NOT happy with Dell!!!

[ItalianScallion]

I'd appreciate any help with this problem. I bought 2 new Dell laptops about 6months ago, one with windows XP home & one with windows XP Pro. They are the Inspiron E1505 models @ $1,000 each. The one with XP Pro works fine but the one with XP home (at times) won't scroll up or down or left or right. Most times it starts to scroll, then stops & go's and then continues on, but stops & go's again. Dell had me on the phone for 3 hours last week and said that it's an operating system problem and that I need to back up all my "stuff" and reinstall the operating system. They will talk me through it over the phone and there will be no charge but I am **ssed that I have to go through all this with a new computer! Is this really what has to be done? Thanks for any advice on this my friends.

 

[PsyOps]

I'd appreciate any help with this problem. I bought 2 new Dell laptops about 6months ago, one with windows XP home & one with windows XP Pro. They are the Inspiron E1505 models @ $1,000 each. The one with XP Pro works fine but the one with XP home (at times) won't scroll up or down or left or right. Most times it starts to scroll, then stops & go's and then continues on, but stops & go's again. Dell had me on the phone for 3 hours last week and said that it's an operating system problem and that I need to back up all my "stuff" and reinstall the operating system. They will talk me through it over the phone and there will be no charge but I am **ssed that I have to go through all this with a new computer! Is this really what has to be done? Thanks for any advice on this my friends.

This does sound more like a software problem. Probably a video driver problem or maybe a mouse issue. Try plugging a USB mouse into one of the USB ports to see if that changes anything. Did you install anything after you received the computer? You may want to consider uninstalling it to see if it's causing any conflicts. Did it work when you first got it then quit after doing some web surfing? Have you scanned for malware/spyware/viruses/etc...?

 

[unixpirate]

I'd appreciate any help with this problem. I bought 2 new Dell laptops about 6months ago, one with windows XP home & one with windows XP Pro. They are the Inspiron E1505 models @ $1,000 each. The one with XP Pro works fine but the one with XP home (at times) won't scroll up or down or left or right. Most times it starts to scroll, then stops & go's and then continues on, but stops & go's again. Dell had me on the phone for 3 hours last week and said that it's an operating system problem and that I need to back up all my "stuff" and reinstall the operating system. They will talk me through it over the phone and there will be no charge but I am **ssed that I have to go through all this with a new computer! Is this really what has to be done? Thanks for any advice on this my friends.

I have the exact laptop and have never had a problem. Sorry can't help ya!

 

[MSPrincess]

I have never had good luck with Dell...ever. I have worked on the Latitude D600, D620 and D630 and hate 'em all.:shrug:

 

[clevalley]

huh - owned nothing but Dell's and manage over 300 of them - no real issues...

Are they the same hardware - exact hardware? If so, it is not a driver issue as XP Pro and XP Home is the same engine/kernel and use the same drivers...

I have seen where the OEM load in some models (Optiplex workstations - 2 different models) had quirks when they came in. I reloaded using the disks that came with them and they worked fine after that... it something to do with the HDD's imaged at Dell; once I reloaded they worked fine. I never could isolate the real problem...

 

[ItalianScallion]

This does sound more like a software problem. Probably a video driver problem or maybe a mouse issue. Try plugging a USB mouse into one of the USB ports to see if that changes anything. Did you install anything after you received the computer? You may want to consider uninstalling it to see if it's causing any conflicts. Did it work when you first got it then quit after doing some web surfing? Have you scanned for malware/spyware/viruses/etc...?

I'll have to find a USB mouse because I don't have one. I scroll with the up & down arrows and the page up & down buttons. Would the mouse affect them? I don't remember when this started. I just know that, as far back as I can remember, it always did it. I have scanned thoroughly for spyware & viruses. I do it 3 times each month and anytime I feel I need to if I visited a strange website. Again, I have no problem with the XP Pro on the other computer, just this one with XP home version. To conserve disc space, once in a great while, I delete all my previous restore points so I only have them back a few months. Thanks PsyOps.

 

[ItalianScallion]

huh - owned nothing but Dell's and manage over 300 of them - no real issues...
Are they the same hardware - exact hardware? If so, it is not a driver issue as XP Pro and XP Home is the same engine/kernel and use the same drivers...
I have seen where the OEM load in some models (Optiplex workstations - 2 different models) had quirks when they came in. I reloaded using the disks that came with them and they worked fine after that... it something to do with the HDD's imaged at Dell; once I reloaded they worked fine. I never could isolate the real problem...

I bought both computers together last June and one is XP Home and one is XP Pro. They want to do a reinstall with mine on Monday. I heard about it working, after a reinstall, from more than one person so it will probably work. I have 2 cd's but they don't look like the Microsoft operating system cd's. One says "reinstallation CD Microsoft Windows XP Home edition service pack 2" and the other says "for reinstalling Dell Inspiron Computer software". I assume the first one is the one to reinstall? Thanks clevalley.

 

[The_Twisted_Ear]

I have always bought Dell's and had no problems. However, I have always made sure all the updates are in place. Have you kept up with your Dell E1505 Updates? If not - before your reinstall - jump over to Drivers & Downloads and perform all the necessary upgrades. With a little luck - one of the upgrades may correct your problem.

 

[GWguy]

I bought both computers together last June and one is XP Home and one is XP Pro. They want to do a reinstall with mine on Monday. I heard about it working, after a reinstall, from more than one person so it will probably work. I have 2 cd's but they don't look like the Microsoft operating system cd's. One says "reinstallation CD Microsoft Windows XP Home edition service pack 2" and the other says "for reinstalling Dell Inspiron Computer software". I assume the first one is the one to reinstall? Thanks clevalley.

The first disk has XP on it, just in a form that can reload the PC to the way it was shipped. The other disk contains all of the 3rd party software that came on the PC, possibly some optional drivers.

 

[RadioPatrol]

huh - owned nothing but Dell's and manage over 300 of them - no real issues...

Other than a couple GX 280 Pizza Boxes that lunched Hard Drives, because the machines run hot IMHO .... and one that required a Mobo, Proc, ... Power Supply .... and 2 Hard Drives in 4 different warranty service calls .......... all in 6 months

 

[PsyOps]

I'll have to find a USB mouse because I don't have one. I scroll with the up & down arrows and the page up & down buttons. Would the mouse affect them? I don't remember when this started. I just know that, as far back as I can remember, it always did it. I have scanned thoroughly for spyware & viruses. I do it 3 times each month and anytime I feel I need to if I visited a strange website. Again, I have no problem with the XP Pro on the other computer, just this one with XP home version. To conserve disc space, once in a great while, I delete all my previous restore points so I only have them back a few months. Thanks PsyOps.

Do you click with the mouse pad or the left click button below the pad? If you're tapping the pad it could be the sensitivity setting of the pad is not set sensitive enough. I'm sure it has nothing to do with the version of XP. I have both versions and have no problems with either. And I own all Dells.

 

[ItalianScallion]

Do you click with the mouse pad or the left click button below the pad? If you're tapping the pad it could be the sensitivity setting of the pad is not set sensitive enough. I'm sure it has nothing to do with the version of XP. I have both versions and have no problems with either. And I own all Dells.

I disabled the "tap" sensor. I use the left & right mouse buttons but, again, it's the scrolling that has problems and I do it with the arrow keys and the page up & down keys.

 

[ItalianScallion]

I have always bought Dell's and had no problems. However, I have always made sure all the updates are in place. Have you kept up with your Dell E1505 Updates? If not - before your reinstall - jump over to Drivers & Downloads and perform all the necessary upgrades. With a little luck - one of the upgrades may correct your problem.

Thanks TE but we did all that last week while on the phone with Dell and it didn't help. I'll let you folks know what happens this week.

 

[clevalley]

I bought both computers together last June and one is XP Home and one is XP Pro. They want to do a reinstall with mine on Monday. I heard about it working, after a reinstall, from more than one person so it will probably work. I have 2 cd's but they don't look like the Microsoft operating system cd's. One says "reinstallation CD Microsoft Windows XP Home edition service pack 2" and the other says "for reinstalling Dell Inspiron Computer software". I assume the first one is the one to reinstall? Thanks clevalley.

The "reinstallation CD Microsoft Windows XP Home edition service pack 2" is the Windows XP Home software re-installation, branded for Dell, with your drivers on it... it is not an "image" of how your PC came, but a true bootable MS Windows XP Home CD you can re-load from.

One thing you may want to do is go to Support Dell.com and enter your Service Tag (on bottom of laptop) and get the appropriate/new drivers for your Laptop before you build. 99% of the time you do not need to do this with the branded CD - BUT I have been bit once or twice; that would account for the 1%

The second disk "for reinstalling Dell Inspiron Computer software" is any software that came bundled with your PC (outside of MS Office), like DVD/Cd burning software, DVD viewing software, utilities... these are really not needed...

Take the first CD an "boot" to it to reload the PC. If it was me I would even delete the partion "C" (larger of the two, you will have a small ~40 MB utility partition on ALL Dells, you really do not want to delete it, but can if it lets you), recreate the "C" partition then do a long format just to make sure you blow anything and everything out for a fresh reload.

Hope it helps!

 

[waldorfman]

<---- From an IT Pro (Network Engineer w/ Lockheed Martin)

Reload it from scratch with your Recovery CDs. Back to new. Backup any data you want to save first, if applicable.

 

[LordStanley]

I have never had good luck with Dell...ever. I have worked on the Latitude D600, D620 and D630 and hate 'em all.:shrug:

NMCI Base Ops?

 

[RadioPatrol]

NMCI Base Ops?

I worked as part of that job @ Marine Hq.




what a mismanaged turd .......

 

[ItalianScallion]

Well folks, everything worked perfectly after the reinstall. The guy from Dell didn't even use the cd's that I have here. He told me to hold the "ctrl" key down and tap the F11 key as I turn the unit on. Then I got a red screen I've never seen before and then I clicked on restore and one more click later the computer was reinstalling the operating system. It was completed in less than 20 minutes! And it now scrolls as it should. The only downside is that it took me from 11am until 8pm to get all of my "stuff" back into the computer. Not to mention the nightmare of ALL the original "junk" and pop up offers from Dell that went with it!
Thank you all for your info! It's good to know that all of us here can help each other in some way or another. Thanks again.

 

[PsyOps]

Well folks, everything worked perfectly after the reinstall. The guy from Dell didn't even use the cd's that I have here. He told me to hold the "ctrl" key down and tap the F11 key as I turn the unit on. Then I got a red screen I've never seen before and then I clicked on restore and one more click later the computer was reinstalling the operating system. It was completed in less than 20 minutes! And it now scrolls as it should. The only downside is that it took me from 11am until 8pm to get all of my "stuff" back into the computer. Not to mention the nightmare of ALL the original "junk" and pop up offers from Dell that went with it!
Thank you all for your info! It's good to know that all of us here can help each other in some way or another. Thanks again.

So, are you happy with Dell again?

 

[clevalley]

Well folks, everything worked perfectly after the reinstall. The guy from Dell didn't even use the cd's that I have here. He told me to hold the "ctrl" key down and tap the F11 key as I turn the unit on. Then I got a red screen I've never seen before and then I clicked on restore and one more click later the computer was reinstalling the operating system. It was completed in less than 20 minutes! And it now scrolls as it should. The only downside is that it took me from 11am until 8pm to get all of my "stuff" back into the computer. Not to mention the nightmare of ALL the original "junk" and pop up offers from Dell that went with it!
Thank you all for your info! It's good to know that all of us here can help each other in some way or another. Thanks again.

That is the utility partition (if I believe), the itty-bitty 40MB or so I referred to earlier. Glad it worked out.

Dell is not that bad... on the consumer side the first layer or two of support can be frustrating... on the government side it is not bad - we are spoiled with Gold Support and 4 hour parts and/or tech on our doorstep when something goes wrong.

I love my Dell's!