New Vostro 1500 - DOA (Large Pics Inside)

I just received my brand new Vostro 1500 today. The screen was messed up from the second I turned it on, and it does not even boot to Windows. This is what it looks like when I turn it on:




And then it goes straight into this:



Then, if I reset, it gives me this screen (notice the blocks):



Wonderful. Is it worth trying to send it back for a new one? I don't want to end up waiting around for a replacement until I'm outside of the 21 day return period only to find that it is messed up too......

 

Jeez that sucks.

 

When I see pictures like these it really makes me wonder if Dell ACTUALLY tests these units before shipping them out unless they are getting damaged during shipping maybe

 

Ouch! That looks like a Monday morning machine...

 

I was wondering the same thing.

 

That does suck. I just ordered one shipping on the 10th-17th. I wanted to save some money and went with this. Now I wish I would have gotten the HP instead. Thinking about cancelling my order now. Dont want the hastle of going thru returns.

Blake

 

I suspect either a bad graphics card...or the connection from the card to the motherboard has been loosened in shipment.

 

I'm going to tell them that I'll send it back and wait for a new one ONLY IF they reset my 21 days for a return and give me free expedited shipping.

 

That looks like a bad video card to me also...I don't think you have a choice, other than to send it back and get a new one....you can't fix that yourself..nor should you have to...

 

Oh yeah, I wasn't planning on trying to fix it myself... if they won't do that I'm just going to return it for a refund.

 

It's worth trying. Let us know how you go.

 

Why wouldn't they let you get a replacement? If you're within the 30 days, you can return it for any reason you want. They'll have you reorder and send the old one back, and you won't have any trouble getting next day shipping. They did it without being asked for me.

 

They definitely should reset the 30 day period from the point you receive your new system or else its not worth it.

 

Well, I just got off the phone with Dell. You guys are right, it is 30 days now for returns on Small Business machines, not 21. It's been 9 days since I ordered anyways, so I still have 21 days from today to return it like I originally hoped. In light of this, and since it gets built before normal orders and it will be sent with overnight shipping, I agreed to let them send me a replacement. The guy told me that the 30 days would only reset if I had him canceled the order and re-ordered, but I don't want to deal with that at this point. If this one is no good I will do that, or just get my money back and find a new brand to buy.

I thought you'd find this part of the conversation amusing and/or infuriating :

Me: "I just want to make sure I will be able to get my money back if the replacement machine is defective too."

Him: "Oh, yeah, you would. That would have to be like the perfect storm though, to get two defective machines in a row. I think that's only happened once in the past 8 months."

Me: "Oh. Well, I was on notebookreview.com, and there are a lot of people who have had problems with their Vostros: grainy screens, faulty headphone jacks. Some of the people on there who have gone through 3-4 machines before they got one that worked right. I was actually a little skeptical about ordering one, but I figured I'd take a chance and return it if that happened to me."

Him: "Well, I am not aware of any problems like that."

 

I wonder if machines like this leave the factory in good shape and get kicked around in delivery. Someone has to be working with the pc when they set it up. I can't imagine they would ship it out when it won't even boot.

p.s. If you think there are only problems with Dell notebooks, take a look at the forums for the other companies.

 

Well, if it makes you feel any better...

Three years ago, I owned a Dell desktop. Died within two months.

Replacement was shipped out, and the case was physically damaged upon delivery. Box was fine so I know DHL didn't damage it. Dell just shipped it that way.

Another replacement sent. This one came with 1/2 the RAM I originally ordered, and the slots where the modem and sound cards were supposed to go (as per my original order) were just completely left open with no cover. Wrong hardware, and not even fully assembled. PC wouldn't even boot either.

Both duds passed their diagnostics!

 

Geessssh! A good reason to have your desktop build up in a local shop.

 

Not really. Once ordered one at a local shop, with a top of the line sound card which occupied two PCI slots. First found out they installed the wrong driver. Then I tried to get it to work for a week or so. When I finally popped the hood I noticed the failed to install the bridge between the two cards. Was still in the box.

 

My 1500 was DOA as well... got talked through taking out all the user removable components (including the memory under the keyboard) and putting it back again. Seemed to work ok, it died again while totally stationary. Did the same thing, now works.

If it happens a third time, I'm getting a new one!

 

I got a DOA 1520 the other day. They're doing a system exchange, so I guess I don't have to ship the broken one back until after I receive a replacement. Supposedly it'll ship out to me within 3-5 business days. Considering it took 7 weeks to get the broken one, the replacement better get here a bit quicker.

Details in my thread here.