Then again, I recall the PhotoDude complaining on his blog about not getting software user manuals and having them delivered the next day. But he is an A-list blogger unlike me!

So I had a rant here about my problems with my Dell laptop. A few days later, I got an email from Dell HQ from a person who had read it. Lo and behold, he offered to replace my computer. That was on July 26.

Meanwhile, my old Inspiron 5150 was repaired at the depot and returned to me. Then I went about copying everything off of it so it could be returned.

On August 6, I got a package from Dell. I opened it and found a brand new Inspiron 1501. I was a little surprised since I had assumed that the replacement would be a refurbished machine. Anyway, the machine looks good. And I must thank the Dell guy who read my blog and took the initiative to get me this computer.

I now have two brand new computers, a desktop that I built and this laptop. Amber is having second thoughts about letting me buy the desktop.

When I replaced the memory, the hard disk started giving errors. I am still in the process of recovering data from the hard disk. And finally today I discovered that the memory problem is still there, which means that it is most likely a defective motherboard (replaced just last month). After an hour chatting online with Dell Tech Support, my laptop is going back to Dell for a motherboard replacement.

To recap, since April 2003 when I bought this machine, I have had the motherboard replaced 3 times (and it should be replaced again now), memory twice, hard disk once, the processor heat sink a couple of times, the AC adapter twice and the whole computer once (I now have the Inspiron 5150).

Tomorrow, I am off to Fry’s where I’ll get parts for a new desktop and build it myself.

UPDATE: Read my latest post about how Dell gave me a new Inspiron 1501.

Let’s start with where I ended my previous Dell travails. I had the data recovered, but the hard disk could not be formatted again on my system. When even a replacement hard disk didn’t work, Dell had the motherboard replaced again, which fixed the problem. My Inspiron 5100 worked for a while after that, but then it started getting so hot that using it as a “lap”-top was dangerous. This overheating issue seemed to be a well-known problem by then and Dell actually replaced my computer with a refurbished Inspiron 5150. That was early 2006.

Fast forward to Wednesday. My computer suddenly hung up and on reboot refused to do anything. All it showed was a blank screen with a blinking cursor on the top left. There no Dell screen at startup and the BIOS tests didn’t start either. I chatted with a Dell representative and figured out that my computer was still under warranty due to the class action lawsuit decided in December. So the computer is off now to Dell’s repair depot for a motherboard replacement.

Meanwhile, I am stuck with this 8 year old desktop that was all packed up and ready to be dispatched to a charity.

UPDATE (June 6 9pm): The system is back with the motherboard, heatsink and the AC adapter replaced. Testing is in progress.