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June 26th, 2025 20:09
It seems I have a newly-purchased brick, and all Dell can offer is software Repair Online Referral
A brief timeline:
5/30/2025: Inspiron 16 Plus laptop delivered
6/2/2025: I try to set the laptop up. It logs in OK, but I have trouble setting up the PIN login option. When the computer restarts, it no longer lets me login. It says that it has sent an email with a code to the Microsoft account. I have access to that account, but no email ever shows up
6/3/2025-6/5/2025: I check spam folders, try a different router, try a different network, pulling hair out. Still can't access the system. It says it sends a code. No code received. No other login options.
6/6/2025: Dell support request put in. The answer is essentially "This is a Microsoft account issue. Contact them."
6/6/2025: I contact Microsoft support. They have a bunch of unhelpful standard stuff about how to recover your Microsoft account, etc. The account does not need recovering. I'm able to access it on a different computer, I just can't receive the code that the new laptop claims it's sending.
6/9/2025-6/13/2025: With Dell and Microsoft not helping, I spend more days online looking for solutions just to access a computer I bought nearly 2 weeks ago! Finally I enlist the support of a relative, and after several hours of Microsoft account changes and adding more security (using another computer), the new system gives us new login options and allows me to log in.
6/14/2025: The system shows some instability right off. Sometimes it just shuts down randomly
6/18/2025: The laptop is generally working OK, so I continue to set it up, transfer files, etc. I have still not installed any new software.
6/26/2025: System goes completely berserk. Multiple BSOD, random shutdowns anywhere from a few minutes to an hour apart. I contact Dell support again. They have me run ePSA diagnostics. The verdict is: No hardware issues, so Dell says it's not covered under their warranty. But I can pay $99 for their online software repair service.
So I have a laptop that usually starts up OK, but will suddenly BSOD after using it for a short time. Essentially, a brick with some pretty colors. Do I have any recourse here? I've generally been pleased with Dell systems, but it's sad to know that this is what happens when things go wrong.
ejn63
10 Elder
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28.6K Posts
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June 26th, 2025 21:06
If you're within 30 days of shipment and the system was purchased from Dell, request a return for refund.
DUSER-965
1 Rookie
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June 26th, 2025 22:21
@ejn63 Thanks, that's just what I did. For some reason I was thinking the return window had closed already.
A few more days and I would have been really out of luck..