Computer Problem?

When you go off to college these days you usually buy a laptop. I happened to purchase mine through the University of Maryland (it meant a discount, or so they told us, I have a sneaking suspicious it was just another way to gauge as much money from students as possible). But what this means is: 4 years of college, 4 years of warranty. 

Those 4 years of warranty ended....5 months ago. The blow was tragic. My poor lappy was unprotected! Which means the hole I punctured in the corner? Still there.  The crack on the back of the screen? Still cracked. Blasphemy, I know. I've been tempted multiple times to call forth the power of duct tape, but I have resisted. 

Now, external issues are one thing.  Sure, your laptop might be embarrassed to play with the other, newer, less cracked laptops, but at least they are still running strong!  Until you click on the wrong link in google images (thanks Jensen Ackles) and a virus installs itself so fast you don't even have time to blink. First, of course, comes the sting of curses, the desire to plunge from a roof because surely that is easier than removing a virus from Windows, and then the inevitable begging as you download malwarebytes as fast as your fingers can get you to their website.

Well, despite the malwarebytes detection, the guidance from knowledgeable friends, several sacrifices to the gods and perhaps a few tears, my laptop still had the virus.  Windows was corrupted! (Shocker, I know).  So my solution?  Restore Windows to it's original settings! Sounds easy right?  Because anything involving Windows and a Dell....well, you get the idea.

Now I failed to mention this is my SECOND laptop under my warranty, because the first one sucked so much the bottom got so hot is internally fried my wireless and they deemed it a "safety hazard" and sent me a new one. Only by that point they'd stopped making my model so they sent me the updated one.  No complaints here! Well, except that I didn't realize there was now two reinstall disks! Makes things a bit problematic. Things didn't go so well.

Now when dealing with Dell I have come to the conclusion that you have two options.

Option 1: Fix the Problem Yourself

or...

Option 2: Throw the Laptop Out the Window

Stupidly I went with Option 3: Dell tech Support.

Chances I was talking to a robot? High.

Me: "Please, sir, can you tell me how to locate the d630.cab files?"

Tech Support: "Are you saying you restored your computer?"

Me: "Yes. Where is the file?"

Tech Support: "Now, did you use a resinstall disk?"

Me: "Yes, I started from the CD and it took me here and won't work. It is asking for the file."

Tech Support: "So you are reinstalling Windows?"

Me: "THE FILES MAN, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD WHERE ARE THE FILES?"

...Silence.

Me: "I will try it again on my own."

So, I find the right disk and try again. I get half way through and it stops! What do I do? I ignore my own wonderful advice and again pick Option 3.  Back to dell tech support!

Me: "I used the disk and it stops half way through the reinstall process."

Tech Support: "Can you follow these instructions: *gives link*."

Me: *reads* "Yes I did all of that and now when I restart it takes me to the set-up right away."

Tech Support: "I suggest you follow the instructions on reinstalling Windows. You need to go to this screen."

Me: "IT WON'T TAKE ME TO THAT SCREEN YOU @*#&#@%@."

Tech Support: "When you get to that screen, hit enter. It should take you there first."

At this point I was sobbing in a corner, rocking back and forth asking "Why me?"

In the end, he told me to follow the directions and he was leaving the chat to assist other customers.  I felt like Dorothy stranded on a broken Yellow Brick Road.  But there is no Emerald City!  Nooooooo!

Though, after leaving Dell Tech Support I managed to try Option 1 for the third time. SUCCESS! Nevermind that my laptop is now a barren wasteland. 

The moral of this story?  I want to punch Dell Tech Support in the teeth. But other than that, I thought it made a fairly charming story for my first ever blog post.