order#11965307

mdbanks,

If you are still in your 30 warranty period I would send your computer back to DELL right away or your may just end up going through the same nightmare I am going through now and finding out more and more people that are experiencing my nightmare too. Please read on..

To make a super long story short...

1. December 22,1999 I received my Brand New Dell Computer I paid $2,431.72 for.

2. Beginning right away, December 23, 1999, my computer kept locking up and doing other mysterious things. Yes, this was in the 30 day Warranty period.

3. During my 30 day Warranty period I was assured by the Support Tech that the problem would be resolved. Reason for not returning my Dell Computer right away.

4. After numerous calls to Dell Support between January 10, 2000 thru today April 30, 2000, and after many visits to my home by Dell to replace the Motherboard, CPU, Memory, Power Supply and the Hard Drive, Dell conceded that I got a Lemon and was going to send me a new computer.

5. Friday, April 28, 2000 I received my new computer.

6. I set up my new computer and low and behold I saw a big tag on the box that said REFURBISHED.

I paid $2,431.72 for a NEW upgraded computer in December and now in April I have a $2,431.72 USED computer… and still locking up.

mdbanks,

Ignoring the posting of "Johnny One Note" below (even making a long story short doesn't help if you tell it a thousand times) I would recommend you contact Dell Tech support. Significant errors on a new hard disk are cause for concern and will probably require replacement. Before you call Dell though, I would also suggest that you run the Dell diagnostics on the hard disk, as it will give you additional information which the technician may find helpful.

As far as not recognizing your Zip drive, it may be a hardware problem (which you could fix by disconnecting and reconnecting the Zip drive) or a problem in the configuration in Windows. If you make the call to Dell regarding the hard drive, I would delay opening the case to check this out until you talk to the tech, who may suggest it or may suggest some software tests prior to a physical check.

















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Hi, mdbanks!

I'm not sure whether that's acceptable, but I would imagine it is a loose connection w/ your zip. If you have any questions about this I would recommend calling Dell to have them walk you through the check. I DISAGREE with kimbonick. Always try troubleshooting before sending back your machine. If there are still problems, then you should get your replacement. Good luck.


Mike

Predator's CD/RW Site

kimbonick:
If you didn't know the policy before buying your system that is not Dell's fault. If you had any questions about that, you should have researched it before you bought your system. Many people have had problems with their system and were able to troubleshoot for an easy fix. I would again recommend you take your gripes to the Customer Service Forum.
Satisfied with Dell.


Mike

Predator's CD/RW Site

mdbanks wrote:
- The XPS T700r recieved about three weeks ago.
- I ran scandisk and found 25,000+- bad bytes.

Did you run Scan Disk with the standard setting or the through one? Also is the 25k bad clusters or bad sectors on your hard drive? You should do a through scan of the drive and check all the sectors letting it repair the bad clusters. A new hard drive can have bad sectors from the factory or they can become bad if the drive was bounced around as in shipping the computer to your home.

- should I request a new replacement?

Give them a call and see what they say. For a 10 gig drive I wouldn't think 25k is bad.

- Also, in control panel, I noticed that the system no
- longer recognizes my zip drive. ( Loose connection?
- Can I fix this myself? )

Give it try. Turn off your computer and recheck on the cables and connections to make sure they are secure. It's not uncommon for things to bounce around in shipping and come loose. Once a year I take my system apart and give it a spring cleaning and reseating the modules, cards and cables. Just a good practice. While checking it is a good idea to use one hand while the other hand is touching the metal of the chasis. This keeps you grounded to the chasis and prevents a static discharge which can wreck electronic components.

Mike,

The Customer Service Forum is full of people with problems like mine. They already know how Dell treats their customers so why would I complain to someone who already knows?

I am posting, and will continue to post reaching people that need to be aware of Dell's policy. As you stated "You should have researched it before you bought your system"... maybe you are right! This is what I am doing... I'm helping others with their "research" before it's too late for them as it was with me. This will give them full awareness of Dells policy. Dell's "TOTAL CUSTOMER SATISFACTION RETURN POLICY"

I'm sorry my posting are a problem for you. I am posting many sites, your site is not the only one. I am a housewife and I have plenty of time on my hands to work on this issue! All I am doing is standing up for my rights!

If you bought a new car, drove it for awhile and it kept braking and the dealer could not fix it would you be pleased if they gave you someone elses used car?????

Kimberly

Dell does have a Total Satisfaction Return Policy, for the first 30 days after the system ships!

The results that one has with any customer relations department is going to depend on the attitude of the person contacting them!

You are complaining about the "refurbished" computer... Have you ever read what Dell considers a refurbished system? Maybe you should!

You also state that many others are posting problems, duhhh! This is a forum for resolving issues, not a praise Dell assembly!

If you truly think that Dell is so bad, go try a Comcrap! I had 3 in the last year and none lasted more than 2 weeks! The last PIII Comcrap was returned (RMA) in the Dell box! Have had the Dell ever since with limited issues and 99% of them were software related!

If you would actually ask for help with your issues, many of us here would be happy to help resolve them, therefore making you a HAPPY Dell User! You may start by going to the links below and taking some of your excess time to read...



My Web Page, A Collage of Help Links!
8DNSA, Dimension XPS T450, 128MB RAM, 20.4GB HD, 8X DVD, Win98SE, PM Platinum 8.0, Snap-On Shop Key32 on DVD, etc on & on... Finally, an HP 9300i CD Writer Plus! (Working flawlessly) :-)

Well, Stephanie.
Once again you have put it perfectly. I wish I could write such beautiful work!

Mike Elles

Predator's CD/RW Site

I didn't holler at anyone either! I did read your entire post correctly! Did you go to see exactly what Dell considers "Refurbished"?
I had a tech actually offer to replace my system, or allow for an upgrade after the 30 days, which I opted not to do!
How many FDISK and Formats have you preformed on this or the first system?



My Web Page, A Collage of Help Links!
8DNSA, Dimension XPS T450, 128MB RAM, 20.4GB HD, 8X DVD, Win98SE, PM Platinum 8.0, Snap-On Shop Key32 on DVD, etc on & on... Finally, an HP 9300i CD Writer Plus! (Working flawlessly) :-)

Stephanie,

I just got my NEW/USED computer so not much done there,but yes....

My old computer I did FDISK, ZZTOPs and reformatted the hard drive 3 times and replaced the Hard drive, CPU, Memory, Motherboard and Power Supply. Along with multiple e-mails and extended telephone conversations with Dell Techs. Is that what you are asking?

I will see what Dell considers a "Refurbished" computer but the fact of the matter is I paid for a NEW computer. Why did you opt not to take the refurbished computer if you were having such problems?

In closing, I did not agree to receive and Refurbished computer that's just what I got. If that had been offered maybe I would have looked into it further as you did.

Kimberly

Dear Stphanie,

If you read my complaint correctly... my FIRST system was a failure from the day I got the system! Dell Techs convinced me that they could fix it stringing me out pass my 30 day warranty. They/We troubleshoot the computer to death until Dell deciced it was a LEMON! It was not fault of mine that it was passed my 30 day warranty. I believed in a company that I thought at the time was a "Top of the line company". I have NEVER lost my temper through the last 4 months with anyone! The last Tech I dealt with was wonderful, Richard Mathis!!! It's company policy I am unhappy with now! The fact is I bought a NEW computer, if I wanted a REFURBISHED computer I would have paid the price for a REFURBISHED computer, NOT TOP DOLLAR! "duhhh"!

Sincerely,
Kimberly

They never stated that it would be a refurbished system, they said a replacement.

I didn't opt for another system, because I could run the diagnostics (and check every other hardware possibility) and found no trouble so that told me it was a software issue! Worse case meant to locate the offender and remove it from my system!
That offender happened to be McAfee anti virus SDATS! That is gone and I currently use Norton system works 2000 with NO problems!

That is why I say to document your complete issue with as much detail as possible and we will do our best to help you! This is actually an excellent and friendly group of helpful people here!

Hope we can help you!



My Web Page, A Collage of Help Links!
8DNSA, Dimension XPS T450, 128MB RAM, 20.4GB HD, 8X DVD, Win98SE, PM Platinum 8.0, Snap-On Shop Key32 on DVD, etc on & on... Finally, an HP 9300i CD Writer Plus! (Working flawlessly) :-)

Stephanie,

No! They NEVER stated that I was receiving a refurbished computer, yes! they said a replacement.

I'm sure all these people in this post are really friendly and nice, I'm a very friendly and nice person! I wish I knew or thought about finding this post before now. I just feel that Dell, not anyone affiliated with this post, but the Company Dell needs to understand that the little guy needs to be heard and e-mail is the greatest avenue.

I know a little about computers. I did computer software training at Hughes Aircraft for 10 years in the 80's. I do Desktop Publishing out of my home now. My Hewlett Packard worked great with everything I use. Why did I go with Dell? My HP was getting old and I needed a Top of the Line, dependable computer for my home business. My 7 year old son now uses my HP and it still works great. I needed better Graphics and Video capability, thats why I picked Dell. I didn't pick Dell to have these problems.

I did have McAffe anti virus on my other Dell and I now have Norton. I did lock up Sunday and Monday but I haven't been able to use my computer as a PC much because I have been responding to e-mails like crazy. People are very sympathic to my situation, I'm finding.

I'm sorry this is disruptive to all. I am only posting to those with like problems and people looking for a new computer, no one else. That should not interfere with troubleshooting people with real problems that can be resolved.

Sincerely,
Kimberly

kimbonick wrote:
- I'm sorry this is disruptive to all. I am only
- posting to those with like problems and people
- looking for a new computer, no one else. That
- should not interfere with troubleshooting people
- with real problems that can be resolved.
-


If your job experience is as you say, then you will be aware that at the point in time that you enter these technical threads, no accurate diagnosis has been made. Therefore, it cannot have been determined that the problems posted will be the same as yours. Since you claim to have time to pursue this issue, please keep track of the threads you feel may warrant your specific input at that point in time when it has been demonstrated that the problems posted are indeed similar to yours. At that point, when the problem has been determined to be excessive hardware failure, your contribution will not create the problem that it is doing at this point.

Given your technical experience, you should be at least somewhat familiar with troubleshooting problems in a complex system. You do not start with shipping the system back. There will be a place for you in some threads. In most, however, I will tell you that once we work the software issues and the minor hardware issues, the systems perform flawlessly.

Again, Kimberley, this is a technical conference. Your input is not technical. I hope that you accomplish whatever it is that you want to accomplish, but that you choose not to interfere with the attempt to properly troubleshoot a system's technical problems. Work your e-mail, keep track of whatever you want at these fora you visit, but be careful to be certain you are actually helping people with what you are doing--that is the point of these fora, after all, and that is why you may be getting all kinds of e-mail, but not all that many supportive posts.

Kay

Dan,

I understand you are not going to reply. I am not out to hurt this forum! I am out to get a message across to other Dell customers. It is their choice as to what avenue they take. I am just telling my story and what I would do if I had to do it over again. I am not interupting any other forum questions or concerns that do not pertain to my specific problem or a new customer inquiring about a new computer. Give me that much credit. I could respond to everyone that make a post. I'm not!

Sincerely,
Kimberly