Introduction to Dell Warranties
A Dell ProSupport warranty typically provides next business day spare parts (when available) which can be fitted either by our staff (who are Dell certified) or a Dell engineer.
How to find a service tag and check warranty status
For a Dell computer, there is usually a sticker on the case which shows the Service Tag, similar to the below picture.
For supported computers, we have a record of your service tag and warranty status so please contact the Service Desk on (3)36261 or servicedesk@medschl.cam.ac.uk if you would like us to check this for you.
If you cannot find the sticker, you can find it by visiting the Dell website at http://www.dell.com/support/home/uk/en/ukdhs1 and selecting "Auto-detect your product". This will download a small utility which will detect your service tag and display it on the website. You will then be able to check the warranty status of your computer, and also when it was shipped to determine its age.
What to do if you think your computer has a fault
Supported computers
If your computer is supported by us, please contact the Service Desk on (3)36261 or servicedesk@medschl.cam.ac.uk in the event of a fault, so we can assist you. If the fault is preventing the computer from working, we can usually provide you with a loan machine to use.
Unsupported computers
If your computer is not supported by us, we recommend you visit the Dell website at http://www.dell.com/support/home/uk/en/ukdhs1 for support. For non-Dell computers, please seek support from either the vendor or manufacturer.
When is a good time to buy a new computer
We would recommend purchasing a new computer before the warranty expires on your old computer, or when the specifications of your computer are no longer sufficient for any software you wish to use on it. In any event, we would recommend replacing computers more than 5 years old
Typical problems with old computers
Typical problems with old computers include:
- Hard drive failure, which may prevent the computer from starting up, or cause it to run slowly or crash. This can lead to the loss of data which is not stored or backed up onto a network location.
- Memory (RAM) failure, which can cause the computer to crash.
- Power supply unit (PSU) failure which will cause the computer to stop working.
Minimum specifications for a computer to be added to our support service
If you have an unsupported computer which you would like to add to our support service, the minimum specifications for a computer to be added to our service can be found at on our website at:
http://cscs.medschl.cam.ac.uk/devices/computers-laptops/computer-support-service-2/#minimumreq