IAMTHEDEZHEARMEROAR

So I haven't popped in here in awhile. I figure it's about time that I drop in and say hello, find out how everyone is doing, etc. I also need help with something. I'll get to that in a minute.

 

Things have been going good for me. I'm taking like 14 credits, still a Criminal Justice major and should be graduating at the end of next year with my bachelors plus a specialty in security management. I'm a Parking Supervisor at the MSU Dept. of Police and Public Safety so I get to have tons of fun being a complete and total jackass all day while getting paid for it. Me and the girlfriend are still together (sorry Stang), it's been a year and a half now so that's fun stuff.

 

The sad part is I miss all of you. It's mvery difficult to keep in touch through just the forums, I'm so busy and it slips my mind to check in. Even when I do I find it difficult to jump back into things like I could when I was playing 24/7. A weak excuse but that's all I've got.

 

Anywho, in addition to trying to find out how everyone's doing I'd also like a hand with something. Two weeks ago my faithful laptop died after over four years of near-constant use. A sad day indeed. I'm not sure exactly what went wrong with it but I believe it was an issue with either the display or the video card. When I push the power button the thing turns on but nothing appears on the screen. The caps lock light flashes 10 times then the machine shuts off. Anywho, I decided that the thing was falling apart anyway (I was having issues with the AC Adapter piece on the motherboard too) so I bought a new one. I went from a Dell Inspiron 5150 to a Dell XPS M1530. So far I'm impressed as hell with the XPS. The problem is the stuff on my old computer. I took it to Best Buy to see if I could get the stuff on the hard drive off of it (all the illegal music I ended up paying for the hard way). They said yeah but they charge $100.00 to do it. I said thanks, kindly gave them the finger and headed out the door (okay so I just snagged my comp and walked out but I totally imagined the finger part). My question is, is there a cheaper alternative to getting everything off of that hard drive and onto either my current computer or an external hard-drive if I need some sort of go-between?

 

Oh. And finally, when WotLK comes out someone cast a damn scroll of resurrection on my account so I can come and hang out for a few days =p.

 

Hugs and Kisses and /flirts to all of you.

 

And for good times sake, ZOMGHOWINTHEHELLISEVERYONEIDONTGETACHANCETOTALKLIKETHISANYMORESOIHAVETOGETITALLO

UTOFMYSYSTEMNOWOMGIFORGOTHOWMUCHFUNTHISWASICANJUSTKEEPGOINGONANDONANDONANDONANDIN

EVERWANTTOSTOPSERIOUSLYITSSOMUCHFUNIWONDERWHATTHISISGOINGTODOTOTHEFORUMSZOMGTHISI

SCRAZYALRIGHTIAMDONEAFTERISAYZOMGWTFBBQPWND!!!1111ONEONEONEUNO

 

-TehDez

at first i thought you said i havent pooped in here for awhile and i giggled and stopped reading, hi dez!

Dude, I was up at MSU a month or so ago to see Wynton Marsalis critique the MSU jazz band. I forgot you went there! >__>;;

I didn't know you were up at MSU dez!!!! I was there for a whole month this summer : (!

OMg Dez you are still teh noobzors Michiganer. Hows Michigan? Getting cold? The fam and I are going over there for the holidays. I havent been back since i moved out here in Jersey. I am glad you are doing awesome.

 

 

/miss

 

 

Btw XPS l530 FTW. I got one for my birthday. I love it. =)

Laptop hard drives use the same protocol that desktops do to "talk" with your hardware. Flip your laptop over, unscrew panels until you find the hard drive (it will be skinnier but still look like one,) then plug that hard drive into another computer (don't unplug the primary hard drive for the computer you are plugging this drive into.) boot up the new computer and it should recognize the drive. From that point find what you want to copy and drag/drop off of it.

 

Option B: Buy an external USB hard drive or if possible just the shell for one, open it up and plug the latptop drive into it, and connect the USB cable to your good laptop.

 

Two things worth a try.

 

 

OMGHAIDEZIMISSYOU

 

 

Oh and if you needz a scroll cast on your account lemme know!

 

OMGBREAKUPWITHHERALREADYDEZGOSH!

Hey Dez, the easiest and cheapest way to get the data off of that HDD, assuming that it's still working fine, would be to use an external enclosuer for it. You would put the HDD into that shell, attatch it to your XPS w/ a USB cable. Then it'll show up as another drive in your my computer pane. After that it's just drag and drop the data you need over. Enclosures that'll work with that system are here

 

If you need any help, or want me to check anything for you on the Dell side just let me know.

 

Actually get me your service tag, I'll look it up on my break and see what your warranty looks like.

Hey Dez, the easiest and cheapest way to get the data off of that HDD, assuming that it's still working fine, would be to use an external enclosuer for it. You would put the HDD into that shell, attatch it to your XPS w/ a USB cable. Then it'll show up as another drive in your my computer pane. After that it's just drag and drop the data you need over. Enclosures that'll work with that system are here

 

If you need any help, or want me to check anything for you on the Dell side just let me know.

 

Actually get me your service tag, I'll look it up on my break and see what your warranty looks like.

 

BML2423 is my old service tag. I don't have a whole lot of time right now but I'll look into the shells later. I didn't know it could be that easy.

BML2423 is my old service tag. I don't have a whole lot of time right now but I'll look into the shells later. I didn't know it could be that easy.

"Service Tag Not Found!"

 

So ... /shrug.

 

You've already got the XPS so you're pretty set. If you have to call tech support for this may God help you. Inspirion systesm are based in Indai if you're not a business account.

 

Yeah. My warranty is shot on that system, it's over four years old. I did have to call and talk to their tech support overseas once... for six hours... without getting a reply. I ended up sending their tech-support an angry e-mail. This was picked up by a VP of Tech Support or some other high-up that was here in the States. He got things fixed within a week. Damn that I lost his direct-line that he gave me. It was one of the few times I actually felt like they cared.

 

I'm under the impression that the XPS systems have some sort of better warranty system seeing that they do on-site repairs after a diagnostic.

Yeah. My warranty is shot on that system, it's over four years old. I did have to call and talk to their tech support overseas once... for six hours... without getting a reply. I ended up sending their tech-support an angry e-mail. This was picked up by a VP of Tech Support or some other high-up that was here in the States. He got things fixed within a week. Damn that I lost his direct-line that he gave me. It was one of the few times I actually felt like they cared.

 

I'm under the impression that the XPS systems have some sort of better warranty system seeing that they do on-site repairs after a diagnostic.

 

TLDR Version: You get what you pay for, and Inspirions are cheap for a reason.

 

The warranty on Dells work like this: All troubleshooting is done over the phone. The tech you talk to is determined by the system you purchased, the company number (or business segment for any business students out there), and the type of warranty you purchased. All consumer systems that are purchased (Insiprion laptops and desktops, Dimension desktops) are sent to call centers over seas. Business Insiprion and Dimension systems are sent over there as well. These "techs" are .... "trained". Which is to say that they took the same "using Dell's internal systems and here's the type of computer you'll be supporting" class I did. However for us, they didn't have to teach anyone how to tech an issue. You took an exam to get in the door based on the A+ exam. If you didn't pass, HR gave you a pat on the back and thanked you for playing. Some techs are FAR better then others, as I'm sure you're well aware.

 

Overseas agents have no such exam, and work off of a narrow script because of this reason. Which is the main reason it's so terribad. ALL Optiplex and Latitude systems have lifetime support based in the US. I'd be one of those agents. This is changing however. I'll get more news to you on that later when it's final. Or better yet I'll tell you guys in person so it's not in writing.

 

Enterprise systems have their own specialized techs and call centers. These are server guys, it's an interesting job.

 

Now about that tech you mentioned, that would be a Next Business Day warranty. Basically what it means is you're going to get a tech for your system to come out and install things that we think are too complicated for you to handle. Like Motherboards and chassis components. This is by far the better warranty of the packages we offer. You'd call us, we together with you would tech it and figure out what you need, then we'd send parts to a contractor who'd come out and perform the labor. Next Business day means what it says, but there are caviates. It's all dependent on parts availability and the tech showing up when they say they will. Dell will guarantee that it's shipment will arrive next business day if they've got it to send, but we can't guarantee the service being performed on that same day.

 

Depot contracts are the same as above, except you send the system into Dell for service. The lead times are longer (7-10 business days) and they do all their own teching at the depot. So sometimes, as in the case of an intermittent issue, if they can't replicate the problem then they'll send the system back to you w/o performing service; claiming it's software. I freaking hate the depot.

 

Whenever you reply to that summary email that you get sent at the end of a call it goes straight to Dell Corporate. They're scanned by computer filters for keywords and are filtered out the appropriate department. Escalated (sent to management) as needed. If you ever talk to a Tech support manager, they're a tech. Period. If you don't have a A+ or better, you cannot be management.

 

What's the point of all this? I'm just trying to decode the corporate side of Dell's support policy. Dell as a company is VERY concerned about the experience you get on the phone when you call us. It's why we do as well in the business sector as we do, b/c most of our business techs are pretty fantastic and we'll work to resolve your issue. As far as I'm concerned Dell has the best tech support and the best warranty in the business.

 

Oh and those XPS systems are all US based tech support too. But you can only call us as long as your warranty is valid, or you've got to pay for it. BTW the XPS techs are at least as good as I am. I've been pretty impressed when I've dealt with them.

 

Last thing, even if the warranty is up I'd still be able to pull up the Tag in the database. So there's probably a character missing, or something silly.

Edited November 4, 2008 by Ecthelion

when i bought my old xps it arrived DOA. unfortunately the local tech was busy and i had to move back to atlanta in a few days. dell actually worked it out so an atlanta tech saw me the day i got there, with a new mobo and ram in hand. I was pretty impressed with that level of service.

My Laptop is an XPS M1730 Go big or go home and all that.

 

Anyways I've had absolutely ZERO problems with it so far, save for the fact that it's so frickin hugetarded.

I gave you part of my service tag and part of my license plate for some reason...

 

My old tag is BML4551

 

My new tag is... (flips laptop over)... 33BVLH1

 

And OMGSAUCEILU

I gave you part of my service tag and part of my license plate for some reason...

 

My old tag is BML4551

 

My new tag is... (flips laptop over)... 33BVLH1

 

And OMGSAUCEILU

I just looked them both over. Damn that XPS you bought is sexy.

 

And that issue you had with the Inspirion went to REC. That's the Command Center in Texas for Dell, they are the last and final word on all tech support issues for the company. That went as High as it could possibly have gone unless Michael Dell, or Jesus himself, steped in.

 

Oh, and your Inspirion's warrnaty. The date was when the warranty went out.

2007-09-30 $140.00 <-- Depot

 

Versus your XPSs warranty, same deal with the date.

2010-10-24 $171.00 <--NBD

 

That little extra in $ is soooooooo worth it. Oh and you should get complete care on that thing incase soemthing happens to it. Complete care = accidental damage coverage. I had a call the other day where I replaced a system that was destroyed in an auto accident. Good stuff.

Edited November 4, 2008 by Ecthelion

Parents were footing the bill so I went with the 2 year without accidental protection. How long do I have to opt into a 4 year warranty with 4 years of accidental protection, or did I already blow it as far as that's concerned?

 

And how in the hell long have you worked for Dell?

Parents were footing the bill so I went with the 2 year without accidental protection. How long do I have to opt into a 4 year warranty with 4 years of accidental protection, or did I already blow it as far as that's concerned?

You can call in anytime before that warranty is up and extend it. I'll all prorate to the end of the extension. The max you can go I belive is 5 years from the date of purchase, but it may be a little shorter for an XPS

 

And how in the hell long have you worked for Dell?

Going on 8 months, and technically I don't work for Dell, I work for a company that works for Dell. I also work in the highest grossing, highest rated, and best call center for it's segment in the Dell network. So we've got a little game. =)

You can call in anytime before that warranty is up and extend it. I'll all prorate to the end of the extension. The max you can go I belive is 5 years from the date of purchase, but it may be a little shorter for an XPS

 

 

Going on 8 months, and technically I don't work for Dell, I work for a company that works for Dell. I also work in the highest grossing, highest rated, and best call center for it's segment in the Dell network. So we've got a little game. =)

 

Well that would have been useful back when I had my POS Inspiron and needed help with it.

 

BTW it will still turn on and stuff. It turns on, the caps lock light flashes 10 times then turns off. That means a problem with the video card/display right?