The Laptop Thread: Configs, deals & questions

clevermax · 10th April 2009, 20:53

Hello Bhpians,

I bought my Dell Inspiron 1525 almost a year back. I had taken the 1 year complete cover warranty as well.

Lately my laptop’s battery is giving me very low backup time. It is around 30-35 minutes now, and battery charge drops down from around 65% very quickly while I wonder why the system hibernates so soon.

My question is on how do I make the warranty claim? Is it best to call up their customer care? Or do I need to do anything online or something like that? I called up the customer care now but I was told to call them back on next working day (Monday) by an automated voice. The laptop completes one year on 18th of April, so I need to move things fast :( and I am afraid whether they’ll delay the response to get me out of the 1 year period.

Has anyone here got anything replaced under warranty from Dell? It would be a great if you could
share your experience.

Thanks in advance!

HappyWheels · 11th April 2009, 06:08

Clevermax,

Am not sure if battery will be covered in warranty, especially after such an extended period of usage. Would have been possible if this happened within a month or so after purchase. Anyway, do give a try and let us know.

motorheadinc · 11th April 2009, 08:34

1 year warranty includes battery warranty.
3 year covers battery only till the 1st year.
So you should get a replacement battery.
Also make sure that you do a proper charge discharge type of run in for the battery to make it last long.
Search this thread for the charge discharge methodology, I had posted it some time back.

Cheers,
MHI

archat68 · 11th April 2009, 11:25

I'm looking for a used laptop (config: dual core, 1 GB RAM, atleast 80GB HDD) with decent battery life ( about 1.5 hours)
Anybody upgrading and want to sell theirs shot me a PM.

trrk · 11th April 2009, 12:32

Hi,

Quote:

Originally Posted by clevermax

My question is on how do I make the warranty claim? Is it best to call up their customer care? Or do I need to do anything online or something like that? I called up the customer care now but I was told to call them back on next working day (Monday) by an automated voice.

Register your complain online through the site. You can call them on Monday. You would get a replacement battery.

My battery was changed last month, after 9 months of usage. Any further warranty afetr one year does not cover the battery.

When the service people call you regarding battery delivery, please do not forget to tell them to collect the old one from you or (like me) will have to pay for sending it back. I did receive a letter along with the battery saying that I would be billed for the battery if the old battery does not reach them by a particular date.

I had told the person who was coordinating with me for delivery of the new battery about collecting the old battery. But the battery managed to reach my place when I was not in station. I ended up sending the battery on my own when a lady at their customer care centre told me, "After it is just the battery, whey don't you just send it?"

The heat sink was also changed in december under warranty.

The Dell customer care works only Monday to Friday and that too upto 6PM.

Hope this helps.

dreamdiesel · 12th April 2009, 21:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by clevermax

Hello Bhpians,

My question is on how do I make the warranty claim? Is it best to call up their customer care? Or do I need to do anything online or something like that? I called up the customer care now but I was told to call them back on next working day (Monday) by an automated voice. The laptop completes one year on 18th of April, so I need to move things fast :( and I am afraid whether they’ll delay the response to get me out of the 1 year period.

Has anyone here got anything replaced under warranty from Dell? It would be a great if you could
share your experience.

Thanks in advance!

Call DELL Technical Support and tell them about the issue. They will promptly replace the battery. The battery only has 1 YR warranty from the date of Invoice. They will have the battery mailed to you and you will have to send the defective battery back to DELL in 2 weeks time. Failing in returning the defective battery, you will be charged for the same.

Also have the BIOS updated for the laptop from DELL support website and see if makes any difference before you call them.

clevermax · 15th April 2009, 23:34

So I called Dell customer care on Monday, and after a 30 minute long call which actually involved 10 minutes of conversation with 2 customer care reps, the complaint was registered and I got the request number.

Today a Dell person visited home with a new battery and got it replaced.

I have read a lot of bad reviews about Dell Customer care, but for me it was just fine. No questions asked, they just told me at the end of the call that I *will* get a replacement battery!

Thanks a lot for all the responses to my initial query regarding battery in this thread...!

trrk · 16th April 2009, 18:07

Hi,

Quote:

Originally Posted by clevermax

Today a Dell person visited home with a new battery and got it replaced.

So one more person happy with Dell service!

What about the old battery?

clevermax · 20th April 2009, 19:54

@Dr. Rajesh:

Yes one more person happy with the Dell Service!

The service person just took the faulty battery with him....

mithun · 21st April 2009, 06:52

I'm planning to purchase Dell Inspiron 15 this week. How is this lappie ?

Anyone knows about the battery backup of this ?

ariendj · 21st April 2009, 12:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by mithun

I'm planning to purchase Dell Inspiron 15 this week. How is this lappie ?

Anyone knows about the battery backup of this ?

i hear its 3 to 3 1/2 hrs on a 6 cell battery.
btw whats the config and how much does it cost?

harry10 · 21st April 2009, 14:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by mithun

I'm planning to purchase Dell Inspiron 15 this week. How is this lappie ?

Anyone knows about the battery backup of this ?

Will give around 2.5-3 hours initially.
Good laptop as my friend is using it.

Red Liner · 21st April 2009, 14:11

Amy recommendations apart from Acer Aspire 1 and the Samsung thing? I believe there's something from Lenovo as well?

Need to get one for my Mum so she can browse the internet whilst on the move. So something light on the shoulder and on the pocket will be great!

devrajman · 24th April 2009, 14:22

There are few netbooks in market in range of 20-30K.

There are from:
Acer one
Lenovo Y series
Dell mini series

Sony VAIO p
HP mini

All these have almost the same config. You can go for the one which has good support, design & value.

StarScream · 24th April 2009, 14:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by devrajman

There are few netbooks in market in range of 20-30K.

There are from:
Acer one
Lenovo Y series
Dell mini series

Sony VAIO p
HP mini

All these have almost the same config. You can go for the one which has good support, design & value.

Not the Vaio P - its 60k plus.

10th April 2009, 20:53	#1711
clevermax Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Tvm/Amsterdam Posts: 2,086 Thanked: 2,640 Times View My Garage	My Dell's Battery...! Replacement under warranty Question Hello Bhpians, I bought my Dell Inspiron 1525 almost a year back. I had taken the 1 year complete cover warranty as well. Lately my laptop’s battery is giving me very low backup time. It is around 30-35 minutes now, and battery charge drops down from around 65% very quickly while I wonder why the system hibernates so soon. My question is on how do I make the warranty claim? Is it best to call up their customer care? Or do I need to do anything online or something like that? I called up the customer care now but I was told to call them back on next working day (Monday) by an automated voice. The laptop completes one year on 18th of April, so I need to move things fast :( and I am afraid whether they’ll delay the response to get me out of the 1 year period. Has anyone here got anything replaced under warranty from Dell? It would be a great if you could share your experience. Thanks in advance! Last edited by clevermax : 10th April 2009 at 20:55.
	() Thanks

11th April 2009, 06:08	#1712
HappyWheels Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 4,106 Thanked: 537 Times	Clevermax, Am not sure if battery will be covered in warranty, especially after such an extended period of usage. Would have been possible if this happened within a month or so after purchase. Anyway, do give a try and let us know. Last edited by HappyWheels : 11th April 2009 at 06:09.
	() Thanks

11th April 2009, 08:34	#1713
motorheadinc BHPian Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: University of Bath Posts: 297 Thanked: Once	1 year warranty includes battery warranty. 3 year covers battery only till the 1st year. So you should get a replacement battery. Also make sure that you do a proper charge discharge type of run in for the battery to make it last long. Search this thread for the charge discharge methodology, I had posted it some time back. Cheers, MHI
	() Thanks

11th April 2009, 11:25	#1714
archat68 BHPian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Kolkata Posts: 897 Thanked: 619 Times	I'm looking for a used laptop (config: dual core, 1 GB RAM, atleast 80GB HDD) with decent battery life ( about 1.5 hours) Anybody upgrading and want to sell theirs shot me a PM.
	() Thanks

15th April 2009, 23:34	#1717
clevermax Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Tvm/Amsterdam Posts: 2,086 Thanked: 2,640 Times View My Garage	Got my Dell's battery replaced! So I called Dell customer care on Monday, and after a 30 minute long call which actually involved 10 minutes of conversation with 2 customer care reps, the complaint was registered and I got the request number. Today a Dell person visited home with a new battery and got it replaced. I have read a lot of bad reviews about Dell Customer care, but for me it was just fine. No questions asked, they just told me at the end of the call that I will get a replacement battery! Thanks a lot for all the responses to my initial query regarding battery in this thread...!
	() Thanks

20th April 2009, 19:54	#1719
clevermax Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Tvm/Amsterdam Posts: 2,086 Thanked: 2,640 Times View My Garage	@Dr. Rajesh: Yes one more person happy with the Dell Service! The service person just took the faulty battery with him....
	() Thanks

21st April 2009, 06:52	#1720
mithun BANNED Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Cochin Posts: 2,195 Thanked: 268 Times	I'm planning to purchase Dell Inspiron 15 this week. How is this lappie ? Anyone knows about the battery backup of this ?
	() Thanks

21st April 2009, 14:11	#1723
Red Liner Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 5,209 Thanked: 18,044 Times	Beginner's Windows Netbook: 20k Budget Amy recommendations apart from Acer Aspire 1 and the Samsung thing? I believe there's something from Lenovo as well? Need to get one for my Mum so she can browse the internet whilst on the move. So something light on the shoulder and on the pocket will be great!
	() Thanks

24th April 2009, 14:22	#1724
devrajman BHPian Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Bangalore Posts: 505 Thanked: 118 Times View My Garage	There are few netbooks in market in range of 20-30K. There are from: Acer one Lenovo Y series Dell mini series Sony VAIO p HP mini All these have almost the same config. You can go for the one which has good support, design & value.
	() Thanks