The Dell 4100: Problems, solutions, and should you buy one?
Written: Sep 04 '00 (Updated Jan 09 '01)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Great mid-line system with affordable price and excellent service
Cons: Loud fan and some software issues
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| DrDad's Full Review: Dell Dimension 4100 Series |
Update: January 9, 2001 -- I've used my Dell 4100 for over 4 months now and felt it important to add an update to my review of this Dell Dimension system. I have left the original review intact (with minor changes based on user comments and updates). If you are having difficulty with your Dell Dimension 4100, I hope this review is helpful to you.
As I write this, it is January 9, 2001. I purchased my Dell 4100 in late August 2000, at a time when many 4100 owners were experiencing serious problems with their brand-new systems. Before ordering, I did quite a bit of research into those problems and decided that they were avoidable or solvable via certain strategies. After getting my Dell 4100, I found that the only problem I experienced was a noisy fan, which Dell replaced at my request. Other problems (discussed below) such as the Shut-Down problem, the BIOS problem, and the AOL/Me problem I was able to avoid. Because I was able to avoid these known problems, or fix them, I wanted to write a review of the problems with the Dell Dimension 4100 in hopes of helping others. That led to my original review (shown below). However, most of those known problems are no longer relevant to anyone considering purchasing a new Dell 4100. In this update to my review, I will state which problems are over, and which still exist. I will also report on my current satisfaction with my 4100.
Problems no more
Many Dell 4100s shipped with a very noisy cooling fan. That problem has been solved with a new cooling fan model. Systems purchased today should come with the new, quieter fan. If you do have or get an unusually noisy fan, see the solutions posted in my original review below.
The Shut-Down problem, which was largely associated with Windows 98se, and Norton Antivirus, has been for the most part remedied because Dell now ships new systems with Windows Me (which doesn't have a shut-down bug like Windows 98 did). However, Windows Me comes with its own set of problems for certain users. Even though I have had no problems with Windows Me, some users have reported incompatibility with DOS programs and certain brands of peripherals. If you are concerned about getting Windows Me, I recommend you read the reviews of it here at Epinions. Regarding the Shut-Down problem, if your system is experiencing it, check out the solutions I recommend in the original review below.
Many Dell 4100s were shipped with a bad version of BIOS. The solution was to upgrade the BIOS and Dell sent all 4100 owners a BIOS update disk. New systems ship with the correct version of BIOS. So, if you are purchasing a 4100 today, you don't need to worry about that problem anymore.
Problems Galore
I am not an AOL user, but I have read several reviews that state that Windows Me and AOL 4 are incompatible. Therefore, I recommended Windows Me users who are also AOL users upgrade to AOL 5. Unfortunately, I have read several negative reviews of AOL 5. Therefore, I feel that if you take Dell's offer of x-months of AOL for free, on your Windows Me system, you may experience several incompatibility issues. I personally do not recommend AOL at all, but I know that many, many people use it and like it. Therefore, if you include yourself in that group, I strongly recommend you (1) read the AOL 5 reviews, (2) read the Windows Me reviews, and (3) confirm with Dell Tech support that your system will ship with a compatible version of AOL and Windows Me.
Am I satisfied?
I have had my Dell 4100 for over 4 months now and I can still say that I am very please with my purchase. My noisy fan was replaced and Windows Me has worked flawlessly. All hardware components seem to be functioning properly, and I have had no software conflicts at all even though I have installed numerous software programs. My few calls to Dell tech support were positive experiences, but I have read reviews of others that have not been so lucky. Overall, I still recommend the Dell 4100, and feel it is a much better system now than when I purchase mine in August. If you plan to purchase one, consider reading my two other reviews on buying from Dell. Links to those reviews are at the bottom of this page.
I hope my update, and/or my original review of my Dell Dimension 4100 has been helpful to you as you make your purchase decision, or as you try to resolve existing problems with your system.
Best wishes,
Bret (DrDad)
Original review, posted September 4, 2000, is shown in full below. It contains information on how to avoid or fix the known problems with the pre-October line of Dell 4100s.
The DellTalk support forums are full of posts complaining about problems with the 4100. I've done extensive research and found that the known problems with the Dell 4100 can be avoided (if you haven't purchased yet) or fixed (if you already have purchased one). This review describes the Dell Dimension 4100 that I purchased only a few weeks ago, the known problems with the Dell 4100, and how to avoid or fix them. It also offers advice on whether the Dell 4100 is the computer for you.
***Updated September 23 with resolutions for a known problem with AOL.***
***Updated October 14 with information about BIOS upgrade.***
1. My Dell 4100
I ordered my Dell 4100 on August 20 and it arrived on August 28. Three days after I received the Dell, I got an e-mail from Dell stating my computer was on its way. I don't know whether to give credit to UPS, or fault Dell for sending e-mail late, but the issue is minor, so let's move on.
The first thing I did upon getting the Dell out of the box was to open the side panel and look at the interior. I was pleasantly surprised to find there's enough room in there for a medium sized cat (Not that I would ever put a cat in my computer. And I don't recommend you put a cat in yours either as it will seriously hurt the performance of the cat). However, everything was very accessible. Installing any kind of card (graphics, new modem) will be easy. Most importantly, the RAM memory slots are accessible so adding memory to the system will be effortless.
Setting up the Dell was easy. I took everything out of the box the computer came in and then put my children in the box (I won't put a cat in a computer, but I'll put my kids in a big box any day. They played "boat" while I played with my computer). I gave the multi-language set-up poster to my 1-year-old to chew on while I plugged in the cables according to their color code. If you are color-blind, or new to computers, you might want to follow the set up poster.
And now the moment of truth. I pushed the ON button fully expecting to hear the sound of a dryer with rocks in it (see Noisy Fan problem below) but was greeted with nothing more than a louder than normal WHIRRRR. Also, the Windows ME system booted up fine, in about 5-6 seconds. I was immediately greeted by the MicroSoft Registration process. Knowing that if I didn't register I would be reminded every 10 minutes by MS that I haven't registered yet, I went ahead and registered my life with MicroSoft. I believe I agreed to give them my first born son, but I'm hoping that information will get lost in the shuffle.
Now that the system is running, I take a look around Windows ME. If you know your way around Windows 95/98, you'll do fine in Windows ME. I open Norton AntiVirus and under OPTIONS, AUTO-PROTECT, ADVANCED, I disabled "Scan floppies for boot viruses when shutting down Windows" (see Shut-Down problem below). I shut down the system using Windows shut-down and it shuts down fine (and fast too, about 1-2 seconds to completely shut down). I start up, shut down, start up, shut down several times, waiting a minute or two between each one. No problems, no errors, no explosions.
I start testing components (CD, speakers, modem) and find that everything works fine, but the modem only connects at 26,400 (instead of 40,000+). This is the fault of my phone line as I have never been able to get any modem (believe me, I tried several) to connect faster than 26,400. My new Jaguar computer gets to the Internet by riding on a turtle, but that's not Dell's fault, so I don't hold it against them.
OK, I use the system for about a week now and not one single problem. I've installed several software programs, both downloaded and from CDs. It boots up fast, shuts down fast, and gives me no problems even when I have several programs running at the same time. The only complaint I have is the loud fan, which required a call to tech support.
I call tech support and navigate my way through their menu system to be placed on hold. It's 6:30 on a workday evening so I expect to be on hold for a while. Twenty minutes later (not as bad as I thought it would be) a technician answers and I tell him I have one of the 4100s with a loud fan, and that I would like to be on the list to get a replacement. He finds that my system doesn't have a warranty, but puts me on the list anyway and, after thoroughly addressing a few minor questions I have about the system, sends me over to customer care to resolve the warranty issue. Customer care answers in less than 1 minute and politely and efficiently adds the warranty to my system. I was polite, they were polite and efficient, and my fan problem will be solved soon.
My overall experience with MY Dell 4100? On a scale from 1 to 10, with 10 being the best, I give it a 9. If I hadn't known in advance the fan would be noisy, it would have been a 7, but that's still good.
Since my experience with the 4100 has been so good, why are so many complaints being registered in the DellTalk support forums? In the next part of this review, I stop trying to be funny and start explaining the known problems with the Dell 4100 and how to avoid or solve them.
2. Known Problems
Many Dell 4100 owners have been complaining about several problems with their system. The main three complaints are (1) the cooling fan is incredibly loud, (2) it locks up on shut-down, and (3) it gives general errors throughout the day. I hope the information provided below will help new buyers avoid these problems and hopefully help existing owners solve the problems. Let's examine each in detail.
A. The Noisy Fan
Some have compared it to a refrigerator, others to a train engine. My 4100 does have a loud, high-pitched whir, but because I was expecting worse, it actually wasn't that bad. Regardless, it is too loud. Dell is committed to resolving this problem for all owners. Here is what to do:
A.1 How to avoid the Noisy Fan problem
This one is simple. Wait until October 1 to order. Dell is manufacturing and installing a new, quieter fan and these should be online by October 1. Before you place your order, verify with both your sales rep (if you use one) AND a customer care rep that the NEW fan will be in your system. This problem should not be an issue for new (post October) 4100 systems, but verify it with your Reps.
A.2 How to fix the Noisy Fan problem
Call customer care (the number can be located on the Dell web site or in your manuals) and tell them you would like a replacement fan shipped to your home. If you feel confident in your abilities, tell them you will install the fan yourself (I suspect the fans will come with detailed instructions on how to install). If you are not confident, and your system is less than 1 year old, talk with the customer care rep about having a technician come out to replace it. Be polite, but explain that you are simply incapable of doing it yourself. Then, be patient as it may take a while for the technician to get to your house.
UPDATE: October 1, 2000
I received my replacement fan about a week ago and just got around to installing it today. Removal of the noisy fan and installing the new fan required NO tools other than a pencil to push in a holding tab. The new fan is indeed much quieter than the old one. It produces a normal amount of noise for a computer fan. If you have a noisy fan and haven't called Dell yet, I highly recommend you do so. Now that my fan is fixed, I am 100% satisfied with my Dell 4100.
End UPDATE
B. The system won't shut-down when you try to shut down
This is NOT a Dell 4100 problem, but a Windows 98se problem. It is a known Windows bug that can be solved by installing a patch. The problem can also exist because of a bug in Norton AntiVirus that comes with Dell systems.
B.1 How to avoid the Shut-Down problem
One way to avoid the shut-down problem is to request that your system ship with Windows ME. I have found it to be as good or better than Windows 98se, and it doesn't have the shut-down bug. Windows ME also has some recovery utilities that may come in handy. However, read reviews of Windows Me before you get it so you can know if Me is compatible with all of your system's hardware and software.
Also, as soon as your system arrives and you start it, open Norton AntiVirus and make sure the options are set to NOT check the floppy drive for viruses on shut-down.
B.2 How to fix the Shut-Down problem
Here is a link to the MS knowledge base that will help you diagnose your shutdown problem.
http://support.microsoft.com/support/tshoot/w98startup.asp
Here is a link to the shut-down patch for Windows 98se
http://www.microsoft.com/windows98/downloads/contents/
WURecommended/q260067/Default.asp
Try these links (follow the directions/instructions carefully) and that should help you with your shut-down problem. Also visit the DellTalk forums frequently. The members there can help you out. Finally, follow the advice above about the Norton Antivirus settings.
C. BIOS upgrade needed
The BIOS version (don't worry if you don't know what that means) that shipped with several Dell 4100s was causing problems within the system for many users. A new version of the BIOS was made available for download. To determine what BIOS version you have, when you start your computer immediately hit the 'Delete' key. On screen you should see BIOS version A02 or A03 (hopefully, A03).
C.1 How to avoid the BIOS upgrade problem
****UPDATE: October 14, 2000****
New 4100 systems are shipping with the correct version of the BIOS, which is now BIOS A04. Any purchases after today should not need the BIOS upgrade
C.2 How to fix the BIOS problem
Dell has sent every 4100 owner a BIOS upgrade disk with simple, clear instructions for updating the BIOS. Basically, if you have BIOS version A02 and are experiencing shutdown problems, you simply turn off your system, insert the disk that Dell sent you into the drive, turn on your system and follow the onscreen instructions.
Even though I have BIOS A03, and have not experienced any shutdown problems at all, I was sent the BIOS upgrade (to version A04). However, I do not plan to upgrade my BIOS unless I start to experience problems. If it isn't broken, don't fix it and my system isn't broken.
****End October 13 UPDATE****
D. Windows Me and AOL aren't compatible
With the release of Windows Me, Dell has encountered a new problem that they are attempting to fix. The problem is any version of AOL other than the most recent version will not work properly with Windows Me. In fact, AOL will create havok on your system.
D.1 How to avoid the AOL problem
This one is simple. Don't install AOL. That's right, I highly recommend you find another ISP because I have heard from numerous sources that AOL can cause all sorts of problems with any system. Now before all you AOL users NR this review, let me add that I can even help you avoid the problem AND STILL have AOL. To do that, you need to download the most recent version of AOL. A quote from the DellTalk web site states...
The only workaround at this time to resolve Windows Millennium shutdown problems after using the AOL software is to download the newest version of AOL version 5 from AOL directly (build 204.34) and install it on your system.
So if you plan to use AOL on your system, don't have Dell install it because they may not use the most recent version. Wait until your system arrives and install it yourself
How to fix the AOL problem.
I would recommend that you uninstall AOL and find another ISP (see my reviews of American Express Online if you like). If you want to keep using AOL, you will have to get the newest version. However, your current version may be affecting your system and here is another quote from the DellTalk web site that may help.
Both problems are currently being researched, and will likely be resolved with the next release of the AOL software.
If AOL requires two connection attempts consistently, go into START | SETTINGS | CONTROL PANEL | SYSTEM | Device Manager, open the Network category, and disable the "AOL Dialup Adapter" (not the "AOL Adapter").
After doing this, you will want to go download the new AOL. Furthermore, as I suggest in part 2 of this three part review, you should visit the DellTalk forums for yourself to learn even more about your system.
One last thing before you install AOL 5 to make AOL compatable with Windows Me. I have heard of people have numerous problems with AOL 5. So read reviews of AOL 5 before you install it to decide if you really want to do that. Overall, remember that problems you experience as a result of Windows Me and/or AOL are Microsoft's and AOL's fault, not Dell's. Dell technicians will try to help you resolve any problems, but ultimately may have to send you to MS or AOL.
3. Overall thoughts regarding these problems
If you own a Dell 4100 that has had these problems, I can only imagine the frustration you are experiencing. Dell never should have let the cooling fan out of their factory, and even though the other issues are software issues, Dell should have been aware of them and handled them before shipping the system to the buyer. I honestly believe Dell dropped the ball on this. However, I also think that Dell has picked the ball back up and is running with it. New systems are shipping with the correct BIOS and will soon ship with an improved fan. Windows ME resolves the other problems. From the DellTalk forums, it is clear that many of the Dell 4100s were lemons that possibly could have been fixed, but got out of hand. I believe that the new 4100s will be a safe bet once Dell resolves all of these issues BEFORE sending it out of their factory.
4. Whether you should buy a Dell 4100
The Dell 4100 is the mid-line of the Dell series. If you go up to an 8100, you will pay a few hundred dollars more. If you go down to an L-series, you will pay less, but get less machine. I think the 4100 series fits a nice niche of users who don't want low-end computers, but can't shell out the bucks for a top-of-the-line system. The 4100 HAD some problems, but Dell is solving those problems as fast as possible. I think if you are willing to wait until after October to buy, AND you are willing to verify certain aspects of your system before you buy, then you will be able to purchase a Dell 4100 with confidence that it will be working for you for several years to come (provided you don't put a cat in it).
Wow! I apologize for this review being so long. I hope I have provided some useful information to you if you own or are considering owning a Dell 4100. I will continue to keep this review updated with any new information I learn about this series.
This concludes (thank God) this three-part review of my Dell purchase experience.
Part 1: "5 Ways to Save When You Buy at Dell."
http://recommended.epinions.com/cmd-review-B23-7294546-39ADBB3F-prod2
Part 2: "What you Should Do Before (and After) You Buy a Dell."
http://recommended.epinions.com/cmd-review-5D83-479C6F1-39B1258B-prod1
Good luck with your Dell!
Bret (DrDad)
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 1066
Operating System: Windows
Processor: Intel Pentium III
Processor speed: 701-800
RAM: 128
Internal Storage: CD-ROM
Hard Drive (GB): 9-12
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