E521/BIOS Boot Problems: Dell's Position?

Spoke again with Dell today.They have issued an RMA & I'll be returning the machine for a refund. Although I was out of the 21 day refund period, Dell acknowledged that this was a known issue with this model and made an exception. I'm very glad that they refunded the $ but now I need to find a reliable machine to replace it with. The tech did say that this was the only model affected but after one flawed machine I donj't know if I'm willing to chance another. Good luck to all that still have this machine.

When I called Tech support at about 3AM this morning on this problem, they had the nerve to ask me why I flashed the BIOS!!!  Next time I'll remember to check BIOS/driver downloads out here first before installing.

I thought Dell was getting better with customer service but clearly not!

I was just attempting to keep my computer updated with the latest software changes.

If a BIOS upgrade is recommended, why would you NOT do it?

The question is not why did I flash the BIOS but why DELL posted a new BIOS that was not ready for distribution.  If BIOS upgrades are completely optional then say that, don't say they're recommended!

Exacta mundo, Vijay2U: smileyvery-happy:

I fried my E521 MB months ago and had it replaced.  I kept checking for new BIOS versions, but always check here first. 

 

Sorry for using the unfortunate as guinea pigs....but I did my time. :smileyhappy:

 

I'm currently at 1.0.3 and have had the 1.1.10 sitting in my Download folder for weeks.  Tempted, but always resisting.

 

After reading the recent posts, I know that this is my first and last Dell. 

 

On top of that Vista keeps failing on auto updates, so I've decided to throw caution to the wind and move over to the other side.  I know they have their own problems, but I'm tired of the same problems over and over and I want new ones, if I have to have them at all.

 

I've been reflecting lately on how fast technology is advancing, all the while quality seems to be decreasing exponentially.  I'm sure Vista will be just peachy in 2 or 3 years...........

 

Dell keeps building new machines, as the ones we just bought are withering.

 

Bye Michael.  Bye Bill.  I'm off to greener pastures.  At least till I get to the other side of the fence where they won't be quite so green.........Why hello Mr. Jobs and how are you on this fine day?  Ah, rich as the Queen, yes I thought you might be.  Show me your G5, kind sir.

I've temporarily stopped this issue occuring by leaving my LaCie external USB 2.0 drive off when I switch the computer on, but it's an annoyance and by no means acceptable. I do hope Dell are really working on a fix.

They will not give me another motherboard, so I am just going to have a different one installed.  My problem is not with the usb ports though, those work fine.  It is the ram slots that broke when I tried installing new compatible ram.  it came with a gig, and I tried putting in two new 512 sticks, and it totally messed my system up.  Now ram only reads in slot four, thus showing only 512 available when it originally had 1 gig.  That ram did not work with my computer, so I got two new 512 sticks that do, and they only read in slot four not two.  Right now all four sticks are plugged in, but only 512 is reading in slot four, and I updated bios and everything else and still the same problem, so I am just getting a new motherboard installed.  Any ideas or comments?