Dell Laptops

[BigAndy05]

I have a XPS Gen 2 right now, and I noticed they came out with an XPS M170 which is pretty much the same as what I have.

Well long story short, I reinstalled windows and now it's all different and frankly, I can't stand it.

Dell has a useless trade in program, and I dispise this computer right now. I got it new in August.

Any advice?

[LaptopExtreme]

Originally Posted by BigAndy05 ....Well long story short, I reinstalled windows and now it's all different and frankly, I can't stand it.

So what's different between now and then? Did you install all the CD's that it came with? Sometimes 1 CD is for the restoration/operating system and another would be for Drivers and/or applications.

[BigAndy05]

Ya I got all that installed. But its not the same. I dont really know how to explain it, I'm just dissapointed.

Very dissapointed.

I'm going to end up getting something new ASAP...I just don't know what to do with this POS.

[BigAndy05]

Any idea about what I should do?

I like the XPS but I don't know if I should give dell another chance and another 3000 or not.

I'm also leaning towards the new macbook pro but I would wait for a 17 inch and it would be a huge change.

Post advice.

[Louds3]

It still seems kinda weird to me that reinstalling windows would make your machine run that differently. You could always use your machine for a distributed computing program like folding@home which many of us here are a part of. If you don't really need the money from selling it I think it's a good idea. Check out the distributed computing forum for more info http://forum.pcmech.com/forumdisplay.php?f=20
also, just so you know you generally should only have one thread open for a given topic

steve

[BigAndy05]

Ok, sorry about the multiple threads.

Sadly I do need to get rid of this somehow though in order to get a new computer.

Biggest deal is that before the reinstall I knew where everything was and I could use this computer blindfolded. Now I have to start over and I am not impressed. No files were lost. The only thing that was lost is my hope for happiness

[Retrac1324]

what do you mean by it "runs different"

[Staren]

Originally Posted by BigAndy05 Biggest deal is that before the reinstall I knew where everything was and I could use this computer blindfolded. Now I have to start over and I am not impressed. No files were lost.

This just does not seem like a good excuse to buy a new box to me. Everything can be moved back, and you'd have to start over with a new system anyway.

If it is running slower, or the video is flacky or something now, then ok replace it, otherwise get your desktop icons moved where you want them, reinstall your programs, rip the dell "crapware" back out, and defrag. You can get back to where you want it in an afternoon I'm sure.

[BigAndy05]

It's not the same though. It was my baby.

Dell needs to get into the grove and have a trade in program.

They might lose me as a customer forever...

But I need a gaming laptop...

this sucks

[glc]

Send it to me. I'll gladly take it off your hands and put it to GOOD use. You have a laptop there that's better than 90% of the rest of the market.

[BigAndy05]

Originally Posted by glc Send it to me. I'll gladly take it off your hands and put it to GOOD use. You have a laptop there that's better than 90% of the rest of the market.

Better then 90% of the market BEFORE the reinstall...

Now it means nothing to me

[ZeratulsAvenger]

Deleted

[BigAndy05]

Just so you know I'm using it right now but I'm not enjoying it.

I'll figure out something on my own

Pfft, Dell

[BigAndy05]

And am I the only one that actually likes a computer when it comes straight from the manufacturer?

[Staren]

Originally Posted by BigAndy05 And am I the only one that actually likes a computer when it comes straight from the manufacturer?

Probobly. To me, there isn't much that feels quite as clean as a fresh install of an OS with only what you need and nothing else.

[BigAndy05]

It's easier / more fun to just use add/remove and remove what you dont need....

And its better to get a new computer right from the box and using it.

Which I'm gonna do when I get 3 grand. Dell MX170 HERE I COME...Screw you Dell XPS2, Screw you

[z3frog]

why would you prefer a new computer out of the box than one that you have reformatted and tweaked? it's faster, personalized to your needs... running at top efficiency. if you reformatted your XPS and don't know how to personalize it to your liking, we can help you.

but if you want to waste your money and a working laptop, then it's your choice. please don't just trash the laptop though; sell it off, recycle it, or give it away. computers at the landfill are bad for the environment.

[BigAndy05]

Oh I wont trash this one. It's only 6 months old.

I need to get SOMETHING out of it

[BigAndy05]

I don't like how dell doesn't supply OS and driver discs anymore...

But I really wont be at peace and unstressed until I get a new one...

[mairving]

Originally Posted by BigAndy05 I don't like how dell doesn't supply OS and driver discs anymore... But I really wont be at peace and unstressed until I get a new one...

Kind of ridiculous statement. If you would spend a little bit of time trying to fix this mysterious problem that you have you could probably solve it. Most likely it is a driver issue. I would go to Dell's site, type in you Model no. or service tag and it will show you the correct drivers. Quite often the video, sound, NIC and sometimes a few others don't load even from the restore disk. Load the correct drivers and you should be okay. The biggest performance grabbers are the video and the NIC drivers.

[BigAndy05]

I'm just gonna keep this one because "its not all paid for yet"

But they promised a new one for christmas so yay!

[Stuey]

For $10, Dell will send you an OS disc with any laptop purchase. I've seen them as an option for some models but not others but when I ordered a laptop for my sister, it was over the phone and I asked for one.

They do provide you with discs to reinstall everything to factory condition. You *should* have everything you need to return the laptop to brand new condition.

You can probably sell it and cut your losses, or read the manual and learn how to restore it to factory condition, instead of complaining about this trivial "issue". I'm sorry if I'm coming off as rude, but you're complaining about something that is 100% in your power to fix.

It also sounds like you're not trying to get it back to normal because you want an XPS M170. I can almost guarantee that if you forget about this laptop and get an M170, they'll soon release an M180 (or equivalent upgrade) that you'll want instead.

[BigAndy05]

Originally Posted by BigAndy05 I'm just gonna keep this one because "its not all paid for yet" But they promised a new one for christmas so yay!

I just have to deal with this one for 11 months then peace will come

Its not that I want an MX170, cuz this handles everything...
I just dont like it

[Stuey]

Originally Posted by BigAndy05 I just have to deal with this one for 11 months then peace will come Its not that I want an MX170, cuz this handles everything... I just dont like it

Right, but your logic for not liking it is shallow and somewhat confusing.

[glc]

If you don't like it because it's not the latest and greatest, you are gonna have to trade laptops in every 6 months to "keep up with the Joneses". This can get quite costly. I have customers like this, and they keep me in excellent hardware at very minimal cost. Granted, I'm not a gamer, but I have a very serviceable 2.53 Ghz desktop and a Thinkpad T20 laptop which I essentially paid nothing for - just some labor time to set up new machines for them. I then give away my old machines to people (friends, family) who can't afford to buy a computer.

[BigAndy05]

Nah I'm keeping this one, it's cool.

[frealus]

Originally Posted by BigAndy05 I don't like how dell doesn't supply OS and driver discs anymore... But I really wont be at peace and unstressed until I get a new one...

Dell doesn't ship Recovery CD's anymore because they have a Dell PC Restroe feature installed in the computer. If you wanna reformat the computer, all you have to do is hit CTRL + F11 on the Dell Screen and follow the prompt.

Try this site

http://support.dell.com/support/topi...c=us&cs=&s=gen


I can buy your laptop if you want

[thefultonhow]

When you reformatted, did you install all the drivers, most importantly chipset and video? If performance is your main concern, not installing those could present a BIG problem.

I had an XPS Gen 2 before this laptop (IBM ThinkPad T43p). I reformatted it first thing out of the box and installed every single driver on Dell's website. It ran wonderfully. The first laptop they sent me had a bad video card, but once they replaced the laptop I didn't have a single problem with it.

The XPS Gen 2 and the XPS M170 are identical in all respects except for the video card (the M170 allows you to upgrade the card to a 7800GTX -- but you can buy the upgrade for the Gen 2 too). You will get absolutely nothing out of "trading up."

I hate to say it, but Dell is not to blame for the fact that your computer "doesn't run the way it used to." YOU reformatted it, not Dell. Now it doesn't run as well, according to you -- that's not Dell's problem. They're not responsible for fixing problems that their customers cause; they're only responsible for correcting defects.

If I were you I would reformat again. I would then immediately install all drivers, update Windows using Microsoft Update, and then install virus protection. If there's still something wrong with the laptop after that then maybe Dell does need to do something. But the fact that it doesn't run as well as the original factory configuration after a clean install indicates to me that you missed a step in there somewhere.

[BigAndy05]

Nah its cool. I "heart" my computer...