Debate, and discuss, just dont Bore me.

I have always loved Dells (well since about the mid 90s).  And yesterday, I found I had an even better reason to love them!

My sister-in-law suffered a fire at her house a couple of years ago.  The house was a total loss (which is a shame - have you ever heard of the Hobbit House?  That was hers.)  By the time my wife and I got out there several months later, they had cleared the rubble and were fighting the insurance company over money.  In that rubble apparently was her laptop.

Too bad I told her.  The data may have been salvageable.  Well, lo and behold this year she found that she had not thrown out the laptop, and gave it to me to see if I could do anything with it.

Now this Dell is old.  The fire was 2 years ago.  The stupid thing only had 256mb of memory, so I suspect it was at least 3 years old when it was burned.  And it is not one of those sleek new notebooks that weigh about 1.5 pounds (this one clocks in at about 6-7), so it is rugged.  I was not really hopeful, but figured I would give it a shot.

I pulled the drive out, mounted it into an external USB case and plugged it into my laptop.  Brnnnnnggg!  Up came the drive with all the data!  ALL THE DATA!

I am very pleasantly surprised! I was able to recover all her data and saved it on to a memory stick (the drive was only a 60gb, only a quarter full - so a memory stick that holds all the data is cheap these days).

Over the years, I have had many good experiences with Dell.  I can add another one.  The computer itself is DOA, but the drive was protected by the "arm-breaker) case it was in and works fine!  I intend to give her the drive back to so she can have some temporary storage (I would not trust it for important stuff, just for a temporary back up).

Thanks again Dell!  You did it again!


Comments (Page 4)
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on Sep 15, 2010

No matter what type of computer and whether you buy or build your own, there is no substitute for regular maintenance. The Dell in this thread (reply 19) and several more I've worked on this year suffered from lack of owner care.

I've also seen some home setups that would make Smokey the Bear nervous. Clutter, poor ventilation and overloaded wiring is a recipe for disaster.

When it comes to electronics, heat is your enemy.  Be cool.

on Sep 15, 2010

MasonM
It's great (and lucky) that her data was recoverable. I used to buy Dell but these days I tend to go with the HP models. Except for the fact that they can't seem to design a proper power port I find them very reliable.

HP Laptops are their only redeeming line right now (IMHO).  I do like them as well.  But I have found them to be a little bit more pricey than Dells recently (use to be there was no difference).

on Sep 15, 2010

Clutter, poor ventilation and overloaded wiring is a recipe for disaster.

I worked on one that had cigarette burns on the keyboard and case!  Plus the CD drive was worse than you could imagine (think about where all the smoke went to).

Yes, a nice cool place is always great!  And keep it off of flat surfaces (laptops). the vents need air, and most of the time, they are on the bottom.

on Sep 15, 2010

Dr Guy


HP Laptops are their only redeeming line right now (IMHO).  I do like them as well.  But I have found them to be a little bit more pricey than Dells recently (use to be there was no difference).

I agree with both sentiments here. I like their laptops but not their desktops or servers. And yes they do cost a bit more. Heck, if I could afford it I would buy nothing but custom built Alienware machines

on Sep 15, 2010

HP Laptops are their only redeeming line right now (IMHO). I do like them as well.

My HP laptop just bit the dust due to a graphics chip that wasn't compatible with the mobo. HP knew of the defect, has an article about it on their website, but wants $275.00 to fix it. And then it would, no doubt, be replaced with the same defective mobo.

Needless to say that was my last HP product. 

on Sep 15, 2010

My HP laptop just bit the dust due to a graphics chip that wasn't compatible with the mobo. HP knew of the defect, has an article about it on their website, but wants $275.00 to fix it. And then it would, no doubt, be replaced with the same defective mobo.

The US of A pioneered a thingie called the "Lemon Laws"....which ultimately ended up as consumer protection with regards to non-merchantable goods...or goods which fail to live up to the reasonable expectation/s of the purchaser.

It is 'reasonable' to expect a HP-chosen graphics chip/card WILL be compatible with a HP-chosen MoBo....and NOT fry either.

HP is thus in NO position to request payment to make good their fault.

You are entitled to a full refund under Consumer Protection Law [that's definite in Oz....and 'should' be likewise in the US].

In Australia it's the 'A-triple-C' [ACCC]....Lord knows what it's called in the US....

on Sep 15, 2010

Come on, Jafo - it's US and A.

on Sep 15, 2010

Come on, Jafo - it's US and A.

United States AND America?

I don't think so...

on Sep 15, 2010

And here I thought you aussie's were hip.

on Sep 15, 2010


My HP laptop just bit the dust due to a graphics chip that wasn't compatible with the mobo. HP knew of the defect, has an article about it on their website, but wants $275.00 to fix it. And then it would, no doubt, be replaced with the same defective mobo.


The US of A pioneered a thingie called the "Lemon Laws"....which ultimately ended up as consumer protection with regards to non-merchantable goods...or goods which fail to live up to the reasonable expectation/s of the purchaser.

It is 'reasonable' to expect a HP-chosen graphics chip/card WILL be compatible with a HP-chosen MoBo....and NOT fry either.

HP is thus in NO position to request payment to make good their fault.

You are entitled to a full refund under Consumer Protection Law [that's definite in Oz....and 'should' be likewise in the US].

In Australia it's the 'A-triple-C' [ACCC]....Lord knows what it's called in the US....

 

That would be nice. But as per a phone call to them, HP, I missed my window of opportunity. They said that had I registered the laptop I would have gotten an email notifying me of the need to repair, and I would have gotten it fixed for free. But due to the fact that I bought it at a rental store, it had been registered to someone before me and he got the notification. Now the window of opportunity has passed, and I'm SOL.

I told them I would never buy or recommend an HP/Compaq again and that out of a laptop, and 2 desktops, all were Compaq machines, made by HP. No more. My newest purchase is a Toshiba Satellite L505-ES5011.

 

You think I can force them to repair?

on Sep 15, 2010

You think I can force them to repair?

Being an on-sell ex-rental/second hand it's likely more difficult....even warranty periods will likely be an issue....but either way if the hardware was sold [initially] defective then the 'fact' is reality.

It is THEIR responsibility to demonstrate how the mis-representation of a product is justified under Consumer Law.

"Buy this Laptop it is good" cannot translate to "Buy this laptop...it will self-destruct due to poor/incompetent design well within its expected life time".

Failure or inability to 'register' a purchase [warranty] does NOT excuse the Manufacturer from its responsibility to provide a merchantable product.

However...

You will get the 'art of spin' aimed at you to "resist" their requirement to restitute/make good from every level of intercourse/barrier between you, the Customer, and the HP CEO [where the buck stops]...but take the issue far enough and you will quite possibly be paid to 'stfu'.....

...or, of course...someone else may be paid to shut you up [which -ever is cheaper]...

on Sep 15, 2010

Jafo, you crack me up...lol!! 

on Sep 16, 2010

If they had any brains, they'd pay up, but then the number of successful class action lawsuits against them says otherwise...

 

Odds are they'll do what they've done before.  Tell you to fuck off so you can go get a lawyer and soak them for ten times as much in the end, plus lawyer fees.  HP not very bright.

on Sep 16, 2010

Heck, if I could afford it I would buy nothing but custom built Alienware machines

  - Yea, I would love to grab a computer without looking at the price!  but then compared to the early ones I bought (early 90s and 80s), even the high end ones now are cheap!

 

on Sep 16, 2010

HP knew of the defect, has an article about it on their website, but wants $275.00 to fix it. And then it would, no doubt, be replaced with the same defective mobo.

Needless to say that was my last HP product.

Well....... Since my HP has never had a problem (except losing its BIOS drive settings - fixed after finding it), I cannot attest to their service side.  Which is a good thing as the less service a computer needs means the better it is (yours unfortunately being not the case).

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