My friend has laptop issues, any dell reps here?

[Daniel Z.]

He has an inspiron 5000 gaming and it has started having this issue (will send pics later) and it happened with his last laptop (also dell). He knows next to nothing about hardware so I want some dell reps and other people to help me see what the issue is exactly and if he has warranty. Its from bestbuy. He's had it for only 4 months.

 

Old laptop:

 

 

New laptop

 

 

[LienusLateTips]

Could you at least explain what's wrong with it and why it's broken according to.him

[Daniel Z.]

1 minute ago, JDE said:

Could you at least explain what's wrong with it and why it's broken according to.him

well I haven't seen it IRL but the thing seems to be coming apart

[MikeSK]

On the dell website, you can lookup support details by entering the Express Number.  Unless he has purchased an enhanced service support plan, drop, tampering and crush damage probably is not covered.  Depending on the model, you may be able to find parts online and repair it yourself.

[kb5zue]

I spent 45 mins online chat with Dell just this afternoon looking for a proprietary part.  If your machine is only 4 months old, by all means, check to see if it is still under warranty and if it is, then send it to them by any means necessary.  The part I was looking for was a drive caddy.  I have a Dell Inspiron Model PP22X and it supports 2 drives but finding the special drive caddy for the second drive is a bitch.  Ordered one from Dell and it's only $1.89 but finding it is the trick.

Good Luck.

[MikeSK]

Have you tried contacting Best Buy first for support?

[SageOfSpice]

Kind of looks like what happens with a gummed up hinge mechanism, though I'd be impressed if that happened in 4 months of careful use. The easiest way to really know is if closing the laptop fixes or exacerbates the problem.

 

There's no real reason that should happen within 4 months. Usually it takes years for that to happen. So I'd be giving Best Buy some pretty angry calls until they fixed it. Not really something too easy to fix either. The hinge can be fixed, but the mounts and everything around them is usually destroyed, so you'd be getting a new laptop essentially.

 

Not just a dell thing. It can happen with pretty much all laptops.