m6400 problem - typical of my luck.

Some of you MAY know that I bought a 17" Alienware in Aug 2007 and got it dead on arrival a month later. Then it came back with a different problem. They proceeded to build me 2 more machines with the same problem. 6 months later, I gave up. Wasnt happy enough with anything out till this Dell (or the HP8730 but decided on this Dell (m6400))

I got my machine Monday - 2 weeks ahead of the scheduled delivery date.
I went to install a 2nd hard drive that Tuesday night. I immediately found the 2 screws that hold the back cover to have broken threads after I took those screws out (thread pieces from the holes, not the screws). Those 2 screws wouldnt go back in tightly cause the threads were stripped. Called Tuesday night. They sent a guy to my house today to fix it.

Now anyone thats taken a good look at these 2 screws (that sit under the battery and hold the back panel on), but they screw into the whole internal framing piece that EVERYTHING ATTACHES to.

So the guy they sent had to completely disassemble my computer inside. I mean EVERYTHING came apart. He had not worked on these laptops before either and had to call dell to get help taking it apart. (mainly regarding the strip above the keyboard).

So he put it back together, and we booted it up and made sure it worked fine. (seemed fine)

I get to work and plug it in and boot it up and notice the computer wont recognize the power supply being the correct voltage now (this has to do with the little pin you see inside the connector on the power cord).
I take out and put in the cable in the back of the machine and find sometimes it recognizes it, and sometimes it doesnt - but when it doesnt, the battery wont charge and it clocks down in speed cause it doesnt think its getting the right voltage.
I call them and they are sending someone out Monday (hopefully) to put in a new motherboard (where the recieving power connector end lives).

After my horrible alienware experience last year, I am very paranoid that I have a bum machine now. But at the same time, last year, getting a total of 3 machines built for me NEVER got me a properly working machine.
So I have less than 20 days in my "return" period and will get this fix Monday but I dont know what to do.


So do I:

1. Have them return this and build a machine again?

pro - new machine, not dissasembled like mine. New 20 days to return.

con - who knows what NEW problem new machine may have. May be delayed to even get it considering the wait some here are going through. May not be able to get my 30% discount that my coupon was for on 2nd build - not sure

or

2. Have them do this fix Monday and hope for the best while they are taking apart my machine a 2nd time.

Pro - new motherboard will likely solve problem as power reciever will be new and board its attached to as well. Much quicker to use machine and not have to wait for a new build.

con - may have new problem from 2nd dissasemble or 2nd problem from orig dissasemble and may not show till my 20 day return term is up.
wont be able to use it much in week after Monday due to holiday and me being out of town.





Any advice. It pretty much feels risky either way considering my Alienware experience. New machine doesnt mean no more problems.

Nothing against the repair guy at all. I think he was careful and competent at his job, But he HADNT worked on one of these and Dell hasnt informed them of any documentation to take these apart. He mentioned this and had to call them for instruction over the phone.

I dont like being the TEST machine for a guys first service call on it.

Again, NOTHING against him at all. I dont consider this HIS fault at ALL.

But any advice is surely welcome.


I dont even want to continue transfering stuff to this. Ive BEEN down this road 3 times with another machine only to have to return them all.
Here I am, once again, in Laptop Limbo.
Sorry for the long post and thanks for any help or advice you may have.

 

Oh dear,I really feel for you.

I would personally let the tech come and change the parts needed,as you say he was careful,which is the biggest thing imo.

The not having manuals bit,is a bit of a lamo excuse though,as far as I know,the DCSE manuals are available for the tech's to download,well before the model is released and its really up to him to have his act sorted out when he gets a job for a particular model....very poor organisation on his part imho.

 

Try explaining your situation and ask for a new machine (not a refurb) with the proviso you can keep the current machine until it arrives (assuming it is useable) and that you want a fresh 20 day return should the new machine not be acceptable.

If they don't want to give you a new machine simply tell them you'll return the current one and buy the HP. If you aren't happy don't keep the machine. You have paid a lot of money, coupon or no coupon, and the machine should be fit for purpose.

 

You could try the A01 BIOS update. One of the issues it corrected was properly detecting the power supply.

 

well thats interesting cause the night before I got it fixed, I DID install that bios update. But I had no problems before it got fixed and put back together.

 

Absolutely agree. This is Dell's top of the line. You could also ask for 30 day return garantee from time of repair.