Computer issues

This isn't a quest for help or anything like that. I have a Dell XPS Studio desktop; other than Vista, I like my computer very much. It's actually my second Dell; Rick is still using my first one. The only problem that computer had was a blown fan, which I was able to replace.

Came home from work this afternoon and tried to turn my computer on. Nothing. Zilch. Went through some troubleshooting things, hoping to stave off the phone call. Nothing. So I got online (using Rick's computer), went to the Dell website, and entered my Service Tag number. Well, lo and behold, my computer isn't as old as I thought it was....and I had gotten four years of warranty this time. My warranty period on my computer expires on December 17, 2012. Good news! I still have a very wee bit of warranty left....but a very wee bit is all that matters.

So I called Dell tech support....for the first time ever. A techno-weenie answered and I had a hard time understanding him (I think he was Indian), but we got through it OK. The bottom line is that it's either the power supply unit (which is what I'm thinking) or the motherboard. I really don't think it's the motherboard, am really leaning toward the power supply unit.

Anyway, he created the service call paper and somebody will call me on Monday to make arrangements to come to the house to repair the computer on Tuesday. I'm not sure who the repair-weenie will be, but as long as he can repair the computer, I will be happy.

The techno-weenie tried to get me to purchase one more year of warranty on my computer. I told him I'd have to give it some thought. He said it would cost $139 for the final year. I'm not sure what I want to do as I'm thinking that the next time something goes, I'd just buy another computer...and yes, I'd buy another Dell, maybe a laptop. But I'm sure it's probably going to cost a lot more than $139 for the repair guy to come to the house next week to fix the computer this time.

I'm just glad it's still under warranty....I always thought the computer was a few years older than it really is!

I hope the tech can fix the problem and it won't cost you an arm and a leg.  I have called Dell for help at times and it is always a person from India who answers, I believe these calls go straight to India.  As long as I can understand him and he helps me, I'm a happy camper.  Good luck.
 

I'm a bit confused about your comments on the warranty. The point of one is that if something goes wrong, you are covered. You should only have to pay them if you *dont* have a warranty. If he comes to your house and makes you pay, then I see no point in getting any warranties from Dell again....


Keep in mind when you go to buy a new computer, that laptops don't last as long as desktops. Usually around the one year mark you will have problems, and at two years, that's usually the end of it's life. Some do last longer, but the average lifespan is only two years.

LaRussa said:

I hope the tech can fix the problem and it won't cost you an arm and a leg.  I have called Dell for help at times and it is always a person from India who answers, I believe these calls go straight to India.  As long as I can understand him and he helps me, I'm a happy camper.  Good luck.
 

Click to expand...

Winchester said:

=The techno-weenie tried to get me to purchase one more year of warranty on my computer. I told him I'd have to give it some thought. He said it would cost $139 for the final year. I'm not sure what I want to do as I'm thinking that the next time something goes, I'd just buy another computer...and yes, I'd buy another Dell, maybe a laptop. But I'm sure it's probably going to cost a lot more than $139 for the repair guy to come to the house next week to fix the computer this time.
I'm just glad it's still under warranty....I always thought the computer was a few years older than it really is!

Click to expand...

Been there done that. They are all from india. Dell.  I HATE THAT!   I cannot under stand the accent!  Waga be doig ter.   Push lima.    

Actually, my last Dell lasted me 8 years only had to replace harddrive once.

You get call centers in India ONLY if you go with standard service/warranty.

If you upgrade to gold or platinum service, your calls go to California call center.

Since mine was a custom built business machine that cost me nearly 2500, I upgraded my service to gold.

Talked to a native English speaking tech and there was a tech at my home in less than 48 hours.
 

Minka said:

I'm a bit confused about your comments on the warranty. The point of one is that if something goes wrong, you are covered. You should only have to pay them if you *dont* have a warranty. If he comes to your house and makes you pay, then I see no point in getting any warranties from Dell again....
Keep in mind when you go to buy a new computer, that laptops don't last as long as desktops. Usually around the one year mark you will have problems, and at two years, that's usually the end of it's life. Some do last longer, but the average lifespan is only two years.

Click to expand...

Sorry about confusing you. My current warranty will expire on Dec 17, so that means that when the techno-weenie comes in this week, I won't have to pay anything for the call.

However, while I was on the phone with the guy, he was trying to sell me a one-year extension to the warranty.....for a price of $139. That would  extend my warranty to December 17, 2013. And that was my debate......on one hand $139 is a lot of money for a one-year warranty (to extend the warranty I have now), especially for an older computer. On the other hand, I am sure that if I didn't extend the warranty and I had trouble with my computer at some point next year, it would cost me more than $139, which is what they want to extend the warranty. Hope that helps and I'm sorry about the confusion. (I have trouble trying to write succintly sometimes.)

When I bought this computer through Dell, I pretty much told Dell "This is what I want." More drive, more graphics capability, more speed, more storage space, etc. So even though my computer is almost four years old....ancient by today's standards, it's still a good computer and it does everything I need it to do (except for Vista.....I hate Vista). So I'm not looking for a new computer at all, nor will I be looking next year. I have a tendency to keep computers for awhile. But tech-savvy I'm not. So to build a computer? No, not going there. Or even to do much in the way of computer repair. No. Other than a fan or adding memory, or a new graphics card.....that I can do. So to have Dell send somebody in, that's fine with me.

Arlyn, I didn't even know about the premium warranty and will take that into consideration when I do buy my next computer. Thanks for the heads-up.

Carol, when did you buy your computer? Was it right before or right after I got this one? I don't remember. I rememeber us talking about it, but I don't remember when it was.

The big question is, "What does the warranty cover?"  Does it cover the keyboard getting coffee spilled on it?  The hard drive crashing?  The battery failing?  The charging ceasing to work?  (I have a laptop right now that works fine, if you can charge it up.  But the charger connection is loose, a common problem with that laptop.  Not covered by the time it happened.)
 

mrblanche said:

The big question is, "What does the warranty cover?"  Does it cover the keyboard getting coffee spilled on it?  The hard drive crashing?  The battery failing?  The charging ceasing to work?  (I have a laptop right now that works fine, if you can charge it up.  But the charger connection is loose, a common problem with that laptop.  Not covered by the time it happened.)
 

Click to expand...

Supposedly, my warranty will cover this problem, according to the person I spoke with. I've done nothing to this computer, never spilled coffee on anything, I've never done anything to it. It's always been plugged into a surge protector.

I do take the cover off every once in a while and blow it out with compressed air....very carefully. With eight cats in the house, I figure that trying to keep it clean helps. But that's it. I wouldn't think that would invalidate the warranty.

But I guess we'll find out. Either way, I need the computer.

Pam the Dell techs tried to sell me that same warranty but I didn't get it either.  When I had a problem I called a place who repairs computers and went that route.  I had messed up two usb ports at the front of the tower and they no longer worked.  He was able to add a wire that I didn't know what it was used for and had put away.  He plugged that in and then the two usb ports at the side of my monitor worked and that is where I have my camera plugged and my mini scanner.  Sorry, I'm rambling...I purchased Della Dec. 2006.

Also I don't think I would bother with a lap tap now that I found out you can't get internet on it everywhere.  Also someone mentioned they don't last as long as desk tops.  Right now I can't afford either anyway so Della better stay in good health

Then you got Della right before I bought our new computer. I couldn't remember if it was right before or right after.

We look at laptops, but that's as far as we get.

Ever since someone here mentioned that lap tops don't last as long as desk tops, I'm rethinking ever purchasing one.  Someday I know I will need a new desk top but hopefully Della will give me a few more years

Well, that certainly didn't go over well. Dell only sends refurbished pieces. So the tech put in a refurbished motherboard and a refurbished power supply unit. Put everything back together, turned the computer on, and ......................nothing. The motherboard light isn't on. There's power going into the power unit; it's just not coming out.

After spending an hour on the phone with Dell, they're sending out another set of refurbished parts. And the tech will come back on Saturday morning to install them. He has to do it on Saturday b/c I cannot take more time off work.

If those parts don't work, Dell will have to send out an actual Dell tech, not somebody who is simply Dell-certified. Or I will have to send the computer back to Dell for them to work on. I can't send it back to a store as I bought the thing directly from Dell.

I'm frustrated. Actually, I'm more than frustrated, but I can't tell you how I'm really feeling as it's a PG board!

It may be time to take what DOES work and put it into a new computer. I know you said you had custom ordered this PC and didn't want to buy a new one, so taking what does work and putting it together with other parts that do work may be easier than all of this hullabaloo.

Good luck!!

Don't they use proprietary parts?  My son has a Dell and thankfully it is still working well after three years.  I am a firm iMac buyer.  I have an eight year old Mac that is working fine and is my daughter's computer.  I upgraded to my mammoth 27" iMac last year and would never look back.
 

I don't think Dell is proprietary, although they could be. I know that Sony is.....you can't use anything but Sony products in their stuff. I said to Rick last night that if it weren't for having to change all my software over, I'd consider switching to a Mac.

It hasn't cost me anything. I asked the guy how much it would have cost had there not been an effective warranty and he said probably around $400 for parts and labor. He was there yesterday for a good two hours to switch the parts and then we ended up on the phone to a Dell tech for at least an hour. I believe there is now a 90-day warranty on these parts (even though they didn't work).

But I'm very disappointed in Dell. I get that they don't want to send out new parts, but darn it, I paid for the warranty and I don't think it's fair, even though the computer is almost four years old. (But I know that car insurance companies usually get used parts for cars, too, even new vehicles, unless your policy stipulates new parts...ours does. Although comparing computers to cars isn't a good idea, I get that).

Anyway, he's coming back on Saturday and I'm not paying for anything, even labor. I guess that's a good thing.

Pam, as you said...you're not paying for any of this and that is a good thing.  Della, as you know is six years old and I really haven't had any major problems with her, thank goodness.  In my case, I don't know if I would every buy anything but a Dell, the only thing that would stop me is Vista.  Good luck on Saturday and hope everything gets back to normal or better.  Used or refurbished parts isn't always a bad thing.

Vista isn't sold anymore, so no one has to worry about that

Nope, now it is Windows 8.....

I don't know if I would like Windows 8 either.  I'm very comfortable with Windows 7 and as you know Pam, I can get very confused very easily . 

Unless you are going with a touch screen monitor... don't bother with Windows 8.