Comp hardware problem - any ideas???

M

Marie1120

Cathlete
We had our Dell for less than a year. The last 3 days when we turn in on it just makes a spinning sound and doesn't connect. If we unplug it for a little while and then try it has worked - so far. Although last night I was on line and it just went out. Any ideas what this could be??? It would be nice to fix without having to call their frustrating customer service - although I did hear that they were bringing all or some of their service back to the US where you can speak the same language as the person you are talking to. Even if we can't fix the problem it would be nice to have an idea of waht it could be when we talk to them. Sometimes they suggest some really weird things and I don't have much confidence in them.

Thanks.
 
My DH, a super computer whiz, needs more details. He thinks it could either be the power supply or the motherboard. Can you give any more details? He doesn't understand the spinning sound... is it more like a wizzing?

Missy
 
Missy - Yes a wizzing noise sounds like a good way to describe it. ALSO - we have SBC DSL. So don't know if that could be the problem too although the noise starts even before we turn that on. The monitor is completely blank even though it is on so nothing seems to be getting to that - we just have that noise. We just bought this the end of December last year so not too impressed with Dell!
 
He said that it is probably your power supply. If it is under warranty, Dell needs to take care of it. If you live in the Indianapolis area, he would be happy to fix it for you! He is a great tech and he builds/upgrades/fixes computers for a living and is really good at it, I love bragging about that!

Missy
 
Whizzing sounds like cooling fan.
I had one go and had to replace it.
If it won't boot could be hard drive acting up. Also maybe a loose connection can cause havack.
Why pay to fix it . It is under warranty.
MAke them do it. I have 2 dells.
1-laptop . Get on the phone and tell them. I want someone who speaksa englisha.
I did it to microsoft once.Chinese lady broken english. Horrible.I was telling her what to do.
They sit in front of a screen and punches in the problem.
They most of the time know nothing.
Hard drives are easy to replace. MAin boards. Another story.
Too many jumpers and things to set. Then there is static.
I will replace memory , cards, cd,but not main boards.
Good luck.
Anne
http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?p=999&gid=8227804&uid=3969941
 
Hi there - I agree with Missy's DH - it sounds like the power supply. I just had to replace one in one of the computer here at my office. If when it boots finally - and it is all ok (as far as your programs and such) - then your motherboard is probably fine. I would get Dell to replace the power supply for you...

BTW - I have switched most of the computers at my office to Dell - and the support has been great for me, and I manage over 50 PC's. Give them a try.... :)
 
Thanks for all the info. I will call this weekend and hope to get to talk to someone that I can understand.

Any idea why unplugging it would make a difference or is that maybe just a coincidence?

The first problem with them took 3 months and a letter to the CEO to get fixed so hoping for a less stressful experience and quicker resolution.

Missy - wish we were near by. You are lucky to have a DH that knows so much about computers. For us it is the blind leading the blind.
 
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