tablet repair advice needed

[Lyn-Del]

about 3 weeks ago I purchased a Dell tablet with Windows 8.   From the beginning I wasn't real happy with it -- screen size keeps changing, etc.  But it worked.

Till yesterday.  Now it won't charge.  It's dead.  Dell is going to send me a box to send it back to them and they'll "fix" it.

I have an email (date 1/19/14) from Dell thanking me for registering my device -- according to technical support it's still registered to the store I bought it at.

So, I'm not real impressed with the whole thing right now.  The tech guy and his supervisor were nearly impossible to understand over the phone.   I assume the system has been outsourced.

I'm concerned about sending the unit to folks I don't know, as it has information on it I don't wish to share, plus the fact that Windows saves passwords, etc. 

My question is, how safe is it to send it to strangers?  Or am I worrying about nothing?

[Dagwood]

Any chance that the store you bought it from has a service dept? Not to repair your tablet, but to test your power supply, or try a known good one on your tablet, maybe you just need a new power supply. Personally, I think your tablet has issues with power on the main board from the other problems you were experiencing. You never know for sure about sending a computer in for service with personal info on it, but if it is going back to Dell or their service depot, I doubt they would risk the liability of getting and using any personal info found on it.

[Lyn-Del]

bought it at WalMart, so inhouse service is not an option.  I've tried with three different chargers, including the one that came with it, and one I've used to charge it before.  Normally I just plug it in out in the truck since I carry it around.

I liked the Dell so much, I bought an Android tablet.  I like it much better!  But the Dell is relatively new, and I'd like to get my money's worth out of it.

Thanks for the reassurance.

[Art708]

  That's why I like to buy at Best Buy and pay for their warranty.....across the counter replacement.

[Lyn-Del]

even that would be putting my information into someone else's hands ....

I forget about Best Buy, I rarely go there.

[..]

I remember this happening

https://www.google.com/#q=BEST+BUY+COMPUTER+SERVICE+STEALS+PASSWORDS

so ship it at your peril

[Lyn-Del]

I guess I'll have to.  Or lose my investment in the device.

[..]

I guess I'll have to.  Or lose my investment in the device.

Can you take out the hard drive before shipping?

[art]

I had that happen with our tablet the fix was to use the power button and move to the side and hold for about ten seconds. This reset it and it worked again. Before that my wife turned it off for the night and the next day nothing. This happened twice.

[Dogg]

Dell has sold out a long time ago. The personally built computer and the user friendly ideas for the masses left with it to pakistan or indonesia. They outsource all tech support except 4 hours a day when they are actully in their offices. I wouldnt own a dell product to save my life and buying ANY electronics from walmart is always a bad idea.  Walmart bulk buys the seconds and then the normal sellable goods. Most dell products are put together with used components. The gov says if it tests as good, its as good as new and so they use it. Personally, id put all my personal info ona memory stick or sd card and erase everything. Reset it or someting. Then take it back and get my money back from walmart. My android is superior and my ipad is more user friendly. Take your choice but, personally, id get my money back...

[Lyn-Del]

i can't reset it until I can get it to take a charge and come back on.   

I had thought Dell was still a reputable company, now I know.  I can't take it back 'cause I don't have the receipt (never have been good about hanging on to them, this is the first time I'm regretting that). 

I like my Android tablet, but I wanted a Windows tablet because I don't like the way Android handles one program I use a lot.  Turns out it doesn't work on the Dell at all.  Some days, I just can't win.

Live and learn.  Thanks for the info

[Robert]

Would never buy another Dell either for many of the reasons stated and more. As for the information I would never send any computer or tablet with any important personal info to anyone.Its a tough position to be in but I would try to get the thing to turn on to be able to erase the information on it. If you dont have the tech ability to get it to turn on how about finding someone local to try to get it to turn on and then send it back. Have you called Dell and waited on the phone for hours and told them your concern and see if they have a suggestion? I doubt they will have one but a thought.

[Lyn-Del]

good advice, except that the problem needing to be addressed is that the thing won't take a charge and is dead.  Without being able to charge it, I can't turn it on, and that takes us right back to where we started.

[tank_post142]

time to change your passwords, etc.

[Atl-Jerry]

I think I would do the following;

-To get warranty work done, you need proof of purchase.  I'd return to Walmart and speak with an Assistant Manager.  They have a record of the purchase, just a question of their willingness to help you out.  I say assistant manager because they are usually younger and more eager to help, as well as tech savvy.
-Tablets have solid state drives (SSD) and I've read mixed results with bulk degaussing.  But, before I sent it anywhere I'd located the internal SSD and place a degausser on top of that spot for a "long spell".
-Change your passwords
-Going forward, look into storing your data on a secure cloud service.  It won't reside on any mobile device that's subject to loss and you can access from anywhere.

I would evaluate the critical nature of any data stored on it and if warranted, beat it to death with a BFH.  A loss of $100-$200 is nothing compared to the cost of identity theft.       

[thewoodman]

I had a Toshiba do the exact same thing and the thing I did was to simply take the back off and remove the battery, blow off the contacts and put the battery back in. Sounds kinda stupid, but it worked for me. Worth a try at least.

[bassman]

I know you said it is dead and won't take a charge but maybe just hold the power button on for
20-30 seconds and MAYBE something might reset itself.  Cheap, easy and you might get lucky.  My wife has run down her Kindle (on occasion) and it appeared dead and would not work even with the power cord but the above technique somehow did something and the thing started working again.  Not very scientific and I can't explain any of it but what have you got to lose?

[Fritz The Cat]

Did you check the power supply?

[Lyn-Del]

Three different, KNOWN, power supplies.   

Holding power button for as much as 2 minutes does nothing.

Have no idea how to get the back off -- thinking of running it by my regular computer guy, if he can do something, the heck with the warranty.

Only information on it is stuff that can't be saved to disk or cloud, I think -- it's stuff Windows does all by itself.

[Lyn-Del]

Update:   

Dell called, asked if I knew someone by the name of xxxxxx, nope.  Turns out the tablet had been registered by someone before me.  Hmmmm ...... guess they had problems with it, took it back, and it got put back on the shelf.  Lucky me.

I took the tablet to my computer guy, hoping he could find a way to get some power into it so I could delete the stuff I was worried about.  There was NO voltage going into it at all.  Sigh.

Then he informed me he was going to take it back to WalMart for me and get me a replacement.  No charge.  Said they'll just throw it away and replace it.  Part of their agreement with their suppliers is that they build in a percentage of "failed" items so they don't have to pay for all of it nor return any.  Nice deal, volume purchasing has benefits.

I guess I really *am* spoiled!!  Nah, just blessed with good friends .... many of there are here in this group.  Others are in my day-to-day life.  Like I said, I'm blessed.

And hopefully I'll have a new, functional tablet next week.