Returning for service after clean xp install

Anyone know whether Dell cares if you have formatted and clean installed Windows when you are returning a laptop for repairs?

My daughter's I-1200 has been plagued by extremely slow response due to attempting to run cd autoplay feature, whether there is a cd in the drive or not. In addition the speakers crackle and pop and work intermittently.

I fixed the problem at first by restoring the Dell partition. But within a few days the problems returned. This time I reformatted C and did a clean install of XP. Again problems fixed, for maybe a week.

Dell tech can't fix it over the phone, so she needs to send it in. I'm wondering whether they care about the non dell installed OS. I hope they don't just restore the rescue partition and think it is good to go.

 

they don't care. in fact, it's quite possible they remove your drive and use a standard imaged one for testing.

 

one thing, before you send it in, make sure to back up any important documents. Its just always a good idea before sending it in, since you won't be there to tell what Dell is doing.

SG

 

Documents are backed up. She also has a backup disk image. I'm guesssing she shouldn't restore it when she gets the laptop back in case the problem was with a Windows setting that might be lurking there.

I'm wondering if it will come back with a new set of Dell bloatware, or whether the programs and clean xp install will be left in tact? I guess it depends on what they think is the cause.

 

Did Dell ask for you to keep the hard drive in the computer? They usually ask for you to keep the hard drive and ship the computer

 

i doubt it would be a windows setting. otherwise such an imcompatibility would mean the notebook is a dud. if you can't reformat/reinstall windows or play with the windows settings, something is wrong.

 

Yeah, it doesn't sound like a windows setting. I would do like ccbr01 suggested, and see if you can pull the HDD out before sending it.

I was just suggesting it to be on the safe side. I've heard of other manufacturers reformatting the HDD.

SG

 

I jumped the gun. My daughter, who lives half way across the country from me, told me she had to send it in when in reality the Dell tech had one more phone appointment with her. He decided it was a "software problem", no specificis other than a vague reference that it is probably malware, and that anything Dell did for her now would be at her cost.

Ouch! Virus or malware scans come up blank. She's been well protected against these all along, so that is not surprising. I guess my job now is to somehow prove to Dell that the crackling, skipping speakers and the misbehaving cd drive are not software related. Or if they are, that the hardware shouldn't permanently malfunction as a result of an inocuous incompatibility.

Any ideas?