Was searching for something and saw this thread. Decided to update it.

I sent 3 faxes and snail mails to Michael Dell and didn't get a single response back to even indicate my correspondence had been received.

Then my health was getting to me so I put this issue on the back burner for a while. In November I took up my cause again.

I called their tech support and explained my situation:

1. Computer purchased in November 2002;
2. Computer sat in case unused save for about 12 times for the first 20 months;
3. Computer was removed from case in August 2004 and used as a primary computer from that date to April 2006 when the motherboard failed;
4. I had a 3 year hardware warranty that expired in November 2005.
5. The motherboard failed after 18 months of use and only 5 months after the warranty expired.

In my quest to get to someone who could help me, I had to go through a bunch of really stupid people who basically laughed at me and changed their tone to condescending when they heard what my issue was.  I finally gave up being nice and literally steam rolled my way through people!

I spoke to people who kept insisting they didn't have a manager or supervisor and I told them that unless their name was "Michael  Dell", that they had a manager and that I would find out who that person was!

One girl said she would leave a message for some department to call me, and went on to add "but don't hold your breath".

I finally called the main office and spoke to someone who actually agreed with me and what I was saying. He connected me to the department that looked after issues such as mine.  He told me that there were a number of levels to go through, but he was bypassing others and putting me right to the top.

I left my information and problem and someone contacted me the next day.

After almost 2 weeks of correspondence between me and Dell, the guy contacts me and says that they won't cover the repair under warranty because the computer's warranty had expired!  Like DUH!!!! That's why I was contacting them to begin with!  I already knew that the warranty was expired!

Anyway,  he did indicate that Dell would cover 1/2 of the cost of replacing the motherboard after the repair invoice was paid. Meaning that after they fixed it and I paid the full price they would refund me 1/2 the cost. Offer expired December 25, 2006 at midnight.

I sunk $4,500.00 plus finance fees into that laptop. I sure wasn't going to sink another $600.00 (after refund)  of my own money into it.

I am now in the market to replace my desktop, and you can bet your booties it won't be a crappy Dell that I get.  I'll shop locally like I did when I got my computer upgraded in 2001 (I don't even want to think about the first computer purchase in 2000, which was a nightmare).

Dell can take their computers and stick them where the sun don't shine!! :cursing:

I think we have some discount computer stores here that sell computer parts. I'll have my nephew help me pick stuff out and either he or Powerland Computers where i live can put it together for me. I may just end up getting a larger hard drive and some more memory, but we'll see how much stuff costs and if my motherboard can support a larger hard drive and more memory.

"It is good to see ourselves as others see us. Try as we may, we are never
able to know ourselves fully as we are, especially the evil side of us.
This we can do only if we are not angry with our critics but will take in good
heart whatever they might have to say." - Ghandi