Advice: Dell Want to take my M15x away for repair

Hi all,

It's been a while since I posted on here. Mostly because I haven't had any problems in ages! Recently though my graphics card has been badly overheating. So I've been talking with Dell and they want to pick it up and do the gfx card + heatsink replacement / analysis and everything at their depot or whatever. The guy said it'd take about a week.

First I'd like to know if this is the best/only option. Obviously I don't want to be without a computer for a week or more.

Second I want to know about backing up + protecting my data. I don't especially want random people from dell poking around my hard drive. Nor do I want to lose anything due to damage in transit or whatever.

I'd appreciate any advice / suggestions that I can get.

Thanks.

 

External hard drive + Acronis for backup, what this does is create a clone of your drive. If something happens you bust out that Acronis disc and the drive and you've got a working system again.

Depot can be the best, fact is with an in-home tech Dell likely sends 1 of everything the guy needs so if it's a dud too or something happens you're still in the same situation you are now. At depot those techs will have access to all the various and sundry stuff they need to fix the computer. Lets say that some freak chance happens and your motherboard gets damaged, now you gotta wait for the in-home to get parts, plus another visit, etc etc etc. Depot: board takes a dump, techs at depot pop in a new one and life goes on.

IMO one week is a bit overly optimistic for a send it in repair if it were me I'd expect longer but be happy if it takes less time.

 

does your m15x have NBD in home warranty? if so, then why do you need to accommodate dell and risk another 'horror story' from the depot... you paid for NBD in home repair, then you should expect it from dell. don't let them try to cut cost by making you send it to the depot.

 

I still fail to see how people claim cost cutting. There's still warm bodies at the depot that are making an income, they're better equipped, and I dare to say they pay shipping both ways. But you're right maybe, it makes sense to pay for an underequipped, undertrained in-home tech.