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M4800 Owner's Thread

Discussion in 'Dell Latitude, Vostro, and Precision' started by changt34x, Oct 29, 2013.

  1. M.J.S.

    M.J.S. Notebook Consultant

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    Not that I would have any idea, but just for reference: What BIOS version and machine config are you running?
     
  2. scrlk

    scrlk Notebook Consultant

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    Hi M.J.S.

    Running UEFI rev A07 here as A09 causes the double keypress problem.

    i7 4800MQ
    8GB RAM
    FirePro M5100
    500GB hybrid
    1920x1080 screen
     
  3. M.J.S.

    M.J.S. Notebook Consultant

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    Too bad you cannot go with the latest BIOS. I was wondering if the currently available A08 could be any different from the previously released and then pulled A09, but I would expect it to be the same.

    You could also check the firmware version of your hybrid drive—with Seagate, there were serious problems with pre-DEM6; but since you have gotten your machine fairly recently, the likelihood of your having older firmware is slim.

    Some people with older Dells with the same problem as yours reported some improvement after they updated their optical drive’s firmware. I haven’t looked for a newer one for my drive, so I can’t assess a chance of one being available.

    Ditto for every possibly updatable component of your system. ;)

    I suppose you did try to run extensive hardware tests? Like the pre-boot diagnostics and the like?
    However, since it happens when you move your computer, the likely cause could be some loose part somewhere, or worse, some tiny mechanical defect in a part.
    Do you run on battery when moving your machine? (As could be expected…) Isn’t there any problem with its contacts or anything?
    Others reporting the same problem with various older Dells did not usually mention any causality with moving their machines, if I’m not mistaken. It seems it would happen to them at random.

    Just taking guesses…

    But, you know, if the problem is easily reproducible, shouldn’t you just claim warranty? :eek:
    A computer switching itself off is not normal, right?
     
  4. scrlk

    scrlk Notebook Consultant

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    I'll try A08 and report back.

    I've run the pre-boot diags, no problem there. I've seen reports of this problem being linked to RAM, so when I have the time, I'll give memtest86+ a run. When I move the machine, it's running on battery but there is no play or movement in the mechanism.

    The problem can be reproduced easily, but I'm kinda burnt out on dealing with Dell at the moment, trust me, the amount of stress when dealing with my old E6540 is not something I want to repeat again.

    EDIT: Had 3 shutdowns today when moving the laptop.

    UEFI reported 'battery removed' messages, so it's likely there's some sort of contact failure happening.
     
  5. Forge64

    Forge64 Notebook Consultant

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    Get Dell to service it. I don't have experience with this issue with the M4800 specifically, but on other models Dell would make a dozen trips and replace one of everything before the ASF2 Force Off errors stopped.

    Sorry for the bad news. More and more, I think I'm going white box/System76/Clevo next time I need a new laptop.
     
  6. scrlk

    scrlk Notebook Consultant

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    Ugh...sounds like I'm quite f****** in that case then. Going to phone up Dell tomorrow and see what they say, seems like this machine might be desk bound until I've got time to get it serviced.

    Support is something that puts me off from those white box machines, at least with Dell I know I can get a tech out next day if need be.
     
  7. M.J.S.

    M.J.S. Notebook Consultant

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    Sorry for asking this, but just to make sure: You did try the obvious, like taking the battery out and putting it back in? Or inspecting its contacts for any visible problem? Or (with the machine switched off) checking that the battery sits tightly and isn’t loose, not even a tiny bit? (I’m not sure what you meant with ‘there is no play or movement in the mechanism’…)
    EDIT: Especially when you lift the computer but not flip it over, so that the battery is pulled by gravity, is it not loose at all when you push it a little? (You might need three hands to do this. ;))
    Or that, when you take the battery out and shake it a little, you cannot sense any tiny movement or looseness inside nor hear any faint clicking or anything?

    Again, just taking guesses.
     
  8. scrlk

    scrlk Notebook Consultant

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    There's no play in the battery mechanism, I've checked and reseated the battery. Contacts look fine as well.

    Out of curiosity, I knocked on the palm rest where the battery resides. This triggered a shut down.
     
  9. scrlk

    scrlk Notebook Consultant

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    Just got off the phone to Dell, they want to send out a tech to do a motherboard and battery replacement...not good. Board replacement will take an hour or more to do, and scheduling is rather right.

    Lost the state of a VM when I moved my machine to another desk this morning as well. :mad:
     
  10. M.J.S.

    M.J.S. Notebook Consultant

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    Good luck then. Hopefully, the replacement and reassembly will make the problem go away.
     
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