Absolute QUICKEST way to replace clicking hard drive

Question

Hello,

Well, I am having the dreadful clicking/ticking noise coming from my HDD. I have an Inspiron 9300 that just got here on Tuesday.

What I am trying to figure out is the quickest way to get this resolved. I know that I'm still in the 21 day period so I could just return this, but I'd rather not have to. I'd like to be able to make a phone call or chat online with somebody and get a replacement (Fujitsu I'm reading is the safe choice here).

The reason I'm asking this is because I have finals next week and I can't afford to spend too much time screwing around with this thing. By the time finals are over my 21 day period will be over so I'd like to just get this resolved now.

If I make a phone call, are they going to make me do all sorts of things to try and figure out what is wrong, or will me just saying there is a noise be enough. Tuesday, when this came in, I had to call for the disks because the os restore utility didn't exist on this computer. I was on hold for an hour before I finally got somebody, and when I finally did get somebody, I was on with him for another hour. Basically for an hour he had me start and restart and restart the computer over and over and over because he said that sometimes the recovery utility doesn't install until the computer has been turned on and then off at least 5 times. Never mind the fact that I told him I had already restarted the computer at least 5 times for various reasons before I ever got on the phone. I got the feeling I was doing "Stupid Human Tricks" and he had a bet going with his friends about how many times he could make me restart the computer before I lost patience.

So, if i do call about this, is there something that they're going to have me do, that I can do myself here before I call, so I don't have to spend a bunch of time screwing around on the phone?

Thanks a million

mandatory · Answer

A clicking hard drive is NOT a problem for most users. In very FEW instances it will fail but so will quiet ones. Failure is more a result of shaking, rattling and rolling the laptop while the drive is running than whether the drive is a clicker.

Open Device Manager and look at the brand name of the drive and you'll find it's probably a Hitachi or a Western Digital. They're both good drives and you have a warranty on your system and Dell is good about replacing suspect parts if you work within the system.

You'd be better off investing $35 in a good backup & restore program like TrueImage 8 from Acronis and burning a set of CD's once a week or so than trying to change out what may end up being a perfectly good hard drive. I have had a clicking Hitachi 60GB drive working 24/7 since 12/04 and it's a winner in my opinion. I also have Fujitsu's and Toshiba's and have no problems from them either. The Hitachi is actually the quietest drive running except for the occasional click.

If you're really pressed for time, just return the computer and start over after finals.

GlennCoco · Answer

Jankerson,

Thanks for the reply.

I do realize there are quite literally hundreds of posts about this exact thing. What I was asking was if there was something i could do before I called that would save me time so i could tell them i've tried this and this and this, as opposed to telling them "i hear a noise" and them making me do this and this and this.

jankerson · Answer

@GlennCoco wrote:
Jankerson,

Thanks for the reply.

I do realize there are quite literally hundreds of posts about this exact thing. What I was asking was if there was something i could do before I called that would save me time so i could tell them i've tried this and this and this, as opposed to telling them "i hear a noise" and them making me do this and this and this.

Just say you are not happy about it and the clicking really bohter you and you want a different drive...don't troubleshoot at all.

Be nice, but firm about what you want.

jankerson · Answer

There are HUNDREDS of posts about this problem.   If the clicking bothers you call tech support ad have it swapped out.

GlennCoco · Answer

So if I just call them and say that, they'll send me a new drive just like that?

That's a far cry from my (other, not dell) laptop. The hard drive actually failed on that and it was like pulling teeth (which my dentist friend says is a very painful and bloody process) to get them to replace anything, even though it was still under warranty. They kept me on the phone for 3 days trying all sorts of stuff and eventually told me to send in the whole computer and they would replace it, instead of sending me a new one. I was getting ready to do that until they told me that until they told me it would be 1-2 months to get it back.

I hope it doesn't take that to get Dell to send me a new drive.

Thanks a bunch.

jankerson · Answer

@GlennCoco wrote:
So if I just call them and say that, they'll send me a new drive just like that?

That's a far cry from my (other, not dell) laptop. The hard drive actually failed on that and it was like pulling teeth (which my dentist friend says is a very painful and bloody process) to get them to replace anything, even though it was still under warranty. They kept me on the phone for 3 days trying all sorts of stuff and eventually told me to send in the whole computer and they would replace it, instead of sending me a new one. I was getting ready to do that until they told me that until they told me it would be 1-2 months to get it back.

I hope it doesn't take that to get Dell to send me a new drive.

Thanks a bunch.

Yes it is that easy, really.

Alot of other members have done it and they send a drive right out.

ocean2000 · Answer

I think the best way is just to return the laptop, and go to costco or sam's club to buy a laptop there. They have 6 months return policy for all the computers incluiding laptop.

The following is my story.

I placed my order for 9300 laptop one 4/8/05. I got my laptop on 4/18/05. I was very happy to try to turn on my laptop. Surprise me the laptop did not turn on. Then I called the customer service for help, they said it may the power adapter and they would ship me the new one. On 4/22/05, I got the new power adapter and I eagerly tried to turn on the dell laptop. It did not turn on at all again!!! I called the service support for a refund after all the waiting and trial. The customer representative said instead of returning the defective laptop, I could got a replacement I would still have the 21 days to return if anything wrong or dissatisfaction. I asked that could I confirm with your supervisor. Then I talked with a male supervisor, he said that the return day would be 21days after I received my new replacement laptop. I replied that will be the fair deal. Then I wait for my replacement to arrive. On 4/26/05, I finally can turn on the laptop. I run the speed test and install my programs and games. I found the screen quality was not as good as other brand like Sony or Toshiba even thought the screen is WUXGA. Also, I found the hard some time have a tick sound. I finally design to return it. I called dell customer support and tried to return it. I needed to wait 5 to 10 minutes to talk a person. Then I was transferred to other support unit. During the transfer, I was dropped. I called them again, luckily I could talk with the support guy, but he said that was not his response. He needed to transfer me to customer support again. Same thing happened again that my line was dropped. I spend almost 90 minute to talk with the right person. I tried it one more time after all the fails. I keyed in all the order number...; finally, I could to a supervisor. She said I could not return the laptop because the 21 return period was passed. I explained to her that the other supervisor said I would any other 21 days from the day I received my replacement laptop if I dissatisfied the laptop qualities. She did not buy that. I told her that Dell's staffs gave customers the wrong info, Dell should take the responsibility to accept customer's returns. Not the customers took the responsibilities from Dell's staffs' wrong information or mistakes.

Good lucky guys

Storage, Drives & Media

Absolute QUICKEST way to replace clicking hard drive

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