Save me from the DELL runaround! Do local reps exist?

Question

I bought a Dell in September for the kiddies. They use it for schoolwork and games. It locks up about once or twice a week, and somehow the sound gets corrupted (and it definitely isn't the speakers!).

I've had to do a system restore about once every 10 days. Working with the DELL online and phone folks to remedy the problem makes me want to SCREAM!!

Geek Squad/Best Buy etc. won't do warranty work on it, even though DELL tells me I can take it there (since they can't seem to figure it out online or over the phone). All DELL wants to do is have me reboot, reboot, reboot, restore, restore, deinstall, reinstall, ARGH!

I want to take a sledgehammer to it (or send it back, but it's too late).

Does anyone know how to find a local DELL rep to talk to? Someone local I can use to help me get this taken care of? I know otherwise hell will have to freeze over before a tech will come out to my house.

SAAAAAVE ME!

Answer 1

Boy - they sure aren't like they used to be.

You aren't the first person I've heard say this about Dell. They now have the worst tech. support ever and they don't care a bit about their customers. So I am terribly sorry that you bought a Dell.

You'd be better off finding a local computer repair shop that might be willing to work around Dell's warranty. Call a few places and find out what your options are.

FP

Answer 2

There could be a number of things that is locking it and with out knowing what you are doing when it locks up is pretty hard to isolate the problem, but here are a few things you can try...

1) Do an online virus scan at www.trendmicro.com there is an option called 'Free Tools' - there is a free online virus\spyware\malware scanner to check and fix some if any viruses\spyware on your computer.

2) Check Disk
Start
Run
Type 'cmd'
Hit 'Enter'
At the prompt type 'chkdsk /f
Hit 'Enter'
type 'y' to the question
rebooting the computer is required for this to run

2) Disk Clean Up
Start
Programs
Accessories
System Tools
Disk Clean up

3) Disk Defragmenter
Start
Programs
Accessories
System Tools
Disk Defragmenter
Hightlight the 'C' drive
Click on 'Defragment'

4) Install any required Windows Updates
http://update.microsoft.com/microsoftupdate/v6/default.aspx?ln=en-us

Answer 3

Check local computer repair shops (through Yellow Pages, Yahoo, Google, whatever) and see if any of them are authorized to service Dell machines. You might still have to fight paperwork for Dell's warranty system, but at least you'll get a local face to talk to.