Dell De-Crapifier
- Thread starter Bozo
- Start date
Buck
Storage? I am Storage!
Here's an idea, don't buy a Dell in the first place. 
I'm sorry but contrary to the popular view here, I see a usefull market served by Dell. I would much prefer seeing all those people that buy white box machines from Office Depot, Circuit City, and the like, buying Dell which in my opinion is a better, or at least an equivilent, product at a lower cost with a much better support system.
I'm not going to say that Dell products are of high quality, but rather, for most they are a cost effective solution of "acceptable" quality. I also would not even try to argue that people can't buy better by simply going to a local computer specialist shop and buying a custom built machine. But from the POV of the masses, a mass marketted branding has value. Further, long warrentee's have value and Dell will warrentee their products for up to 3 years and I have yet to see a local custom shop that will go beyond one year.
All-in-All, I would argue that Dell has its place in the market and as much as people disparage its place, I think it has validity. This, from someone that actually owns 3 Dell systems because, when purchased, they were just plain too inexpensive to pass-up. While, I have had my issues with Dell, I don't regret the purchases.
I'm not going to say that Dell products are of high quality, but rather, for most they are a cost effective solution of "acceptable" quality. I also would not even try to argue that people can't buy better by simply going to a local computer specialist shop and buying a custom built machine. But from the POV of the masses, a mass marketted branding has value. Further, long warrentee's have value and Dell will warrentee their products for up to 3 years and I have yet to see a local custom shop that will go beyond one year.
All-in-All, I would argue that Dell has its place in the market and as much as people disparage its place, I think it has validity. This, from someone that actually owns 3 Dell systems because, when purchased, they were just plain too inexpensive to pass-up. While, I have had my issues with Dell, I don't regret the purchases.
sechs
Storage? I am Storage!
I think the point here is that, if you're supposedly smart enough to "decrapify" your Dell, then you should have been smart enough not to have gotten a Dell in the first place.
timwhit
Hairy Aussie
Sometimes Dell runs deals that are amazing enough that even geeks would buy them.
However, I would promptly format the hard drive rendering this tool useless.
I guess I could recommend it to friends if they were to buy Dell.
However, I would promptly format the hard drive rendering this tool useless.
I guess I could recommend it to friends if they were to buy Dell.
ddrueding
Fixture
My complaints aren't about Dell hardware, it really isn't that bad. My complaint is about Dell users; these are people that for the most part really aren't smart enough to own a computer. Dell makes computing accessible, therefore making these people feel empowered, and that is dangerous. Job security for all of us
timwhit said:
This is exactly how I feel. I bought my power edge because the price was tempting enough. It's worked great since the day I've powered it on and has served a real purpose for me. I was poking around last night and found that it has been powered on for 147 days straight with F@H running and not a single problem. Like timwhit, the tool isn't needed because it isn't running windows.
CougTek
Hairy Aussie
Dell Kanada cuurently offers an entire computer system with a 17" CRT for 428$ shipped. That's below my store's cost for similar parts. I'm lucky most people aren't aware of this deal or are afraid of giving their credit card number online. Dell is a small-computer-store-killer.
Mercutio
Fatwah on Western Digital
I am all in favor of a tool like this for every kind of computer. It is 150 different kinds of annoying to find that a machine has shipped with a 14-day trial of Quickbooks or 30 days of McAfee AV (You mean anti-virus didn't come with the computer?!?), or, my personal favorite, a version of Easy CD Creator that can't burn DVDs at all, despite the fact that Dell shipped a system with two DVD burners.
Mercutio
Fatwah on Western Digital
CougTek said:
Rest assured that Dell doesn't make any money on those deals either. They stopped doing those kinds of deals in the USA sometime last year. Dell is pushing for market share, basically trying to bury HP, but in the long term those machines are horrible for the company - the idiots who buy them will pretty much be the same idiots who need to talk to tech support 11 times in the first three days they own the machine; I wouldn't be surprised if those machines cost Dell 100% of their retail price in support costs.
Sol
Storage is cool
I can see the point of the tool but I'm guessing the vast majority of Dell users will never find it, and the vast majority of those who see it can, and quite possibly would prefer to do the whole thing manually (I.e with a complete rebuild).
Still probably this is easier than doing a remote reformat if your trying to help someone get thier new dell up and running at a distance...
Still probably this is easier than doing a remote reformat if your trying to help someone get thier new dell up and running at a distance...
time
Storage? I am Storage!
The best Dell De-Crapifier:
P5-133XL, this talk about 3-year warranties is all very well, but what sort of turnaround would you expect after 2 1/2 years? With a machine that old, would any sane person jump through the hoops that Dell places between the customer and warranty service?
P5-133XL, this talk about 3-year warranties is all very well, but what sort of turnaround would you expect after 2 1/2 years? With a machine that old, would any sane person jump through the hoops that Dell places between the customer and warranty service?
time said:
I'm sorry, but I don't see the problem here. As long as the support program has proper inventory, the turnaround time should not be an issue. It takes no more hoops, or turnaround time, the first day, than the last to get service.
Further, as long as the processor was reasonable and there is enough ram, then machines will run fine for 3+ years with no real need for replacement. The need to upgrade/replace every year or two is just not there anymore. For example I now have multiple 2500+ AMD Athlons that have been in existance for almost 3 years and they have absolutely no problem running todays software. My 3.2 Intel P4's are exactly in the same situation (My point is that it is not just AMD that that is the case). However, with many machines (Dell's included) somewhere around the 2-3 year mark, they start having problems. Those problems can be easily cured and should be, as long as the machine still has value...
Mercutio
Fatwah on Western Digital
I just got paid to de-crapify a Dell.
I'm sorry, but if it's taking your month-old 3.4GHz P4 with 1GB of RAM almost 3 minutes to start XP Home, there's both a problem with the machine and a valid reason to send the stupid thing back.
Dell installs a program called MyWay, which is thought by many to be malware, but the main problem was clearly the full collection of McAfee programs. Removing those got the computer right in line with what I'd expect from a brand-new machine.
The thing is, every single thing that was problematic about the Dell in question was something installed at the factory. There wasn't any (other) spyware. There were no viruses.
How completely disgusting.
I'm sorry, but if it's taking your month-old 3.4GHz P4 with 1GB of RAM almost 3 minutes to start XP Home, there's both a problem with the machine and a valid reason to send the stupid thing back.
Dell installs a program called MyWay, which is thought by many to be malware, but the main problem was clearly the full collection of McAfee programs. Removing those got the computer right in line with what I'd expect from a brand-new machine.
The thing is, every single thing that was problematic about the Dell in question was something installed at the factory. There wasn't any (other) spyware. There were no viruses.
How completely disgusting.
Bozo
Storage? I am Storage!
Just ran into a situation with a Dell server. Four of these s**t boxes were brought in by an equipment manufacturer. We need to have one of the boxes' video/keyboard/mouse sent by a KVM Extender to a remote location. Problem? There is only DVI out on the video card. No analog out. The venders that I deal with cannot find a KVM Extender that has DVI. We are going to try the DVI>Analog adaptors like you get with a video card.
It's little pissy things like this that drive me nuts. And make me hate Dell a little more each day.
Bozo :mrgrn:
It's little pissy things like this that drive me nuts. And make me hate Dell a little more each day.
Bozo :mrgrn:
Stereodude
Not really a
I just got in on one of those "deals" just yesterday through the Dell Employee Purchase Program...Mercutio said:
- Inspiron E1505, Intel Core Duo T2400 (2MB/1.83GHz/667MHz)
- 15.4 Inch UltraSharp TrueLife Wide-screen WSXGA+
- 512MB, DDR2, 533MHz 1 Dimm
- 128MB ATI MOBILITY RADEON X1300 HyperMemory
- 80GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive
- Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005
- Integrated 10/100 Network Cardand Modem
- 24X Combo CD-RW/DVD
- Dell Wireless 1390 802.11b/g Mini Card (54Mbps)
- 53 WHr 6-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery
- 4 Year Limited Warranty Onsite Service
- CompleteCare Accidental DamageProtection 4 Years
- 85 WHr 9-cell Lithium Ion Additional Battery
Got it for $979.20 from a "regular price" of $2109.40
For that hardware, and that price I can deal with having to de-crapify the machine. After making sure my old Inspiron 8600 powered on and worked ok, the next thing I did was to format it and install the OS clean.
Mercutio
Fatwah on Western Digital
Dell had a $750 off $2000 coupon for Inspirons today, too.
Stereodude
Not really a
Now, if only I can figure out if the E1505 can actually support 667Mhz Memory, or not. I want to get 2 1GB DDR2 SO-DIMMS for it, but I don't want to spend the extra for the 667Mhz memory unless it can take advantage of it.
ddrueding
Fixture
I happen to have just unwrapped a pair of Dell Inspiron 6400 Core Duo Laptops...I'll do the de-crapifier test on one and see what happens.
Anyone have specific requests for testing?
Anyone have specific requests for testing?
ddrueding
Fixture
Here's the rundown:
Before / After
PF Useage: 316MB / 130MB
CPU Useage: 2% / 0%
Time to login screen: 18s / 15s
Time to desktop: 49s / 3s
Shutdown Time: 9s / 6s
Oh, yeah. I want to pay this much for a system that takes over a minute to boot.
Before / After
PF Useage: 316MB / 130MB
CPU Useage: 2% / 0%
Time to login screen: 18s / 15s
Time to desktop: 49s / 3s
Shutdown Time: 9s / 6s
Oh, yeah. I want to pay this much for a system that takes over a minute to boot.
Stereodude
Not really a
My E1505 is supposed to come tomorrow (basically a 6400). Did the de-crapifier do a good job getting all the stuff? I haven't decided it I'm going to format it and install over it (XP Media Center), or try to de-crapify it.
If I re-install XP Media Center will I have to deal with Windows Product Activation?
If I re-install XP Media Center will I have to deal with Windows Product Activation?
ddrueding
Fixture
Stereodude said:
I didn't use the tool, I just did i the old-fashioned way.
1. Add/Remove programs everything
2. Regedit - delete everything from "Run"
3. Delete Everything from "Startup"
4. Disable system restore, disable any additional taskbar items
5. Defrag
Next comes the rebuilding process:
1. Join to domain, give domain account local admin rights
2. Install Nod32, Office 2003, Firefox
3. Update everything
4. Defrag
I'll give another update when I'm done with this part.
It will require re-activation upon re-install, but it will go through automatically beacuse the hardware hasn't changed.
Mercutio
Fatwah on Western Digital
Bozo
Storage? I am Storage!
"Anyone have specific requests for testing?"
See if it will still function after 7 days in a ceptic tank. (with the rest of the crap)
Bozo :mrgrn:
See if it will still function after 7 days in a ceptic tank. (with the rest of the crap)
Bozo :mrgrn:
Stereodude
Not really a
The machine survived for about 1 hour before I deleted the partitions form the HD and started over. I started trying to uninstall things and decided it wasn't worth the effort. It's now a lot faster starting up, and it uses a lot less memory just sitting there.ddrueding said:
Tomorrow I get my two 1GB sticks of PC2-5300 DDR2, so things should really fly. 8)
ddrueding
Fixture
Stereodude said:
It is a close call; removing everything takes about an hour. Formatting, re-installing, and getting all the drivers right takes about the same. The big difference is when doing it my way I don't need to futz with disks at all.