Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Customer: Dell Denies Speaker Repair Under Warranty, Blames VLC

Posted by timothy on from the because-that-makes-sense dept.

An anonymous reader writes "VLC is incapable of increasing the actual power past 100%, all that is being done is the waveform is being modified to be louder within the allowed constraints. But, that didn't stop Dell from denying warranty service for speaker damage if the popular VLC Media Player is installed on a Dell laptop. Also we got a report that service was denied because KMPlayer was installed on a laptop. The warranty remains valid on the other parts of the laptop. VLC player developer [Jean-Baptiste Kempf] denied the issue with VLC and further claimed that the player cannot be used to damage speakers. How can I convince Dell to replace my laptop speaker which is still in warranty? Or class action is only my option?"

3 of 526 comments (clear)

  1. Two options by synaptik · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Option The First:
    1. Buy Dell Laptop
    2. Do first-use OS initialization, power down, remove HDD, store away in a safe place
    3. Add new harddrive, install OS of choice
    4. If at any time you have warranty service needs, swap original HDD back in

    Option The Second:
    1. Don't buy Dell
    .

    --
    HSJ$$*&#^!#+++ATH0
    NO CARRIER
  2. VLC does not access the speakers directly by MpVpRb · · Score: 5, Insightful

    ..it uses Windows system calls which then call the sound driver

    If the damage was caused by software, it's clearly the fault of the driver

    VLC is too far up the stack to cause anything abnormal

  3. Re:Small Claims by IQGQNAU · · Score: 5, Insightful

    You don't need a lawyer for small claims, so not being one isn't a big problem. Filing the claim will also get the attention of some higher ups that the tech support tree will block you from.