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Celestial Traveler
Random Observer



Registered: 03/03/11
Posts: 7,639
Loc: Idaho
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Should I send my labtop to get fixed?
#14644026 - 06/20/11 04:20 PM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
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So I have an expensive Dell that recently crashed, and it says the OS isn't working. I have a warranty on it, but I don't know if I should send it to get fixed because I had a lot of illegal files on there. I'm talking around 200 GB or so.
If I send it in will they check my files to see if they're copyrighted? Or will they most likely ignore it?
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ghotbijr
Wishes he was tripping


Registered: 01/10/11
Posts: 250
Loc: Seattle, Wa, USA
Last seen: 11 years, 10 months
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I'm pretty sure they're going to fix the parts, see if it works and send it back, I don't think they're supposed to look through your files. Are they extremely obvious or something? I think as long as it isn't openly shown they're illegal, or even if it's in an account with a password they wont even see it. Also could you try removing the hard drive and using another computer to remove all the illegal files?
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Doc_T
Random Dude




Registered: 03/06/09
Posts: 42,395
Loc: Colorado
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Re: Should I send my labtop to get fixed? [Re: ghotbijr]
#14644080 - 06/20/11 04:28 PM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
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They'll wipe your drive. If there's time, they will scan for porn.
-------------------- You make it all possible. Doesn't it feel good?
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orison
mcfluffysugarnuts


Registered: 01/19/09
Posts: 5,481
Last seen: 11 hours, 6 minutes
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Re: Should I send my labtop to get fixed? [Re: Doc_T]
#14644097 - 06/20/11 04:31 PM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
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pop the hard drive out and buy a new one. Install OS .. Post more BS here..
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Celestial Traveler
Random Observer



Registered: 03/03/11
Posts: 7,639
Loc: Idaho
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Re: Should I send my labtop to get fixed? [Re: orison]
#14644138 - 06/20/11 04:39 PM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
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Quote:
orison319 said: pop the hard drive out and buy a new one. Install OS .. Post more BS here.. 
I don't know how to do that. I'm pretty much a tech-tard. Like I said, 200 GB of uncopyrighted, torrented files, plus some illegal files (such as how to grow cannabis, mushrooms, etc).
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Doc_T
Random Dude




Registered: 03/06/09
Posts: 42,395
Loc: Colorado
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"how to grow" isn't illegal.
-------------------- You make it all possible. Doesn't it feel good?
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Celestial Traveler
Random Observer



Registered: 03/03/11
Posts: 7,639
Loc: Idaho
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Re: Should I send my labtop to get fixed? [Re: Doc_T]
#14644167 - 06/20/11 04:46 PM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
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Quote:
Doc_T said: "how to grow" isn't illegal.
It said "illegal" when I downloaded it...it also has information on how to set up electronic locks, avoid police searches, etc.
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Doc_T
Random Dude




Registered: 03/06/09
Posts: 42,395
Loc: Colorado
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Whatever dude. You don't know computers and you don't know the law. My advice- wipe it and reinstall.
-------------------- You make it all possible. Doesn't it feel good?
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Celestial Traveler
Random Observer



Registered: 03/03/11
Posts: 7,639
Loc: Idaho
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Re: Should I send my labtop to get fixed? [Re: Doc_T]
#14644193 - 06/20/11 04:50 PM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
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Quote:
Doc_T said: You don't know computers and you don't know the law.
Damn right. I tried reinstalling the OS using the disc they sent me, but that didn't work. So my only other option is to send it to them.
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orison
mcfluffysugarnuts


Registered: 01/19/09
Posts: 5,481
Last seen: 11 hours, 6 minutes
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hard drive just plugs in like a Light bulb..
If you can change a light bulb, you can change a Hard Drive..
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koraks
Registered: 06/02/03
Posts: 26,729
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Re: Should I send my labtop to get fixed? [Re: orison]
#14646714 - 06/21/11 02:47 AM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
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Download a Linux live cd (e.g. Ubuntu), use it to boot the laptop, connect a USB drive to the laptop, backup your (illegal) files, then wipe the hdd in the laptop and send it for 'repairs'. Or reboot using the Linux cd and install Linux. Even you can do that (promise). From your posts, I have no reason to believe (yet) that there's anything wrong with the laptop's hardware, so if you send the machine back to Dell, the only thing the people there are going to do is stream the original Dell image to it and reboot the machine. Total amount of time spent: 10 minutes max. I doubt anyone there has the time to go through your files. I've done PC work for more than a decade, and within a year, you know perfectly well that any computer that belongs to a male contains porn and other sorts of private material. Who cares.
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Celestial Traveler
Random Observer



Registered: 03/03/11
Posts: 7,639
Loc: Idaho
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Re: Should I send my labtop to get fixed? [Re: koraks]
#14649946 - 06/21/11 06:20 PM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
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Quote:
koraks said: Download a Linux live cd (e.g. Ubuntu), use it to boot the laptop, connect a USB drive to the laptop, backup your (illegal) files, then wipe the hdd in the laptop and send it for 'repairs'. Or reboot using the Linux cd and install Linux. Even you can do that (promise). From your posts, I have no reason to believe (yet) that there's anything wrong with the laptop's hardware, so if you send the machine back to Dell, the only thing the people there are going to do is stream the original Dell image to it and reboot the machine. Total amount of time spent: 10 minutes max. I doubt anyone there has the time to go through your files. I've done PC work for more than a decade, and within a year, you know perfectly well that any computer that belongs to a male contains porn and other sorts of private material. Who cares.
Well the problem is that I can't log in to Windows, so I can't download Linux. Also there is already a CD in the labtop and since I can't log on to my desktop, I can't eject the CD that's already in there or insert a new one. But I may just do as you say and send it to get fixed.
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magicbastard


Registered: 03/18/05
Posts: 791
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Hold down the "FN" Key and press the power button, this will launch the Dell Diagnostics.
How far does your computer make it before it says it can't load the OS? Have you tried getting into safe mode or restoring to a last known good config?
Dell will most likely have you wipe the hard drive as part of their remote diagnostics before you send it in.
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Celestial Traveler
Random Observer



Registered: 03/03/11
Posts: 7,639
Loc: Idaho
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Re: Should I send my labtop to get fixed? [Re: magicbastard]
#14651786 - 06/22/11 12:07 AM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
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Quote:
magicbastard said: Hold down the "FN" Key and press the power button, this will launch the Dell Diagnostics.
How far does your computer make it before it says it can't load the OS? Have you tried getting into safe mode or restoring to a last known good config?
Dell will most likely have you wipe the hard drive as part of their remote diagnostics before you send it in.
I literally can't do ANYTHING with it. Right when I turn it on it goes to the loading screen, then it says the OS isn't working.
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koraks
Registered: 06/02/03
Posts: 26,729
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Quote:
Celestial Traveler said: Well the problem is that I can't log in to Windows, so I can't download Linux.
Download & burn a CD at a friend's house, at school, at work, at your neighbor's...I mean, you can surf the Shroomery, so I guess there's a chance of burning a disc somewhere too.
Quote:
Also there is already a CD in the labtop and since I can't log on to my desktop, I can't eject the CD that's already in there or insert a new one.
Every single optical drive I have come across since the early 1990s features an emergency eject button. It's a little hole, just big enough to fit a piece of wire in (pin or paperclip). Push inside, and the locking mechanism will unlock, releasing the drive tray.
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But I may just do as you say and send it to get fixed.
You can always do that, of course.
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frith
God

Registered: 10/27/09
Posts: 7,512
Loc: Philadelphia, PA
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Re: Should I send my labtop to get fixed? [Re: koraks]
#14652841 - 06/22/11 08:13 AM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
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Just send it in for service.
I don't want to sound like a dick or anything but if you are calling it a "labtop" the steps needed to fix this may just be over your head.
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snoot
look alive ∞




Registered: 01/30/05
Posts: 9,644
Loc: 45º parallel
Last seen: 20 hours, 20 minutes
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Re: Should I send my labtop to get fixed? [Re: frith]
#14657692 - 06/23/11 01:34 AM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
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Im pretty sure as long as the files arent in the open you cant get in any trouble for them. if you have like SUPERYOUNG16yoGANGBANG.MPEG on your desktop you can probably assume they will do something. That something is up for debate.
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∞ I am incapable of conceiving infinity, and yet I do not accept finity. - Simone de Beauvoir -
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JT


Registered: 02/28/07
Posts: 7,027
Loc: athens
Last seen: 4 years, 10 months
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Quote:
Celestial Traveler said:
Quote:
magicbastard said: Hold down the "FN" Key and press the power button, this will launch the Dell Diagnostics.
How far does your computer make it before it says it can't load the OS? Have you tried getting into safe mode or restoring to a last known good config?
Dell will most likely have you wipe the hard drive as part of their remote diagnostics before you send it in.
I literally can't do ANYTHING with it. Right when I turn it on it goes to the loading screen, then it says the OS isn't working.
you have to hold the keys right as it starts to boot man. it will stop trying to load the OS and go to the diagnostics. this really shouldn't be a hard repair.
but i agree with frith.
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imachavel
I loved and lost but I loved-ftw



Registered: 06/06/07
Posts: 31,564
Loc: You get banned for saying that
Last seen: 12 hours, 23 minutes
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Quote:
Celestial Traveler said: So I have an expensive Dell that recently crashed, and it says the OS isn't working. I have a warranty on it, but I don't know if I should send it to get fixed because I had a lot of illegal files on there. I'm talking around 200 GB or so.
If I send it in will they check my files to see if they're copyrighted? Or will they most likely ignore it?
nevermind it's the fit the paperclip into the cd drive to open it then install linux problem. yes you need to hold f12 at boot, then select to boot from cd drive instead of hard drive. or some computers have this option at the boot options, so the key will be f2. if that doesn't work hold delete. one of these will work. yes all cd drives have the paper clip option, desktops, anything besides like an xbox or ps3 or whatever. but any basic home computer.
also, before you install linux, why don't you make sure your files are backed up? if you have the windows cd, you can pop it in the drive, and do a system repair, that will get you back to the desktop(but usually doesn't fix all errors) or I guess you would need another computer, then you would have to take out the hard drive, hook up a usb connector to it, and transfer all of your files to another computer, preferably to a folder on the desk top. it might be easier just to send it to dell. to burn linux use magic iso, it's great for burning iso's, install with the same method, put the burned iso into the cd drive, then select cd drive as the boot device. it's supposed to be easy with an iso(even though I never got this to work, but I'm not too bright )
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I did not say to edit my signature soulidarity! Now forever I will never remember what I said about understanding the secrets of the universe by paying attention to subtleties!
I'm never giving you the password again. Jerk
Edited by imachavel (06/23/11 12:42 PM)
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cokane
Stranger



Registered: 09/16/08
Posts: 945
Last seen: 2 years, 6 months
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Quote:
Celestial Traveler said: So I have an expensive Dell that recently crashed, and it says the OS isn't working. I have a warranty on it, but I don't know if I should send it to get fixed because I had a lot of illegal files on there. I'm talking around 200 GB or so.
If I send it in will they check my files to see if they're copyrighted? Or will they most likely ignore it?
What OS is it windows? Do you have the product key (look on bottom for sticker)? If you have the key and the OS name I would find an ISO version of windows and would just reinstall it. Then look in the C drive for a folder called Windows.old for all of your old stuff.
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5HTSynaptrip
Dopamine Enthusiast



Registered: 09/14/08
Posts: 4,360
Loc: USA
Last seen: 6 years, 1 month
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Re: Should I send my labtop to get fixed? [Re: cokane]
#14677337 - 06/26/11 10:02 PM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
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I didn't read a lot of the replies to the OP, but if you can at least get the laptop to boot from a CD then simply download a Parted Magic (Linux) and burn it to a LiveCD. If you can get your laptop to boot into that then at the very least you can write zeros across everything but the HPA/DCA, but those won't have your illegal shit on them.
Dell fucking dicks you around though. Your replacement parts will be fucking refurbished. I went through the WORST nightmare of my life after buying a $5k m17x Alienware. It was brand new from ebay, literally... and I got it for $2k. They sent a tech out who broke a fan connector on the motherboard, sent the same moron back to replace it, and the problem still wasn't resolved. Offered me a replacement system and 4 days later I check the status to see it was denied. Not even a manager for the premium North America (MyTechTeam) could tell me why. I returned it to the seller. In the end I spent over 14 hours on the phone with them and had the entire laptop rebuilt and it still BSOD/Froze all the time. When it worked it was amazing, but if you don't have NA tech support man... you may want to drink a few shots or take a Xanax before calling India. Worst support I've ever dealt with in my life, and the more you know about computers the worse it becomes.
GL, and use Parted Magic to wipe the drive.
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Science is a way of thinking much more than it is a body of knowledge. - My hero, who will be forever remembered, Carl Sagan.
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