Rant

Yesterday, while wasting time on my DELL INSPIRON 6400 NOTEBOOK, I receive a message from Microsoft advising that it has downloaded a new Windows update and needed to restart. Later I said. A little while later, I return to find my DELL INSPIRON 6400 NOTEBOOK with a blue screen of death. Great. I almost cry. I run diagnostics - negative. I try to boot to Safe Mode - no worky. I try to restore the last working version of Windows from the boot screen - a DELL feature - back to blue screen. I almost cry. So then, today at break... inhale

1) I called the Dell Support Canada line from website.
2) That line is no longer in service - so I called the new number the message provided.
3) After sitting on hold for a looong time, I ended up talking to someone at a call centre far far away.
4) After explaining my problem, and relaying my personal info, it was determined that being a US support centre, they couldn't help me - I had to call the number for support in Canada. He then proceeded to give me the same number I called the first time. Oh sorry, please hold. A while later he comes back with another number.
5) I call this new number and sit on hold for a looong time.
6) Finally, I get another guy in a call centre far far away. I relay the problem and my personal info, again. He has me run the same diagnostics I ran last night - I told him they were all fine.
7) He concludes that this is not a hardware problem, but a software problem. Software support is not free. Aargh. He puts me through.
8) A woman answers in a call centre far far away. I relay the problem and my personal info. She advises that service will cost either $70 for a one-time fix, or $234 for one-year unlimited support. I argue that I did nothing for my machine to cease functioning, Windows broke itself trying to automatically install an update - I shouldn't have to pay a cent. She has no power or is unwilling to do anything about this. I ask for a transfer to someone who can - she has no power or is unwilling to do anything about this either.
9) $70 later - after trying a few thing that I had tried a dozen times the night before - we conclude that the problem can't be fixed without a Windows boot disc (and even then, maybe not) which wasn't provided with the laptop because of the wonderful new MS Windows System Restore that can operate from the desktop, which I can't access.
10) She says the disc should arrive in about a week. "This is unacceptable" I say, "for $70 I should have it couriered to me tomorrow or Sunday so that I am not without a PC for a week."
11) We argue this point back and forth for a while. She has no power or is unwilling to do anything about this. She processes my file and informs me again that the disc should arrive "after one week".
12) I ask to speak to a customer service agent so that I may lodge a complaint about (a) not being delivered the Windows disc in the first place, (b) having to pay for the service despite Windows breaking itself, and (c) having to wait a week before we can resume troubleshooting.
13) I am put through to another lady, who may not actually be in a call centre far far away. I explain everything, again. When she goes to process my complaint, she notes that I am calling from Canada - being a US customer service rep she is unable to do anything. I am transferred again.
14) Repeat 13), but now I have spilled my guts to a corporate service rep, I need personal support. I am transferred again.
15) I am now speaking to a woman in a call centre far far away. I can barely hear her or understand her. I lodge my complaint. It will be processed in the next 24 hours. "Unacceptable" I say, "given that part of my complaint is that I want a disc to be couriered ASAP." I ask to speak to someone else - she has no power or is unwilling to transfer me further.
16) I add to my complaint that (d) I was unable to speak with anyone who could address my concerns.
17) I hang up, angry and frustrated and out $70 and a laptop for at least a week. And I still might lose all files stored on the machine.

Over one hour later and I am plotting my revenge on DELL, and have added them to my corporate shit list alongside U-Haul. Seems I will be computer-less and internet-less for evenings and this weekend. I am almost crying. Please tell me my complaints are justified.

PS: If you intend on purchasing a laptop in the future - DON"T USE DELL.