renegade
Founding Member
I turned 21 in prison doing life without parole, no one could steer me right but mama tried!
Posts: 676
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Post by renegade on Feb 6, 2007 14:11:12 GMT -6
I have a dell laptop, and i had to reinstall my xp os... now i don't have any drivers and no cd to reinstall them... so i went to their website and it keeps kicking me off.... WTH? Also i called customer support/Tech support and they couldn't help me with out a customer number or etc, or service tag number which is rubbed off, what a crock! I WILL NEVER BUY A DELL AGAIN... I think HP is fixing to earn my business later tonight
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Post by Sílený Jízda on Feb 6, 2007 14:18:19 GMT -6
Remember one very important thing. The past two computers I purchased actually didn't come with a cd/dvd backup. It seems most are going to a restore program that actually makes you burn a backup copy in order to make the restore. If possible I recommend dvd backup because they take less disks.
And for Dell... yeap they've managed to reach stinkdom. I used to like Gateway and they went to pot as well. Alienware seems to be the upcoming company now.
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Post by Mad Scientist on Feb 6, 2007 21:21:42 GMT -6
I think your anger is misdirected. Let's help you re-write it. I screwed my system up so badly that I can't figure out what I did or how to reverse it. For that reason alone, I decided to to re-install the OS, without even backing up what I could. On top of that, not only did I not save any of my documentation, all of which has my customer information on it, but I never looked at the half dozen places that have my Service Tag and Express Service Code on it (it actually takes three clicks...). For that reason, Support can't help me - sort of like asking a mechanic what the problem with my car is, but not divulging symptom, make, or model. So - I'm going to rant on a public forum, and still give no information that would allow someone with similar interests to help out. Maybe the next company I go to can tell what I need without info. Look - Start here, support.dell.com/?~ck=mn and put in the model number. No log-in needed, and the site works fine. Good luck. BTW - get a friend to explain the purpose, location, and installation of a 'spare tire', specifically yours. Hint: it goes on a car, and it may come in handy some day when the dealership is closed. Knowing beforehand can save you some of the frustration you are having now.
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Post by Sílený Jízda on Feb 6, 2007 22:51:24 GMT -6
If it were limited to a small percentage of consumers I would think the same as you Mad Scientist. However, it's no secret their customer support is severely lacking. I had to contact them a month ago in regard to my boss' computer. She tried to deal with them several times before giving up in frustration over the matter and giving it over to me. In my dealing with them I had two separate 'tech' support individuals. The first did everything from the defrag to standard cleanup procedures. All of which I had already performed and notified him of the fact. His second recommendation, was to format the entire hard drive and start from scratch. I waited a few hours called again and got another 'tech' support guy. Both of which I might mention barely spoke English. (hooray for outsourcing). After explaining the problem and what the other tech did he started off wanting to do the same bit over again. After I explained it had already been done twice he started to get uppity and loud and began to yell over me. Big big mistake. I promptly informed him that I didn't appreciate his tone. He immediately apologized and changed his interaction. I will give this tech credit for actually fixing the problem but he still gets big negative marks for attitude and manners. One of the other things I found out about their service contracts tells me they are virtually worthless unless you have the desire to sit on a phone with your computer in pieces by your own hand trying to fix something they say they'll fix. With Dell, the individual they do eventually send out, by the techs own words, are not Dell certified and just contract workers. Frankly, I say save the extended warranty money and find a local computer repair shop you can trust.
Another thing you have to remember is the average home computer user doesn't know what, how, and why they need to make their own system restore disks. Hell, every time I start up a new computer it seems like they do their best to have everything they can pop up one after another. Many of them internet setups, computer tutorials, and such. Your average user normally shuts them down as fast as they pop up without reading them. Frankly, in some cases I don't blame them. Bottom line I can't fault the users entirely these days. For the sake of saving a few bucks on restore cd's they've opted to relegate that responsibility to the user. A poor investment if you ask me since most won't return to a company that causes them more difficulty than it's worth.
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renegade
Founding Member
I turned 21 in prison doing life without parole, no one could steer me right but mama tried!
Posts: 676
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Post by renegade on Feb 7, 2007 9:36:35 GMT -6
I think your anger is misdirected. Let's help you re-write it. I screwed my system up so badly that I can't figure out what I did or how to reverse it. For that reason alone, I decided to to re-install the OS, without even backing up what I could. On top of that, not only did I not save any of my documentation, all of which has my customer information on it, but I never looked at the half dozen places that have my Service Tag and Express Service Code on it (it actually takes three clicks...). For that reason, Support can't help me - sort of like asking a mechanic what the problem with my car is, but not divulging symptom, make, or model. So - I'm going to rant on a public forum, and still give no information that would allow someone with similar interests to help out. Maybe the next company I go to can tell what I need without info. Look - Start here, support.dell.com/?~ck=mn and put in the model number. No log-in needed, and the site works fine. Good luck. BTW - get a friend to explain the purpose, location, and installation of a 'spare tire', specifically yours. Hint: it goes on a car, and it may come in handy some day when the dealership is closed. Knowing beforehand can save you some of the frustration you are having now. Your ignorance is misdirected, let me help you re-write it... you aren't worth my time and two cents, just know this don't make comments unless you know who you are talking to...
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renegade
Founding Member
I turned 21 in prison doing life without parole, no one could steer me right but mama tried!
Posts: 676
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Post by renegade on Feb 7, 2007 9:40:44 GMT -6
SJ i do have a back up disk, i can't find the dang thing since i moved.... i have torn up everything around here but nothing.... i do have one back up disk of some of my pics and mp3's i just haven't had a chance to put some of my latest pics on a disk other than that i just need to find out what i did with about 3 disks when i moved... i usually keep them all in one spot but i think my old roommate might have thought they were his and took them... i honestley don' know.
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Post by Mad Scientist on Feb 7, 2007 10:38:32 GMT -6
SJ- Re: outsourced Dell support. It stinks. Once upon a time, support was wonderful, then they moved to India. Sad situation. I've saved all my email chat session transcripts, and one thing keeps recurring - 'Read the question!'. Many 'I've done that - read my message' and ''that's not what I asked'. Granted, many of calls they (used to?) get, especially right after Christmas, are from people looking for the "Any" key, and reading a script is the best way to handle it. When it comes to true technical support, clear and accurate communication is essential, not just flipping to the first script with a key word in it. The remote desktop is built in, maybe forseeing these problems. Let the tech do it. On the service contracts, yes, you have to read the fine print. I had next day service years ago, and the one time I needed it (found a bug Dell didn't know they had because of new machine and and massive configuration), the tech was here - you guessed it, the next day. Now it's - by the next day they try to diagnose the problem, and ship you the part, <<IF, and only IF>> you are comfortable changing it. Otherwise, they will contact the contractor by the next business day, who will contact you by the next business day to set up an appointment. ... Yeah. And yes, most people ignore making the disks they need to. I've done it. Many people ignore the oil or temperature light when it comes on in their car - often with similar results. Finally, what bugged me was the title and post. He 'had' to reinstall the OS, based on his diagnosis of what his problem was. Dell doesn't make an OS. It's like calling a furniture dealer to complain about your supper being cold. He should vent at the appropriate target, remembering that HE has the problem, and there are those out there that will try to help him. Also good to remember is that most users of the identical product are happy with it. If my tone was excessive, feel free to delete the answers - I don't mind.
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Post by Sílený Jízda on Feb 7, 2007 11:24:14 GMT -6
SJ i do have a back up disk, i can't find the dang thing since i moved.... i have torn up everything around here but nothing.... i do have one back up disk of some of my pics and mp3's i just haven't had a chance to put some of my latest pics on a disk other than that i just need to find out what i did with about 3 disks when i moved... i usually keep them all in one spot but i think my old roommate might have thought they were his and took them... i honestley don' know. I can say I've done that more than a few times. I still can't find the disk for one of the printers I have here at work. I've also looked high and low. Good thing that XP had the driver for it already though. Maybe I just think it came with a disk and forgot? Who knows. LOL
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itchy
Founding Member
I 'B' Itchy!!! Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 6,128
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Post by itchy on Feb 10, 2007 18:01:46 GMT -6
well if you do go buy a new laptop or computer... beware.... the new VISTA is not compatable with some programs yet...
like peoplepc server and yahoo messenger... not sure of what all but my daughter just bought a new Compac from best buy and it had the vista... she cant get onto her server or yahoo... i dont know what all its not working with but i dont think microsoft has worked out all the bugs yet...
me and my son both own dell laptops. we got back up disc for ours... their customer service sucks yes. but most customer services do now days its not just dell who out sources these days... try sbc
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Post by txreddog on Feb 10, 2007 18:10:22 GMT -6
MY dad works for dell he said himself that their costumer service sucks I just get lucky when my desktop breaks he and his friends can usually fix it. Laptop is a TOshiba works like a charm but I agree with Itchy that pretty much any costumer service you use these days suck. and no no dont try SBC LOL anytime i gotta problem with my internet off SBC it takes me hours to get from person to person till I get it fixed finally... half that time is spent saying what? what? I cant understand you.... and then get "i cant understand you either" gotta take a xanax each time before I attempt to call any kinda customer service
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Post by welshdragon on Apr 10, 2007 17:01:29 GMT -6
This is probably going off topic - but it's my way of dealing with MS bloat and 'support'
Well, this is one person who finally broke down; *MY* primary work machine is now a Linux box. I had a virus which changed the FSType byte in the partition table and neither I nor anyone I talked to (in several tech newsgroups) could find a way to change it back and possibly recover the disk. So ....
1st: Boot sector viruses *SUCK* big time!
2nd: Backups are never as current as we'd like!
3rd: A program called GetDataBack does a very respectable job of doing just that! I wasn't concerned about the programs, I have them on disk, I was concerned about my web sites and other personal information that I hadn't backed up recently enough.
4th: PCLinuxOS is a dream! Oh, I've got some kvetches: my Philips stereo isn't recognized as a sound device [damnit!] and it really doesn't like my Brother printer (in sum, USB support is a little lacking) On the pother hand, I've been running several programs that now do what *I* want them to, not what some tech at MS wants them to ...
As I become more comfortable with the OS, I'm having serious thoughts about switching to Mandriva (what Mandrake renamed itself). It comes on a 4GB DVD (the OS plus a whole slew of programs you can (but don't have to) install for something like $76.00
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