Just a word of warning about downloading updates….
Last night I downloaded Windows XP Service Pack 1.
When I got to the point that the computer should restart, and well, it didn’t.
I could not get into anything, no c:\ prompt, no Safe Mode, no nothing.
To make a long and frustrating story short I called Dell told them what had happened and found out how to reinstall Windows when you can’t get into your computer at all.
The service representative told me that this was a common problem and that I should go and get the CD. The problem was that the download didn’t contain all the necessary files to run Windows. I only had to be on the phone for about a half an hour, and then spent the rest of the day reinstalling all of my software.
The funny thing is that while I am working away the phone rings.
It is a friend of mine calling to tell me that he had downloaded the service pack for Windows XP and it had crashed his computer. He had called Microsoft and been on the phone until 2am. Less computer literate then I am he had to be led through the whole reinstallation process. The Microsoft representative told him to go and buy the CD as well.
One last thing, the Dell support was fantastic, I did not have to wait on hold, the representative was helpful even though he was in India, and he called back an hour and a half after I started the Installation to make sure that it all went smoothly. He asked if my video and sound were working and did my modem configure correctly, and he said he will call again tomorrow to see if any problems have cropped up.
I was impressed, this is my first Dell computer but I don’t think it will be my last.
I don’t even want to talk about some of my past experiences.
Any way if you are going to download updates it might be safer to just get the CD.
Mike
Last night I downloaded Windows XP Service Pack 1.
When I got to the point that the computer should restart, and well, it didn’t.
I could not get into anything, no c:\ prompt, no Safe Mode, no nothing.
To make a long and frustrating story short I called Dell told them what had happened and found out how to reinstall Windows when you can’t get into your computer at all.
The service representative told me that this was a common problem and that I should go and get the CD. The problem was that the download didn’t contain all the necessary files to run Windows. I only had to be on the phone for about a half an hour, and then spent the rest of the day reinstalling all of my software.
The funny thing is that while I am working away the phone rings.
It is a friend of mine calling to tell me that he had downloaded the service pack for Windows XP and it had crashed his computer. He had called Microsoft and been on the phone until 2am. Less computer literate then I am he had to be led through the whole reinstallation process. The Microsoft representative told him to go and buy the CD as well.
One last thing, the Dell support was fantastic, I did not have to wait on hold, the representative was helpful even though he was in India, and he called back an hour and a half after I started the Installation to make sure that it all went smoothly. He asked if my video and sound were working and did my modem configure correctly, and he said he will call again tomorrow to see if any problems have cropped up.
I was impressed, this is my first Dell computer but I don’t think it will be my last.
I don’t even want to talk about some of my past experiences.
Any way if you are going to download updates it might be safer to just get the CD.
Mike
