Cold shoulder from Dell on NVidia/crash/vertical lines issue

Anyone have any tips for getting Dell to change its tune?

I bought a refurbished XPS 1330 in mid-2008 from the Dell Outlet and a few days ago started experiencing what so many others have.

I was told my a supervisor today that my machine shipped with a motherboard that was updated to address the NVidia issue, and the extended warranty wouldn't help me. I have a fried machine that's less than two years old, and Dell says I'm on my own.

From reading other posts here, it looks like this problem is deeper and more widespread than they're letting on now.

 

If read that right, you system is on warranty (provided by Dell) and Dell will not honor it?

 

No, my system is not on warranty but I hoped Dell would take care of me under the extended warranty created to address this issue. They won't. It looks like the question I should be asking here is whether it would be worth it to pay for the motherboard replacement when so many people have had this happen over and over again. I'm thinking I'm better off spending the money on a new system.

 

That sucks. Anyway, the most practical solution is to sell your system as parts on ebay and a get a new one.

 

From what I understand, they're saying that they shipped you a motherboard designed not to fail in the way that it did, so they're not honoring the extended warranty?
I'd be persistent, from what I recall the warranty covers problems with the nvidia GPU period, not just the ones that shipped originally.

Edit: yeah, there doesn't appear to be any restriction on manufacture date, if you have one of the listed systems with a dead GPU then the warranty should apply to you.
http://en.community.dell.com/blogs/...ate-limited-warranty-enhancement-details.aspx

 

Hey gblesh,

you can address your problems to Mr Menchaca from DELL. Here is a link:

http://en.community.dell.com/blogs/...ate-limited-warranty-enhancement-details.aspx

Good luck and cheers.

 

its my understanding there is no motherboard update or fix just a bios update so make sure you dont let them BS you on that

 

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. I spent an extremely frustrating four hours on the phone with tech support and customer care and was told that because my system was purchased from outlet, it's not covered by the extended warranty that addresses this problem. I'm still going to write to Lionel Menchaca, but it looks like Dell isn't going to take responsibility or do anything to help.

 

Don't believe it. Just yesterday I chatted with tech support about having my M1330 fixed. My system is also refurbished and was bought in June 2008 with a one year warranty. The extended warranty does cover it and they are having me send it in for repair. From what I have been told and read you will have better luck chatting with Dell online than you do if you call them.

EDIT: BTW if you get the "Outlet systems aren't covered" excuse again let me know and I'll tell you how to get in touch with some at Dell Outlet that might be able to help you.

 

Wow - Does this sound familiar. I just posted a thread about the 4 motherboard replacements I have had with the XPS M1330. It is a problematic machine that runs way too hot, in my opinion. They work great when the work but mine has averaged one failure every 3 1/2 months since I purchased it new in February, 2008. I intend to find a way to get Dell's attention.