I have this "problem" (really a nonproblem) too and I'm on Win2000. I'm going to ignore after reading here and elsewhere. You had good answers. I found similar answers elsewhere by "googling." Love Google! Watch out. Google is going to be top of the heap in a number of areas, and it will then cost to use it. ;)

 

I'm very glad to see a forum for Dell customers because (and if someone wants to hit me go right ahead, I can take it) the tech and customer support for Dell absolutely is nuts! I'm off my paid time as my computer aged off even though it's still an excellent machine! I used to call for help, and I swear I never got ONE problem resolved. I have had to reformat the hard drive several times due to misinformation. We chat about this in www.C|net.com  forums and on www.Experts-Exchange.com. Why on earth can't Dell get a few good people to clear up problems for the masses who love their machines? Don't they care? If not, they had better and fast! The anger I read from writers and friends over Dell is getting hotter by the day! 

 

You mention time (and expense to you) of trying to get help for this problem. You will NEVER get help with the tech support area is what I learned the hard way (I hope you didn't spend much for it as in a contract). I think this is a great idea right here, but the other two sources are rich with helps, and they don't mess up either.

 

If I were to start a Dell Blog thang, I'd "attack" this very issue. No one ever answered me during my three years when I'd ask why no one knew how Dell computers work. No one seemed to care. Maybe someone got the message to them so that this fine forum is here. Members usually know more than tech support in the end! I have learned SO much because this all forced me to learn. I wasted my money buying service (they even mention coming to your home if necessary...they don't, and they never will).

 

I'm hoping just one Dell employee catches this because it's a HUGE problem. A recent article in FAST COMPANY (magazine on excellent and not-so-excellent companies) is good ( www.fastcompany.com), and I agree with it. Dell computers are GREAT! But service is ridiculous plus it is outsourced (language barriers abound). But one other HUGE deal that bothers me is that Dell is so "tight" with inventory that they force their suppliers to hold inventory until Dell needs it thus creating heavy overhead for the suppliers who must hold Dell's inventory because they need to survive (thus they are "slaves" to Dell). This is very wrong and is to me unethical (to force someone to carry part or all of your load is nasty). So they run a great assembly line and sell computers (good ones) like crazy, but the rest of the company does a very poor job when it comes to any kind of service. (It's not even service!)

 

I have spent up to 1.5 hours (several times) waiting in queue to get helps in the middle of the night only to have some technician (probably in India) give me false info (after putting me on hold over and over for long periods of time to probably read some manual) that resulted in either a formatting (takes me two weeks to put this thing back together) OR a run to expensive consultants (hundreds of dollars!). Now I just pay a few bucks with www.experts-exchange.com and we slay all the dragons.

 

So, for any Dell "powers that be" pay attention as we are getting wise to the practices that do not help your customers and put them out lots of time and money. Dell is losing to other computer companies due to this, and if they are not careful they will be knocked off their perch. (I even wrote Michael Dell a personal note which was, naturally, never responded to....try that with Hewlett Packard, and they are not only there for you they even give you gifts to make up for your inconvenience.

 

My next computer MIGHT be a Dell, but I'm seriously considering Gateway or HP just because of what Dell did to me over my three year service ticket time (which was NOTHING).

 

Sorry I wandered off the original topic, but I realized as I was answering your question/comment that someone needs to start making Dell accountable for how it treats customers and suppliers (if they want to keep succeeding). I ALWAYS go with the people who treat me well! That's my motto.

 

Hope you resolved your problem. Just ignore it. :) And thanks if you got this far. Devotees of Dell need to wise up and realize they have a voice in the weak areas of Dell and help a great company save itself before it dies due to lousy service tactics.

 

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