I have been in long contact with Dell support. So far they have been unable to fix it. We have made sure that the port is enabled however everything keeps coming up that it cannot detect the device. We have made sure that the ESATA cord is OK. The last thing they want me to do before "replacing the MB" is to test with a different external SATA device. That makes sense to rule out the problem isn't with the HD but I don't have another eSATA device. Their solution? Go and buy one - right!!!! They said I could test with it and then return it. Doesn't sound quite ethical to me but I am in the process of doing just that. If they find that they need to replace the MB am I within my rights to ask for a replacement computer instead. You know, they send me one and I pack the old one in the box and send it back. The only problem with this is the hassle of reloading all my programs.

sounds like they're passing the buck to me. did you pay for the extended service plan? If not, that could be why.

Brand new computer. Shouldn't be an extended plan worry yet.

I'd ask them to send you an alternate E SATA drive to purchase and return - they should be willing to since it's their suggestion.

On the other hand - are all the internal SATA ports used in the MB? If not - open the case and plug it into one of them and see if it's recognized. If they are all used, unplug one that's not required (DVD as an example) - some motherboards require than one be open to enable the E Sata - I had an MSI board with exactly that requirement on my last system.

If you are replacing the MB - and its the same board - you don't need to replace your progams - it should fire up and run with no problems.

Brand new computer. Shouldn't be an extended plan worry yet

you normally have an option to purchase better non-extended support too with that (sometimes part).

My dad has a similar issue: the wanted him to take the laptop apart & see if the CPU fan was broken. He asked me about it. I told him that he should NOT need to do that, you PAYED for them to fix it with the extended. He told them he can't do it so they paid for it to be sent away.

so say you can't do that, they need to do it.

Well, I purchased another eSATA drive and connected it up and had the same problem. So it doesn't look like it is the drive, looks like it is the box. Dell did some additional testing last night, mostly repeats of what was done before, and then decided taht I needed to have the MoBo replaced. They are sending a tech out to my house to do it.

Just to update this problem. Dell sent me a new MoBo and sent a technician to install it. After the work that took we stilol had the same problem. It looks like the Dell 435 MT is a piece of junk, at jeast concerning the eSATA port. IT DOES NOT WORK.

Well then, that's kind of THEIR problem.
Get onto one of your local PC fora, our local overclockers one is very good but not much use to you. Our one has a Dell guy on it who keeps us up to date with all the latest special offers and takes care of any problems.
You're far more likely to stir up action on that kind of forum or even Dell's own forum than you will here. I'd be very surprised if Dell don't do the right thing and get this working not just for you but anyone buying the same PC, selling a unit that has a design flaw like this has to be a PR disaster.

Bob.

Terry, many MOBOs share a SATA port with the external - if all the internal SATA ports are used up- try unplugging one of them to something non-essential - like a DVD ROM - and see if you ESATA fires up - Normally is the last SATA port that's shared - they should be numbered on the board - unplug the one with the highest number if they are all full if you have a choice.

I have the same system with a black ice external esata adapter . works on a naother machine but not the dell.
Cuious too.... WTF