For the record, to show that
a] not all comnpany tech support services suck, and
b] I am not simply unilaterally curmudgeonly,

I just got off chat with nVidia; they got me my drivers downloaded and installed onto my boy's new computer with absolutely no trouble whatsoever. They were very helpful and everything went swimmingly.

So nyah.

I write this blog entry from my laptop restored to full glory for the first time in 38 days ( Read more... )

I think I just successfully renewed my warranty.

It only took 33 days elapsed time and about 12 hours of my life clock, plus about seven dropped calls and two warranty specialists just today
to do so.

Joy. Now I can continue through my second month with blissful peace of mind that Dell will always be there for me, no matter how many more months it ( Read more... )

A call in to Customer Service about the change of onwership has had success. She saw that the change of ownership was not complete -and she completed it (Why - I ask myself - did I have to wait 32 days for  "Cecibeth" to start something that this person took only ten minutes to complete ( Read more... )

Nothing...

Nov 8
New HD arrives. Windows still will not load. I test to see if the memory chips are the problem by swapping them out one at a time. No joy.

Nov 9
I call Customer Service to see how my change of ownership is doing. I need the change of ownership because my warranty is going to expire in 14 days and they wll not renew it if it is not ( Read more... )

OK, my reinstall CD has finally arrived.
Great. Let's try the repair process. Run the CD.
I run the CD. Time passes.  My computer stops doing things.
OK. It looks like we can't repair or reinstall Windows. Here's what we're going to do. We're going to ship  you a whole new hard drive...
OK.
And it will even have Windows already installed on it...
Wow, ( Read more... )

The CD you sent me didn't arrive.
Huh. We have a record of the dispatch. I wonder why it didn't arrive. Are you still at 1255 The Queensway?
No, that's the address of the @#$%& Sobey's in whose name the computer is registered, which I am trying to get changed to me.
Ah. I'll change that now.
And you have Windows 7 Premium Edition 64-bit? Wait - we sent ( Read more... )

I turn my office upside down and find my shrink-wrapped, never-opened Windows 7 install CD.
I attempt to boot from it to do a Windows repair procedure. My system hangs somewhere in the boot-from-CD process.
I call Dell to help me through this latest headache.
Yeah, probably a bad CD. We see that a lot. Sorry 'bout that.
Dell, you suck.

P.S. Aw c'mon ( Read more... )

I call the direct line - with extension (a seven digit extension).
Sorry, there is no such number.
head>desk>head>desk
I eventually reach some technical support.
Well, this is Big Business Tech Support. You want Small Business Tech Support.
Shibboleet.
I beg your pardon?
Shibboleet.
I don't understand...
Never mind, it was worth a try...

Day I

Day II
Next morning: Call the number they give me, end up in the wrong department anyway.
(This is a big corp account, not a small business account. Stand by for the correct number.)
Reach correct department. The woman I reach talks like she's had their tongue removed.
You must fill out this form online. (Yoo eh mos fey ott dis foam on whine)
I ( Read more... )