Do NOT purchase Alienware m14x -- Nightmare

After 8 days of my computer being at the Dell repair depot, and then spending 15 hours on the phone with 9 different customer service representatives, I am told that the Alienware M14x is INCOMPATIBLE WITH MCAFEE ANTIVIRUS SOFTWARE that was SOLD BY DELL WITH MY SYSTEM and that is the reason my computer is getting random shutdowns and BSOD's even after they repaired/replaced the HDD, MLB, and restored the OS.

At this point, I want to return the M14x as I have had this laptop for 4 months (purchased in early September 2011) and it has worked properly for MAYBE one month. They will not take the P.O.S. computer I paid over $2,000 dollars for back of course. So can I at least exchange this stupid computer for an Alienware that is not a pile of dog crap like M17x or M18x and pay the difference?

Seriously Dell?

 

Maybe it does not work for you, every electronic device are prone to error. As for my M14x, it has nothing wrong except for the medium heating issue, anything else it is perfect for a 14" laptop. If you already use it over 1 month, then dont expect that Dell will agree to to exchange to a better laptop even you agree to add more money over it as said in the warranty and return agreement when you first bought the laptop. However you might be able to get them to give you some discount if you haggle them enough.

 

LOL.

I paid over $2,000 for a laptop that only worked for about the first 21 days and then started randomly shutting down and having hardware failures.

I don't need a better laptop. If I spend like $2,400 on the laptop ALONE, then you better sell me a working product or take it the back.

Instead Dell Support has had me do system restores and driver re-installs like 5 times already, not to mention I sent it in to the Dell repair depot.

I am owed a functioning laptop. Period. 15 hours on the phone and 8 days in the repair depot and it still is having the same problem.

 

$2000 is a lot for the m14x. Along the lines where the performance per dollar ratio drops a lot. Sorry this happened to you and you had to go through this. But for 2000, you can get a greatly equipped m17x, especially since the gtx 580m and the 6990m are both 225. You can add the 1080p screen, gtx 580m, or go over budget a little and add the discounted 256gb ssd drive for 150. That'd be a totally better value for the price you paid. (1599 dollar m17x with those add ons)

Either that or ask for a brand new m14x.

 

I paid 1900$ for my m14x with tax + 3 year accidental and I didn't have a problem until I started overheating in December. The system would just shutdown from too much heat, I was getting 95 on the GPU sometimes, even without an overclock. I sprayed it with compressed air and bam: My temps overclocked never went above 60 on the GPU (Skyrim maxed 775/1080)

So I think there's a fix to everything. If norton, a simple program, was the only thing causing hundreds of problems, why not try a different software?

 

Oh you're not the one who paid a lot of money, I paid $3,000 NZD which is around 2,700USD in that time, and if you return in within that 30 days, then it is guarantee new laptop. Have you try asking them to send in a replacement? Or is it this is your 2nd/3rd replacement?

And like I said, this is maybe just because of you who unlucky enough or your laptop as you can see a few owner here also report that they dont really have that sort of problem (or it is not yet happen), in fact you're not the only one who has this problem, many many other has this and also rant about this as well, so I'm sorry to see you having problem. Oh btw, I know that you're angry and frustrated but let try just keep it G rate, and the F word is not welcome here.

I also play Skyrim and also OC the GPU, I used to use the 800/1600 setting but because of I've been getting a lot more BSOD due to GPU overheat so I lower the speed to 780/1560 and it rarely to never overheat since then, the ave max is 85C, and I'm on Custom setting (high on most, ultra for texture). For Antivirus program, I use Microsoft Security Essential with the combination of Malwarebytes AM, and it goes very well, since MSE will catch those MBAM does and vice versa. So I'd suggest you might want to try that, plus the best of that is the two program is free, though MBAM has paid version but the free version is pretty got all you need.

 

Really it's Mcafee, Mcafee didn't make it compatible. Not Dell. And I think they put on a Mcafee offer on all of the products they have, although they should have done more testing to make sure it WAS compatible. Although, Security Essentials is just as good and it's free. So if I was you, ask for the refund on the Mcafee and then just use Security Essentials.

 

I agree 100%. First thing i do when i buy a new laptop is take the crappy anti virus off and replace it with microsoft security essentials

 

my m14x works perfect with kapsky

 

For me, first thing I do is the deactivate the key of the McAfee so then the 15 month license will never be use then I install MSE+MBAM. And you can deactivate the license by register a new account with McAfee using that 15 month key then deactivate the key in the My Account section, after you recieve a confirmation email from McAfee, then it's done. It is good if you have plan to sell the laptop later like what I planning to do in the next few month, then you can get the price a bit higher for that reason, as it work for me a few times.

 

wow...you paid $2K for a m14? I paid 200 less for a m17x with 6990m and 1080p screen.

AND, McAfee is crap. It isn't the laptop. Dell should have known better, but they were probably comp'ed large to use Mcafee. I would never in a million years use Mcafee when there are better free alternatives like Comodo. But i guess you've learned the hard way this time around

 

I would point to McAfee as your issue, I cant believe people still install that resource hog that just bogs down your machine. Use Eset, Kapersinky, or any of the recommends from this site.

Why would you install and want to have it on your machine is beyond me. I will never ever install McAfee on a good machine again that I use. Its pure crapware that just wrecks the power and usefulness of your computer.

I am sorry you got cruddy customer service. It happens alot recently with Dell. I had to have my Alienware repaired, it was randomly shutting down, but turns out that was the battery issue/plug issue and after the updates it helped correct alot of that.

When I called for help to Alienware, I actually got transferred to someone very helpful and very interested in getting my machine back up and running. It all depends on who you get.

I also got a really bad tech for my Alienware M11x who refused to send someone to my house and instead wanted me to ship the system to them even though I had complete care and couldnt find my service tag and just didnt care to understand the problem. Your experience will vary though.

However if you really dont like the machine and are still in the return window, send it back. The M14x is a very powerful machine when tweaked and portable. Its not the M18 or m17 in terms of power, but its a great size for the power.

If I were to reorder a machine, i would get an M18 or M17 even though they are bigger, having a seperate video card makes more sense to me versus the M14x set up. I love the size and portability of the M14, but its just not super future proof, or easy to upgrade. However I can run all the current games just fine, save for Metro as I have not tried that.

So in essence, McAfee sucks, and sometimes you get crappy tech support. I think your machine was trying to tell you something by not running McAfee, as in, omg, dont put that in my hard drive!!!!!

 

Ok so when I get mine and I first boot it up, it will ask me to register to receive the free few months. Then once I do I can close it in the my account bit. That sounds easy. Don't want mine messed up too when It gets here.
Thanks

 

Fallout 4, You rant and cry about the laptop in every post . We know you hate the laptop move along

 

McAfee does not cause hardware defects.

It's the laptop.

 

youve been moaning about the m14x from day 1.
maybe next time do some research first and quit crying on internet forums.

 

It cannot however on some circumstances it will cause the laptop run slowly and it only to fix by removing them thus making people think it is the source of the problem, another is that if you browse through some of the OP's post, most of his/her are about the laptop problem, so it is somewhat clear that it seem like only his laptop is the problem, because most of other owner in here doesnt have those (or it hasnt happen).

Oh btw, I've one more thing I'd like to say, which is the random shutdown and BSODs. I dont believe that the random shutdown is cause by McAfee but cause by the overheat of either CPU or the GPU (GPU is happen alot more for me), and the BSODs, if you want to know what the cause of it, then run this WhoCrashed program, it analyse the crash dump and try to give you to best possible source of problem for you to Google it.

 

I'd bet its not just your m14x, I had exactly the same experience with McAfee. When I removed that from my computer the problems disappeared completely. Now, my last encounter with McAfee was about 6 years ago and I would have thought they'd fixed the problems by now, but regardless I'd never let any McAfee software near any computer of mine -- it was worse than any malware I've ever had.

 

Paid just under $1400 for mine after all the discounts and deals were taken off and I have had zero issues. However I know from past computers that McAfee is a complete resource hog and not worth is download!

Get your laptop back and remove that, maybe even get your money back for the McAfee product. You seem to have quite a few issues here, starting to wonder...

 

I paid $1200 for my m14x removed all bloatware and it has been nothing short of perfect.

 

Same here

 

I agree, the laptop is garbage, Thank you Dell for killing Alienware.

 

wow nice post, also very well explained why you agree trololol

 

He explained why it was terrible in another thread. He had 2 lemons so he returned it and bought a mac.

 

Macs just make me shudder, for the price of a 17" mac book pro i could buy a decent m18x instead

 

if u prefer mac....

so W-T-F are u doing in this forum???

 

Plus it is a DEAD END for Gaming, even with the bootcamp the laptop is not design for gaming so it will not handle the heat very well IMO, and the next 2 thing I dont like is:

1. Overprice: Talking about price, AW also overprice but isnt as overprice as Apple, in fact if you notice ALL Apple product are overprice.

2. Control-Freak: Say good bye to your tweaking, even you cannot change the appearance and theme of the OS, then how you going to do other thing.

For a base-configuration MBP 17 price, you can get like a M17x with 3D and same configuration except for the GPU and still able to save some few hundred buck (NZD and NZ site Only), so it is not worth the money spend since for gaming the 2 most important part was the CPU and the GPU, and you cant choose a new GPU or something, however one thing I'm not sure is if the laptop is even CPU/GPU upgradable like the M17x or not.

 

I uninstalled McAfee on the frist bootup and installed my Avast internet security ;-)

 

Look fellas, I don;t mean to start a PC Vs. Mac argument...in fact it's the last thing I want to do.I'm just very disappointed because aside from all the problems my two M14x's had it is a very nice laptop and I wish it had no problems so that I could keep it. I'm not really a gamer and bought the laptop mostly to do photo and Video editing on.

For the price of what the M14x cost me ( $1,840 ) I got a base 15 inch Macbook Pro. Specs wise it far inferior to how the M14x was tricked out but because of how efficient Mac X is, this laptop actually boots up quicker and after I upgraded to 8GB go 1667mhz DDR3 ram and upgraded my HD to the same 750GB 7200 rpm version from the stock 500GB 5200rpm version, My mac is pretty ugh just as quick.

While I was playing Skyrim on the AW, I realized the switch to a Mac pretty much killed my chances of gaming on a laptop ( Since I do not want to run Windows on it ) but I've never gamed much on my Pc's, reserved that for my 360.

I'm not upset at Microsoft, I'm upset at Dell. They're gone kill the good AW brand name, hell they're well on their way already, and you're right i font be tinkering w the OS as much as you could have down with Windows, but with the way the Lion has worked for me so far, I don't think I'll ever want to.

Here are a couple of reasons I'm happy i witched

1) Sturdier more efficient design- perhaps you guys think Unibody aluminum construction is not a good thing, I think this laptop is sleek, durable and doesn't suffer from the Hardware problems my AW had- i.e. Some keys were sticking, screen came with a permanent mark from the keyboard

2) Holy , is this laptop on???? I don't mind if my laptop is noisy when i'm playing a game, heck i expect that, but why the hell was the AW so noisy when i was just surfing the Web???? I had to download a program to help me turn the fans off and that led to me monitoring the fans and blah in blah...and NO ref lashing to different versions of the BIOS did not help.

3) Battery Life- 2.5 hours with Alienware with a dim screen GPU turned off in favor of Intel all the power saving features on. 6 hours w MAcbook Pro with the screen brightness at 80% doing web browsing and light Raw file conversion in Aperture and Nikon NX2

4) The Screen- I did not upgrade to a better screen on the Mac, so I'm at the same resolution as the upgraded screen on the AW and let me tell you...this screen makes the AW look like the original gameboy.

5) The Glass trackpad w multi touch- How did I ever live w/o it??? Everyone deserves to have a trackpad such as the one on the Macbook pro line and everyone should be able to use the gestures such as what MAc OS X Lion provides, it' just makes my life and workflow complete.

With all that said, I wish I didn't get a run around with Dell, I wish I didn't wait for over a month for a replacement unit, hearing lies after lies of how it's gonnna come next week only to have the ship date change over and over and over again... 4 times to be exact. I wish I didn't get 2 lemons and had an M14x to play around with despite all its imperfections, but I guess I wasn't that lucky and now I switched to a Macbook Pro, sue me.

Also let me just quickly point out that I do own an iPhone and the original iPad just could never pull the trigger on a Mac as my primary computer. But let me tell you once you set up the ICloud and buy into the ecosystem, everything just works and taking a pic on my iPhone and having it pushed to my computer and my tablet almost instantaneously, buying a song and having it on my other devices that minute is really nice. Within 5 minutes of my initial log in, my computer was populated with my 4 various email addresses, all my bookmarks, all my photo stream pics, all my contacts and all my favorite settings. #justsaying

 

my friend has MBP 13 inch and trust me, it has more key marks then alienware. On alienware , i can only see the trackpad line and few keys like 'k','l' etc... But on mbp, its like whole keyboard being printed on screen he keeps a plastic keyboard cover to prevetn permanent marks on mbp. Don't take my word for it but just see it yourself. Saying mbp doesnt have hw problem is a joke. Maybe you have been blessed with a perfect notebook but if you visit a apple store you can see people with all kind of problem.

Alienware has the best CPU cooling in its class.People often overlook the fact that it has quite powerful HW crammed inside this unit. I would rather have a high speed fan keeping this thing cool rather then silent machine which will eventually burnout. Try running windows on macbook and see how hot machine gets on basic work. Now thats apple cooling.

Yea...AW battery sucks. no doubt.

Native resolution of mbp 15inch is 1440X900, how is it same that of AW? and how come it makes AW look like game boy? I might be reading this wrong but what you mean to say is that 1440X900 on mbp is better then 1600X900 on AW? Where did you gather your findings from ?

I rarely use trackpad on my AW. I brought this laptop for gaming and i have mouse for that job. Even for photo editing/music production i would never think of using trackpad- be it synaptics or apple multitouch. You know, those people who brag about how nice multitouch is on macbook are those people who cant find one single good thing about mac to compare with a windows machine.


Seriously, not a single case point you mentioned above makes sense for anybody to switch to apple. Look hard, you might find some real good reason for getting apple - like getting it for free.

you might have your reasons to get an apple but to justify it instead of an AW specially in a group of AW users is like shooting yourself on your foot.Not that apple has any really advantage over windows but you might just off a gamer inside one of the user

 

I believe this thread has run its course and i don't want to see anymore of these versus type of discussions around here.

/closed