said I think its the mobo and there still trying to charge me an arm and a leg.
madhatter256
04-27-10, 11:00 PM
Don't bother going to dell with an out of warranty system.
It's kinda geared so that you're better inclined to purchase a new PC all together rather than fix the one you have.
ESPECIALLY, the special form factor dells that are not microATX.
ChinStrap
04-27-10, 11:30 PM
You get charged for the phone call I believe ... anyways they did not seem to want to really speak to me after waiting over an hour to become first in line. Who did you guys talk to so I may contact them myself?
she didn't remember.
Trottel
04-27-10, 11:33 PM
I ordered 7-8 Dell laptops within three months last summer. Any issue I had with anything they fixed ASAP with no cost to me. I really couldn't be happier. Also they understand that I know a thing or two about computers and can replace broken parts myself, and discuss with them how I figured out certain things were the culprit. I feel like any other manufacturer would claim that I voided the warranty and refused to help unless I just tell them it doesn't work and ship it to them. I love Dell.
I ordered 7-8 Dell laptops within three months last summer. Any issue I had with anything they fixed ASAP with no cost to me. I really couldn't be happier. Also they understand that I know a thing or two about computers and can replace broken parts myself, and discuss with them how I figured out certain things were the culprit. I feel like any other manufacturer would claim that I voided the warranty and refused to help unless I just tell them it doesn't work and ship it to them. I love Dell.
But did you use phone or tech support chat and are you still under warranty?
Trottel
04-28-10, 12:30 AM
But did you use phone or tech support chat and are you still under warranty?
I've used both, and yes, still under warranty.
4GHZ_or_bust
04-28-10, 01:00 AM
Seems like if it's under warranty, you'll get prompt and excellent service. But if it's out of warranty, good luck getting someone helpful. :screwy:
The way Dell is trying to push away people who wanted to keep their old computers longer, it almost seems like Dell is encouraging people to contribute more junk to landfill.
Seems like if it's under warranty, you'll get prompt and excellent service. But if it's out of warranty, good luck getting someone helpful. :screwy:
The way Dell is trying to push away people who wanted to keep their old computers longer, it almost seems like Dell is encouraging people to contribute more junk to landfill.
Agreed.... At least if I give someone 200 customers they should at least not force me to re extend a warranty that is more expensive then the part I want.
Agreed.... At least if I give someone 200 customers they should at least not force me to re extend a warranty that is more expensive then the part I want.
Wow this is even better. A family members computer that is about 7 years old decided to crap the bed. There site has some light information and what it means http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dimxpsg4/sm/miller17.jpg but not the light that is orange. A C and D are green B is orange. No error message for that one on there documentation.
ratbuddy
04-28-10, 11:40 AM
Wow this is even better. A family members computer that is about 7 years old decided to crap the bed. There site has some light information and what it means http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dimxpsg4/sm/miller17.jpg but not the light that is orange. A C and D are green B is orange. No error message for that one on there documentation.
Probably a broken error light error :p
Trottel
04-28-10, 12:32 PM
Seems like if it's under warranty, you'll get prompt and excellent service. But if it's out of warranty, good luck getting someone helpful. :screwy: Uh, that is what "out of warranty" generally implies.
Marshmallow64
04-28-10, 12:36 PM
^ lol agreed. Yea after warranty means you are pretty much on your own.
^ lol agreed. Yea after warranty means you are pretty much on your own.
But the issue is all I wanted to do is buy a new mobo and they would not do this untill I bought a warranty and then confirmed with tech support that its the issue which is 180 dollars. The motherboard costs less then that.
MadMan007
04-28-10, 10:04 PM
Have you looked for other sources for the motherboard? (eBay, other resellers...) Also if you know it's bad caps it is possible to replace caps yourself if you have some basic soldering skills or find someone to do it for you.
Artas1984
04-29-10, 04:17 PM
The "NMI: Parity Check/ Memory Parity Error" still has not been fixed. There is a thread going on about it in Dell forums for YEARS, and no clear solution still..
Kind of off topic but does anyone know how many times I can use my dell os install disc on this computer? I heard it was 5 on some and unlimited installs on others with the cd key.
4GHZ_or_bust
04-29-10, 09:25 PM
With OEM discs like those from Dell, they are often good for unlimited reinstall only on the original hardware it comes with. If you swapped HD, you may run into problems reinstalling. Changed mobo? Forget it, get a new OS key. RAM and CPU may not trigger any problem, just the mobo and HD with hidden partitions.
With OEM discs like those from Dell, they are often good for unlimited reinstall only on the original hardware it comes with. If you swapped HD, you may run into problems reinstalling. Changed mobo? Forget it, get a new OS key. RAM and CPU may not trigger any problem, just the mobo and HD with hidden partitions.
Thanks. Was going to grab a new hd cpu and more ram. Keeping the mobo for now as the issues seem to have calmed down and will try to get the correct tools to fix it myself. Does it matter what capacitors to use?
Mr.Guvernment
04-29-10, 11:04 PM
Dell small buisness FTW!
Trottel
04-29-10, 11:46 PM
With OEM discs like those from Dell, they are often good for unlimited reinstall only on the original hardware it comes with. If you swapped HD, you may run into problems reinstalling. Changed mobo? Forget it, get a new OS key. RAM and CPU may not trigger any problem, just the mobo and HD with hidden partitions.
It can be reinstalled an unlimited number of times. All you need is the dell motherboard, and not necessarily the original one.
RJARRRPCGP
05-02-10, 04:45 PM
The "NMI: Parity Check/ Memory Parity Error" still has not been fixed. There is a thread going on about it in Dell forums for YEARS, and no clear solution still..
That reminds me of a 486 I encountered, the pre 1993 AMI BIOS defaulted to parity checking and when the usual RAM, without parity checking, was installed, the BIOS will give a parity error and halt, the BIOS will refuse to let anyone use the PC, even when the RAM is compatible!
Ach3r0n
05-16-10, 04:15 AM
I'm surprised anyone on this particular forum would use a Dell desktop. :o
Mr.Guvernment
05-16-10, 11:03 PM
Why not?
it is often hard to beat their sales, and really, dell or other OEM systems arent as bad as many want others to think.
People who come to forums like OCF like choices, often ones OEM's dont offer, why we build our own.
it is like saying i wonder why plumbers are so popular, when you could just read up on the internet how to install a sink and do it yourself... yet somethings, people prefer to let other people do it for them, either because they dont know, dont have the time, or don't care, just want something done and working, which is what OEM's provide to people.
4GHZ_or_bust
05-18-10, 01:19 AM
True they are cheap, and they are cheap for a reason. You can't overclock on most of those cheap mobo, the PSU can handle maybe 1 or 2 more hard drives but nothing fancy, bloatware installed with Windows, hard to transfer Windows license if you had to replace with a completely different one etc.
OEM is fine for a Grandma who checks email once in a while but they suck for most of us overclockers.
I'm surprised anyone on this particular forum would use a Dell desktop. :o
Well when you need a desktop fast at the time it was a good idea :)
SteveLord
05-18-10, 11:44 AM
I am a fan of Dell. They are affordable and solid machines for business. Their website and model numbers aren't as idiotic as HP's.
Mr.Guvernment
05-18-10, 06:44 PM
True they are cheap, and they are cheap for a reason. You can't overclock on most of those cheap mobo, the PSU can handle maybe 1 or 2 more hard drives but nothing fancy, bloatware installed with Windows, hard to transfer Windows license if you had to replace with a completely different one etc.
OEM is fine for a Grandma who checks email once in a while but they suck for most of us overclockers.
The motherboards arent "cheap" they just don't include features that would cause so many returns from people toying around with things they shouldn't.
You know not many people overclock their computers?
Dell and other OEM's arent aimed to overclockers and enthusiasts, they are aimed to the other %99.9 of the population who has no idea what a processor is and thinks the CPU is the entire case, or large business that need reliable systems built to order, or people who just want a computer built and delivered ready to plugin and go.
Also transferring licenses you cant do, same as if you buy an OEM windows from Newegg.com, it is tied to the system you installed it, sure you can often transfer it, but OEM is OEM, if you want to transfer it, go buy retail.
You seem to put down dell based on something they arent even trying to be...
A long time ago when I had a dell, I believe 1998, when I called and had problems they actually sent a technician over at no additional charge. He then fixed the problem. Guess they have gone a long way down since then.
Sister had a new dell, random reboots, then find out the dvd drive is bad?. Dell overnights a drive, and has tech there the next morning.
4 hours later, the guy's tested everything. Tells my sister and mom there's a bunch of problems, packs it up, phones in an RMA Expedite, Ups is there in 2 hours to pick the thing up..
that was 6 weeks ago.. still no computer. They say by the end of the week.
Mr.Guvernment
05-18-10, 07:03 PM
^^ i would be on the phone with any number i can get, and i also would not of let them leave with that system until i knew i would have one to replace it ASAP. You paid for a system, you dont have one, call them, be nice and calm, then if they dont seem to care, tell them you will be contacting the BBB to inform them of your situation and how you paid for a product yet dont have one.
dell sends people over, if you order that kind of support with the system.
most small business default support plan is 1 year next day service, most home systems you need to pay more for the onsite tech service.
Thing is, look how big dell is now vs 1998? and how people are they would be sending people over for user errors and problems that could easily be fixed by email or phone.
^^ i would be on the phone with any number i can get, and i also would not of let them leave with that system until i knew i would have one to replace it ASAP. You paid for a system, you dont have one, call them, be nice and calm, then if they dont seem to care, tell them you will be contacting the BBB to inform them of your situation and how you paid for a product yet dont have one.
dell sends people over, if you order that kind of support with the system.
most small business default support plan is 1 year next day service, most home systems you need to pay more for the onsite tech service.
Thing is, look how big dell is now vs 1998? and how people are they would be sending people over for user errors and problems that could easily be fixed by email or phone.
She did make sure that she had a replacement item #, before it shipped out. She's been on the phone to india multiple times a week.. BBB doesn't have any regulatory power at all, and most companies, especially larger ones, just don't care about it. It's been too long since the original order for a CC chargeback. She's stuck waiting for dell to make good. They're using the SOE trademark "SOON"™
Mr.Guvernment
05-26-10, 11:06 PM
i hate dell now
Laptop ordered may 6th, said it would ship May 24th, okay fine, i accepted that but dell has been known to ship early, so what do they do now, move it back to may 30th ship date, and this is under dell small buisness!!!!
unreal! good thing our new marketing director isnt traveling until june 15th!
i hate dell now
Laptop ordered may 6th, said it would ship May 24th, okay fine, i accepted that but dell has been known to ship early, so what do they do now, move it back to may 30th ship date, and this is under dell small buisness!!!!
unreal! good thing our new marketing director isnt traveling until june 15th!
Hope your experience is better than my mom and sister.. They're STILL waiting for that box....
jmdixon85
05-27-10, 03:26 AM
I'm shocked at the lack of support that Dell is giving in this thread. I personaly have never had a issue with them. Never dealt with any home desktop system but I won't have a laptop unless it's a Dell Lattitude.
I've owned lattitudes since the P1 days upto a Dell D630, Back to a D810 (overclocked of course) now as I sold the D630 for $$$ to upgrade my desktop. I've tried HP, Acer and even the supposedly solid IBM Thinkpad and I've had trouble with them all apart from Dell. The Thinkpad slowly started to fall apart! I will never own a lappy if its not a Dell! :)
I did obtain a old dual CPU XEON server a while back that kept reporting CPU errors on boot up (CPU0 or CPU1). The CPU's worked fine in any other machine, Gave Dell a call and they asked if I was running the latest BIOS, when I said yes and told them I had tested the CPU's in another machine they shipped me a new board. All they asked for was my address and the service code of the server! I was shocked as the system was well out of warranty.
EDIT: just remembered another thing helpfull that Dell done for me. Bought a Dell laptop off ebay that had a BIOS password and after trying the different tools suggested in various threads I could still not get rid of it. Rang Dell and they posted me a bootable CD that clears the Dell BIOS passwords :)
Mr.Guvernment
05-27-10, 10:14 AM
Dont get me wrong, we have alot of dell systems, and so far only one laptop the vid card crapped out about 2 years after we had it, just after warranty of course, other than that, their systems we have are still running to this day! Including some old P4 Dimension 8250's from 7 years ago!
Coreyoliseffect
06-02-10, 01:55 PM
Since I am in the mood I will throw my two cents in. I purchased a laptop from Dell about two years ago now. When Vista was just on the verge of coming out. I had heard about some of the issue that it had but figured that patches would be released and everything would be ok. The reason that I went with Dell was because of a school discount that I could get. I started out on line building my own setup and was pretty please with what I had accomplished. I decided to move ahead with the purchase so I spoke with someone over the telephone. They actually went through the setup with me and got me some better components while only going over my budget by ~$100. No biggie as I was dropping 2K on the laptop to begin with. I ended up with what I felt like was a pretty good system. It is in the sig as the Banzai Garden. I got my new laptop and installed Bioshock on it. It ran great for about a week to two then BSOD. :shock: So I waded through Google searches and turns out that it was a pretty big issue. I talked with tech support and they said they were going to replace the vid card. Awesome I thought! All that said and done it worked great for another two weeks and then BSOD. :mad: This time I know it can't be the vid card. So I call tech support and they say that it must be and that they are going to replace it for free. A happy customer they have made again. After it happened a third time I did a little investigating of my own, turns out it was a driver issue with Vista... so a little oversight on Dells part. Didn't cost me anything but it was the principal of the matter to me. Later on my key board started acting up. The letter "T" wasn't working all the time. Talked with the first tech rep and they said no go on replacement. So I was a little confused at this point as to why that was. That is how they had trained me in the past. So I decided to try another tech, replacement ordered within 15 mins. Ah yes, satisfied.
Besides all of that rambling I now tell people to be very weary of Dell. I have had a mixed relationship with them. Their tech supports inability to properly diagnose my vid card issue makes me uneasy. Then the indecisiveness on the keyboard makes me question their policies. My final thought would be; if you don't like the first result, talk to another tech rep.
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