One good one, and one not-so-good one...if anyone's interested. I have a
Latitude D800 purchased from the small business store in March 2005. Over
time, I've been absolutely thrilled with it...if I were to buy it again, I
would do so without a moment's hesitation.
The bad one:
I got a D/Bay external drive module (these seem to be made of unobtainium,
so I was pleased to find one) and started using it. After a few insertion
and removal cycles of the connector from the D/Bay port on the side of the
system, the "insides" came out of the top half of the connector. It still
worked, but the contact "blades" were left hanging in thin air--not the best
thing to have with pins that carry any kind of electrical power. The
connector looked kind of "abused" from day one...
I contacted Dell by live chat support (which has worked well for me in the
past) and was talking to a man from India. He said that the service request
would go through and gave me a complete log of the conversation. I was
supposed to receive a box to put the computer in and send it back for
repair.
Weeks turned into months and the box never showed. I kept using the computer
anyway--it didn't seem to mind the deformed connector one bit.
The good one:
At the beginning of this week I noticed a crack (!!!) in the bottom of the
computer case, starting around the docking port. How it got there I will
never know. I don't have the docking station and this machine lives a calm,
gentle life.
This time I called Dell tech support and was connected to a person in
Canada. He was very helpful and told me that a box would be sent out right
away to return the computer with. He also advised me (now, this is a first,
at least with all the computers I've sent in for service) to pull the hard
drive before sending it. I was going to do that anyway, along with making a
complete backup of the whole system to another hard drive.
I was told that I should receive the box in a few days, probably by the end
of the week. Well, it was a lot sooner than that...I had the box by the next
day! Not only that, but the DHL driver took my laptop, packed it in the box,
sealed it up and took the box with him. That was Tuesday. An automated
caller from Dell left a machine on my answering machine on Wednesday saying
that the computer had reached their service depot. I was amazed! It must
have been overnighted to that point.
Dell just e-mailed me tonight (Thursday) and said that my computer had been
repaired. A company by the name of SOLECTRON seems to have done the actual
work. They also told me that I could have my computer by Friday or Monday.
It does remain to be seen if the system will actually be fixed, but I have
every faith that it will be. But I am impressed so far.
If it bothered you, I apologize in advance for this long, rambling post. I
just wanted to throw a little good news out there for those who might have
to get their Dell product serviced under warranty. Of course, I do realize
that my good fortune may be a result of purchasing through the small/medium
business store and that home shoppers may not be so fortunate.
William
--
Brought to you by an IBM PS/2 Server 95
9595-1NT (with Y complex), S/N 23KK821
Pentium 90, Windows NT 4.0, 64MB RAM
....and the power supply hasn't failed yet!
"William R. Walsh" <newsgroups1@idontwantjunqueemail.walshcomptech.co m>
wrote in message news:3geYh.80116$_c5.52712@attbi_s22...
> Hello all...
>
> One good one, and one not-so-good one...if anyone's interested. I have a
> Latitude D800 purchased from the small business store in March 2005. Over
> time, I've been absolutely thrilled with it...if I were to buy it again, I
> would do so without a moment's hesitation.
>
<snip>
William -
Do post back with the final results if you will.
I just completed an online hardware chat night before last regarding a no
power/no POST situation on a client's Inspiron 8600.
The online (overseas) tech rep allowed me to explain what t-shooting steps I
had already taken, and while the conversation was a bit bumpy, hopefully the
onsite dispatch (due either today or perhaps Monday) was created correctly.
I had diagnosed a bad AC adapter with a small chance of the actual
systemboard connector being bad (the problem was intermittent); the online
tech dispatched both a replacement adapter and systemboard.
The D800 is a fine machine. Hope your repair goes well. Like you, I find
that unusual that the base itself would develop a crack/fissure.
On Apr 27, 4:29 am, "S.Lewis" <stew1...@mail.com> wrote:
> "William R. Walsh" <newsgrou...@idontwantjunqueemail.walshcomptech.co m>
> wrote in messagenews:3geYh.80116$_c5.52712@attbi_s22...
>
> > Hello all...
>
> > One good one, and one not-so-good one...if anyone's interested. I have a
> > Latitude D800 purchased from the small business store in March 2005. Over
> > time, I've been absolutely thrilled with it...if I were to buy it again, I
> > would do so without a moment's hesitation.
>
> <snip>
>
> William -
>
> Do post back with the final results if you will.
>
> I just completed an online hardware chat night before last regarding a no
> power/no POST situation on a client's Inspiron 8600.
>
> The online (overseas) tech rep allowed me to explain what t-shooting steps I
> had already taken, and while the conversation was a bit bumpy, hopefully the
> onsite dispatch (due either today or perhaps Monday) was created correctly.
>
> I had diagnosed a bad AC adapter with a small chance of the actual
> systemboard connector being bad (the problem was intermittent); the online
> tech dispatched both a replacement adapter and systemboard.
>
> The D800 is a fine machine. Hope your repair goes well. Like you, I find
> that unusual that the base itself would develop a crack/fissure.
>
> Stew
On the i8600...is the machine still under warranty? If so, and if the
systemboard connector is found to be the culprit, I'm interested to
hear if Dell covers it, or it it's deemed 'abuse'. I know there's
been discussion about this before on this ng.
I had a power/no POST on a warranted i6000 last October. I called
Dell, explained what I had done to troubleshoot, and they sent out a
new adapter and systemboard with an onsite tech who repaired it in my
kitchen. No charge. I was quite satisfied.
On 27 Apr 2007 08:02:18 -0700, Boris <boris-badenough@excite.com>
wrote:
>On Apr 27, 4:29 am, "S.Lewis" <stew1...@mail.com> wrote:
>> "William R. Walsh" <newsgrou...@idontwantjunqueemail.walshcomptech.co m>
>> wrote in messagenews:3geYh.80116$_c5.52712@attbi_s22...
>>
>> > Hello all...
>>
>> > One good one, and one not-so-good one...if anyone's interested. I have a
>> > Latitude D800 purchased from the small business store in March 2005. Over
>> > time, I've been absolutely thrilled with it...if I were to buy it again, I
>> > would do so without a moment's hesitation.
>>
>> <snip>
>>
>> William -
>>
>> Do post back with the final results if you will.
>>
>> I just completed an online hardware chat night before last regarding a no
>> power/no POST situation on a client's Inspiron 8600.
>>
>> The online (overseas) tech rep allowed me to explain what t-shooting steps I
>> had already taken, and while the conversation was a bit bumpy, hopefully the
>> onsite dispatch (due either today or perhaps Monday) was created correctly.
>>
>> I had diagnosed a bad AC adapter with a small chance of the actual
>> systemboard connector being bad (the problem was intermittent); the online
>> tech dispatched both a replacement adapter and systemboard.
>>
>> The D800 is a fine machine. Hope your repair goes well. Like you, I find
>> that unusual that the base itself would develop a crack/fissure.
>>
>> Stew
>
>On the i8600...is the machine still under warranty? If so, and if the
>systemboard connector is found to be the culprit, I'm interested to
>hear if Dell covers it, or it it's deemed 'abuse'. I know there's
>been discussion about this before on this ng.
>
>I had a power/no POST on a warranted i6000 last October. I called
>Dell, explained what I had done to troubleshoot, and they sent out a
>new adapter and systemboard with an onsite tech who repaired it in my
>kitchen. No charge. I was quite satisfied.
I've always had good under-warranty after-purchase support. That's
one reason that I stick with Dell, especially for laptops. For
Desktops I usually take my chances and don't extend the warranty.
I've had Latitudes in the past. Two of them developed cracks, but
they were heavily used (spent a few years in backpacks at school when
I was learning web development). I liked the D505 because it seemed
very solid (anything was solid compared to the 4100's with the funky
color inserts). I didn't know that the D505 had cracks until the eBay
person I sold it to told me. He wasn't very happy, but I made it
right for him by sending him a lot of extras.
I've never kept a laptop beyond the warranty period (surprise,
surprise). I wonder if support beyond the warranty period is
expensive.
"Boris" <boris-badenough@excite.com> wrote in message
news:1177686138.618570.130160@b40g2000prd.googlegr oups.com...
> On Apr 27, 4:29 am, "S.Lewis" <stew1...@mail.com> wrote:
>> "William R. Walsh" <newsgrou...@idontwantjunqueemail.walshcomptech.co m>
>> wrote in messagenews:3geYh.80116$_c5.52712@attbi_s22...
>>
>> > Hello all...
>>
>> > One good one, and one not-so-good one...if anyone's interested. I have
>> > a
>> > Latitude D800 purchased from the small business store in March 2005.
>> > Over
>> > time, I've been absolutely thrilled with it...if I were to buy it
>> > again, I
>> > would do so without a moment's hesitation.
>>
>> <snip>
>>
>> William -
>>
>> Do post back with the final results if you will.
>>
>> I just completed an online hardware chat night before last regarding a no
>> power/no POST situation on a client's Inspiron 8600.
>>
>> The online (overseas) tech rep allowed me to explain what t-shooting
>> steps I
>> had already taken, and while the conversation was a bit bumpy, hopefully
>> the
>> onsite dispatch (due either today or perhaps Monday) was created
>> correctly.
>>
>> I had diagnosed a bad AC adapter with a small chance of the actual
>> systemboard connector being bad (the problem was intermittent); the
>> online
>> tech dispatched both a replacement adapter and systemboard.
>>
>> The D800 is a fine machine. Hope your repair goes well. Like you, I find
>> that unusual that the base itself would develop a crack/fissure.
>>
>> Stew
>
> On the i8600...is the machine still under warranty? If so, and if the
> systemboard connector is found to be the culprit, I'm interested to
> hear if Dell covers it, or it it's deemed 'abuse'. I know there's
> been discussion about this before on this ng.
>
> I had a power/no POST on a warranted i6000 last October. I called
> Dell, explained what I had done to troubleshoot, and they sent out a
> new adapter and systemboard with an onsite tech who repaired it in my
> kitchen. No charge. I was quite satisfied.
>
Boris -
Similar situation here. The i8600 has warranty. I feel pretty strongly that
the problem is in the adapter, but the tech insisted upon sending a tech
along with a new systemboard in addition to an AC adapter.
Probably the best route to go just in case I'm wrong. g
-----Original Message-----
From: Boris [mailto:boris-badenough@excite.com]
Posted At: Friday, April 27, 2007 11:02 AM
Posted To: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell
Conversation: Dell Warranty Service Experience
Subject: Re: Dell Warranty Service Experience
On Apr 27, 4:29 am, "S.Lewis" <stew1...@mail.com> wrote:
> "William R. Walsh"
<newsgrou...@idontwantjunqueemail.walshcomptech.co m>
> wrote in messagenews:3geYh.80116$_c5.52712@attbi_s22...
>
> > Hello all...
>
> > One good one, and one not-so-good one...if anyone's interested. I
have a
> > Latitude D800 purchased from the small business store in March 2005.
Over
> > time, I've been absolutely thrilled with it...if I were to buy it
again, I
> > would do so without a moment's hesitation.
>
> <snip>
>
> William -
>
> Do post back with the final results if you will.
>
> I just completed an online hardware chat night before last regarding a
no
> power/no POST situation on a client's Inspiron 8600.
>
> The online (overseas) tech rep allowed me to explain what t-shooting
steps I
> had already taken, and while the conversation was a bit bumpy,
hopefully the
> onsite dispatch (due either today or perhaps Monday) was created
correctly.
>
> I had diagnosed a bad AC adapter with a small chance of the actual
> systemboard connector being bad (the problem was intermittent); the
online
> tech dispatched both a replacement adapter and systemboard.
>
> The D800 is a fine machine. Hope your repair goes well. Like you, I
find
> that unusual that the base itself would develop a crack/fissure.
>
> Stew
On the i8600...is the machine still under warranty? If so, and if the
systemboard connector is found to be the culprit, I'm interested to
hear if Dell covers it, or it it's deemed 'abuse'. I know there's
been discussion about this before on this ng.
I had a power/no POST on a warranted i6000 last October. I called
Dell, explained what I had done to troubleshoot, and they sent out a
new adapter and systemboard with an onsite tech who repaired it in my
kitchen. No charge. I was quite satisfied.
I can't see how it would be abuse. They replaced my I6000 motherboard on
my 14-year-old's machine without problem. If that's not abuse, what is?
> I've never kept a laptop beyond the warranty period (surprise,
> surprise). I wonder if support beyond the warranty period is
> expensive.
Very much so...!
As an aside, I've run several laptops well past their warranty period. Until
March of 2005, my primary computer was a Compaq LTE 5000. It ran well and
over time I'd come into some nice upgrades. My only complaint was the
behavior of the charging circuit. It was weird when I got it and only got
worse over time.
Although my Latitude D800 is now my primary laptop (with a Macbook that is a
backup and goes out with me to service calls and such), I still have and use
the LTE 5000 now and again...it still works great.
The computer industry has a sad past with power connectors for notebooks. For
myself, I'd live with the extra ounce of metal needed to attach the power
connector FIRMLY to the motherboard. Right now, almost every notebook power
connector is held to the motherboard only with solder, which is a soft metal
prone to breakage.
People need to exercise extreme care with their notebook computers and power
adapters. Calling some of the breaking power connectors "abuse" is denial that
there is a serious problem here. With regular insertion and removal of power
connector, the solder is weakened and finally fractures. Sad fact... Ben Myers
On Fri, 27 Apr 2007 03:39:43 GMT, "William R. Walsh"
<newsgroups1@idontwantjunqueemail.walshcomptech.co m> wrote:
>Hello all...
>
>One good one, and one not-so-good one...if anyone's interested. I have a
>Latitude D800 purchased from the small business store in March 2005. Over
>time, I've been absolutely thrilled with it...if I were to buy it again, I
>would do so without a moment's hesitation.
>
>The bad one:
>I got a D/Bay external drive module (these seem to be made of unobtainium,
>so I was pleased to find one) and started using it. After a few insertion
>and removal cycles of the connector from the D/Bay port on the side of the
>system, the "insides" came out of the top half of the connector. It still
>worked, but the contact "blades" were left hanging in thin air--not the best
>thing to have with pins that carry any kind of electrical power. The
>connector looked kind of "abused" from day one...
>
>I contacted Dell by live chat support (which has worked well for me in the
>past) and was talking to a man from India. He said that the service request
>would go through and gave me a complete log of the conversation. I was
>supposed to receive a box to put the computer in and send it back for
>repair.
>
>Weeks turned into months and the box never showed. I kept using the computer
>anyway--it didn't seem to mind the deformed connector one bit.
>
>The good one:
>
>At the beginning of this week I noticed a crack (!!!) in the bottom of the
>computer case, starting around the docking port. How it got there I will
>never know. I don't have the docking station and this machine lives a calm,
>gentle life.
>
>This time I called Dell tech support and was connected to a person in
>Canada. He was very helpful and told me that a box would be sent out right
>away to return the computer with. He also advised me (now, this is a first,
>at least with all the computers I've sent in for service) to pull the hard
>drive before sending it. I was going to do that anyway, along with making a
>complete backup of the whole system to another hard drive.
>
>I was told that I should receive the box in a few days, probably by the end
>of the week. Well, it was a lot sooner than that...I had the box by the next
>day! Not only that, but the DHL driver took my laptop, packed it in the box,
>sealed it up and took the box with him. That was Tuesday. An automated
>caller from Dell left a machine on my answering machine on Wednesday saying
>that the computer had reached their service depot. I was amazed! It must
>have been overnighted to that point.
>
>Dell just e-mailed me tonight (Thursday) and said that my computer had been
>repaired. A company by the name of SOLECTRON seems to have done the actual
>work. They also told me that I could have my computer by Friday or Monday.
>
>It does remain to be seen if the system will actually be fixed, but I have
>every faith that it will be. But I am impressed so far.
>
>If it bothered you, I apologize in advance for this long, rambling post. I
>just wanted to throw a little good news out there for those who might have
>to get their Dell product serviced under warranty. Of course, I do realize
>that my good fortune may be a result of purchasing through the small/medium
>business store and that home shoppers may not be so fortunate.
>
>William
On Sun, 29 Apr 2007 00:38:07 -0400, Ben Myers
<ben_myers_spam_me_not@charter.net> wrote:
>The computer industry has a sad past with power connectors for notebooks. For
>myself, I'd live with the extra ounce of metal needed to attach the power
>connector FIRMLY to the motherboard.
<clipped>
>With regular insertion and removal of power
>Sad fact... Ben Myers
One thing I like about the extended battery on the Inspiron 640m is
that it partially protects the left side of the power plug on the
back. Also, it is 1 - 1 1/2 inches from the right hand side of the
back of the case. When it's on my lap I know how to position it so
that the power connection on back is safe. As long as I can feel the
right bottom edge of the laptop on the top of my right leg, the
connector is safe.
I also have things set up (too hard to explain) so that when I get in
and out of the recliner where I use it in my living room, I can easily
place it on this old typewriter-stand that has the power connector
going under it and out the right, so when I put it on the stand the
power cord flows over the top right edge and then back under the stand
to the left, without any pulling. This also ensures that I never trip
over the cord and abruptly pull it out of the laptop.
All beverages go on the glass table to the right of the chair, and
never to the left of the chair where my laptop is.
This provides an ideal way to protect the laptop power connector and
ensure that beverages don't get spilled into the laptop.
And, all of this provides more than ample evidence that I can analyze
the hell out of anything :-)
(but my power connector, is very, very safe -- Dell should give me a
discount on my complete care warranty lol)
-----Original Message-----
From: Ben Myers [mailto:ben_myers_spam_me_not@charter.net]
Posted At: Sunday, April 29, 2007 12:38 AM
Posted To: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell
Conversation: Dell Warranty Service Experience
Subject: Re: Dell Warranty Service Experience
The computer industry has a sad past with power connectors for
notebooks. For
myself, I'd live with the extra ounce of metal needed to attach the
power
connector FIRMLY to the motherboard. Right now, almost every notebook
power
connector is held to the motherboard only with solder, which is a soft
metal
prone to breakage.
People need to exercise extreme care with their notebook computers and
power
adapters. Calling some of the breaking power connectors "abuse" is
denial that
there is a serious problem here. With regular insertion and removal of
power
connector, the solder is weakened and finally fractures. Sad fact...
Ben Myers
This is an area where Apple really shines. The connectors on their
notebooks are magnets. Bump it or trip over the wire and it just pops
off. I suspect they patented the idea.
Dell Warranty Service Experience 
Linear Mode
