Refurbished Desktop Other Vista Discussions Discuss Refurbished Desktop in the Windows Vista forums; Dell Outlet. I purchased a Dell refurbished laptop about 2 years ago. Gift for a friend. As far as I know, never any problems. Looked and sounded new. My second ...

[rustydog]

Dell Outlet.

I purchased a Dell refurbished laptop about 2 years ago. Gift for a friend. As far as I know, never any problems. Looked and sounded new.

My second one was a desktop purchased from the Dell Outlet mid-February. Vista Premium. That one was a Dell XPS 410. Again a refurbished. This time the fan on the computer was way too loud. Looked new. I telephoned Support to return it. They were real good to me as they made a brand new machine for me that was better than the original. More stuff. Works perfectly and is quiet.

I also purchased a cheaper one from Dell Outlet for my garage just recently. This one I did not need a super machine. Dell E521. And I am guessing that this one had XP on it and Dell put Vista Premium on it later, just a guess. This machine arrived covered with dust - as if it had been sitting for awhile - either at some previous customers home or at Dell warehouse in Texas. This one has an odd idiosyncrasy - on turn on - the fan makes a loud 'wooshing' sound - then all quiet. Same sound if computer on and in 'standby' - as soon I move mouse and screen appears - same 'wooshing' sound - then all quiet.

And, of course, my infamous: "nvlddmkm" problem.

If I loose my 'nvlddmkm' problem, this will be a keeper as its cost was low and it is a spare anyway. I already had monitor and printers. Even my old Epson C60 works with Vista. And that was my original printer.

I do wonder about the Dell Outlet headings. "Previously Ordered New" - whatever that means - as this desktop was purchased under that category and it was covered with dust upon arrival. As opposed to "Refurbished" - whatever that means.

Time will tell.

The Dell Outlet is good in that one can find one with the components or options that one needs. This one, all I wanted was DVD-ROM, DVD/RW, 1394 Card, and a built in 13 in 1 card reader. As well as Vista Premium. And it comes with a 21 day free return and a full year warranty. At one point, the warranty was 90 days. They are back to one year.

Some day I may put a real graphics card in this one.

[Znod]

Good info rustydog. Thanks.

[Snuffy]

Info about Dell is very good, glad your doing aOK..

If I loose my 'nvlddmkm' problem, this will be a keeper as its cost was low and it is a spare anyway.

I still think the NVLDDMKM is a crappy NVidia driver, and I also have a FAN that is noisy on start up... once all HD's are running, the noise goes away...or I can unplug the HD that the fan power line is also attached too, and the noise goes away... This is only during STARTUP. No other time.. and since my average STARTUP time is 41s to 45s, its not that bad... Shhhhhhhh, the wife knows when I turn my computer on...

News Flash from NVIDIA, they insist that
1. turnoff my internet connection
2. turnoff my antiviris
3. turnoff my firewall
4. Uninstall my old video card driver, (display adapter).
5. Install the new latest driver, then REBOOT... that I will have no problems with NVLDDMKM on Vista 32bit..