Dell Precision M4800 Bluescreen (BSOD) nightmare

Hello,
I'd like to share my experience with my new purchased M4800 (with basic business support). I received my M4800 on 3.10. It had Windows 7 preinstalled. When I turned it on the first time, Windows 7 started and I supplied the user information. Then the desktop settings were initialized and it came to the first Bluescreen (DRIVER_POWER_STATE_FAILURE). The system rebooted and I could continue. Windows did its updates, I installed some programs and after a while, Bluescreen again.

What also annoyed me was a periodic sound (app. every minute) from the optical drive. (Also reported here http://forum.notebookreview.com/del...ed-mobile-precision-m6800-49.html#post9399466 and here http://forum.notebookreview.com/del...ed-mobile-precision-m6800-52.html#post9401241).

I first thought it's coming from the HDD (500BG Hybrid). Since I had the Bluescreens I ran some tests and with SeaTools for Windows the hard drive was found to be faulty right at the start of the "short test". Dell Support send me a new hard drive. I put an image of the original HDD onto the new one, ran the SeaTools test again and the HDD failed with the same error. Bluescreens kept on coming. I was told to update or re-install drivers from the Dell site. Still Bluescreens.

Then I was told to put the Dell Recovery image from the recovery partition onto the notebook. So same procedure again. Bluescreen, Windows updates, Bluescreen, install new drivers from Dell site, Bluescreens!

All Dell tests didn't show a hardware problem. In the meantime I had already spent many frustrating hours with the new malfunctioning M4800. One of Dell supporters then told me that since there is nothing wrong with the hardware (as shown by the tests) he could only pass me on to software support, which I'd have to pay for. I'd like to remind that the notebook has shown the first Bluescreen out of the box and had never been functioning.

I called Dell support again and I was passed on to another Dell supporter. By then I had encountered up to 16 Bluescreens. He wanted to check my system in a webex meeting. While doing so, Bluescreen! He then told me to install Windows again from DVD, since the Recovery partition on my HDD might have the same problem as my original installation. I did so and spent again many hours going through Windows install, Windows update and driver install. Now I have a fresh new system, no programs installed but Firefox and Acrobat Reader. The M4800 keeps crashing with DRIVER_POWER_STATE_FAILURE. I informed the Dell support guy of the outcome of his suggestion this morning but I didn't receive an answer today.

The optical drive is also still making this regular annoying sound. Some people reported in the above mentioned post that they could get rid of the optical drive noise with the A03 bios update. I can see the bios update on the Dell support driver page for the M4800, however, it isn't shown to me for my Service Tag.

I've reported the first problems on 7.10. and today, ten days later I still can't use the notebook. Needless to say, I'm very disappointed by Dell, Support practice and the M4800 workstation notebook.

Anyone with a M4800 having similar Bluescreen problems?

Michael

 

with qhd+ screen?

 

no, normal display

 

Return it, while you can.

 

I was thinking the same thing.

 

I agree with everyone else. And with my experience with returns, they often offer you up to 20-25% of the value to keep the system. If you get that, you can then talk to support and get a new replacement and hopefully all is well.

 

Update the BIOS to A03.

 

Somewhere I thought he had already done this. Really can't throw in the towel until it is tried, and it only takes a few minutes.

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Edit:

And Dell's site is always on the fritz, don't worry about that service tag problem.

 

I would return or exchange.

 

Hi,

Any updates on your situation? I'm about to purchase a 4800 my self and I'm interested in your development.

Found this...

How to Fix a Driver Power State Failure in Windows 8? - Windows 8 - Tutorials

It's for win8 but if you search "power state driver failure" they all point to the same process load in safe mode remove drivers... Re-install drivers. If your still getting an issue then I'd suspect the dell drivers are the issue.

Good luck