Problems with my new XPS M1530

This is my first post here and I've been lurking the forums for a couple of weeks now and I want to thank all the people who've made so many useful posts. I received my XPS laptop some 2 weeks ago and here are my thoughts about it:

Pros
1. It was elegant, light and is made of much nicer materials than my older Inspiron 6400. It's a great design.
2. Love the HDMI option, the slot load DVD drive, and fingerprint reader.
3. The ergonomic placement of all the ports--none at the back!
4. The multimedia remote.
5. The direct boot to Dell Media Direct is very cool.

Cons
1. Bad speakers - but I can let this go as this was obviously a symptom of the miniaturization.
2. A disappointing touchpad. The Synaptics touchpad on my Inspiron is SO much better.
3. The volume media controls are faaaar too slow to respond. Incredibly annoying.
4. My AU Optronics screen - uneven lighting and somewhat grainy.

My Problem

I've been getting BSODs right from day one. My computer is very unstable right now and I can't figure out what's causing all these BSODs. After multiple repairs and recoveries, Vista just doesn't seem right. It's still susceptible to BSODs and programs keep crashing inexplicably. And there are colour inversions on the Windows logo at startup.

So I think my only course of action now is to do a reinstall. Could someone direct me to a guide?

Also, can hardware defects cause BSODs? Should I consider returning this laptop?

Thank you all for you help.

 

Since you said it's only about two weeks since you had it, call up Dell and let them know that you're M1530 is freezing up a lot (BSOD) and that the screen is grainy. What they will do is send you a brand new M1530 (if you're within the 21 day period, else you get a refurb) and when you receive it, send the old one back. BSOD on day one should have been a red flag that something is wrong with your system. I've had mine for about a month now and never had a BSOD or freeze. BTW, hopefully they send it to you NEXT DAY AIR. They did that for me when my first M1530 has some cosmetic defects. If not, kinda ask for it and hopefully they'll do that for you too!

 

^Thanks for your response. Your suggestion is very persuasive, and I think I might do just that. I'll just wait for a second opinion before I make a decision. I think I'm still within the 21 day period.

 

The BSOD is not a XPS problem. BSOD's dont happen because of hardware. they happen because of software. Its probably because you installed something incorrectly or its compatible with your OS, esp if you have 4gb of ram and are on a 64bit OS.

About the screen its a common problem. Contact dell support and depending on the warranty that you have, they will give you a new screen.

 

sterr - I'm running 32 bit Vista and I really haven't installed anything out of the ordinary on my computer. Like I said, I had problems from the first day and the only thing I had installed then was Firefox. There was nothing else.

Could there have been an error in the factory installation of Vista or the drivers? Are you sure BSODs don't happen because of hardware? I've observed that overheating causes BSODs sometimes, isn't that a hardware related failure? Thanks for your help.

 

thats exactly what u should do.
dell usually give u a better configured comp to replace the defective one.

 

BSOD is blue screen??
if yes, could be your ram... if is not a soft problem sure is the ram, try running the test u have on the startup, i don't remember wich F## option was, u got the setup one, and another one, hint the another one, and the latest option of the list should be a hard test, it takes long, but just hang on, if you get an error, write it down, and call support!!

Hope you can fix this out asap =(

 

I didn't mention this earlier, but I'm already in the process of getting my screen replaced. Dell agreed and I'm currently playing cellphone tag with the domestic Dell tech. who keeps changing dates on me.

I had figured this problem with the BSOD (weiser - that's Blue Screen Of Death) would sort itself out since I'd had similar problems with XP on my old Inspiron until it started working perfectly one day. But this problem has gotten progressively worse. My Dell customer service guy incharge of my screen replacement issue called me just now and I told him about the BSODs. He told me to send him details from my reliability and performance monitor. I did and I'm waiting to hear back from him. The fact that I've got the ball rolling with the screen replacement issue complicates asking for a replacement computer. Anyway, let's see what he says.

Here's what my performance and reliability monitor looks like.

i33(dot)tinypic(dot)com/35ndauq(dot)jpg

(sorry, the site won't let me post images or urls yet)

The period of stability you see in the middle was only because I was out of town and not using the computer.

 

ouch... sorry mate.. but try the test, it's a wonderfull test, and will test every single hard on ur xps.. if you'r xps has any hardware problem that test will show what, and wich error, with that dell has nothing to say just change you'r xps.

goooo for it!

 

Yeah do the hardware test. But i'm almost certain it will come out clean. Even the error report log shows that its a software problem. It might be vista was installed improperly but i'm pretty sure that dell just copys images onto the harddrives and doesnt manually install vista to all of them. Try reinstalling Vista...see if that helps. even do a clean install (search the forum).

But to spare yourself the headache, get a new machine from dell

 

I would make sure you have all the latest drivers and all the Vista hotfixes. Did Dell install Vista with the service pack?

 

That is not a true statement, I have seen plenty of PC's give BSOD from faulty hardware, bad sticks of RAM, bent pins, even loose connections to the motherboard can cause a BSOD.

If your withing the 21 day period absolutely get a new replacement, you didn't pay all that money to have a malfunctioning laptop

 

wrong!

you're RAM might be the problem that causing BSOD....and RAM is part of your XPS hardware.

peace of advise, after you do clean install and update all vista and dell software, install RollbackRx8.1 (google it and find what is rollbackrx) before you install some of your software (games, application, etc.)

it will make your life more easier and will save your precious time when you encounter another BSOD due to software and hardware problem.

 

bsod caused by bad ram? thats ridiculous!
anyone ever experienced this? or even heard of this?

"checking ram for bsod problem" is what those clueless service ppl reading from repair manuals.

 

This is a rediculous statement, I work in IT at a large company and I have seen several PC's blue screen from bad RAM and one blue screen from a bent pin on the bus the RAM plugs in to. You know how I knew it was bad RAM? Take one stick out and PC works fine, put other stick in and take first one out and PC bluescreens every time. Take that bad stick and pop it in a different PC and bam..BSOD on that one...RAM can absolutely cause a blue screen just google it if you don't believe us.

 

Yes. Blue screens can be caused by faulty hardware. Most cases are from memory-related errors (bad RAM or dying hard drive). Others can be more serious - dead fans, or even physical damage to the motherboard or video card.

Don't be so quick to call people clueless, since it seems that you might be a bit yourself.

 

BSOD maybe caused by potential failure of the hardware. The hardware works during POST when you turned the computer on but gets fleaky because of bad connection, heat, etc. If the hardwar is bad, the BIOS should have detected after POST and your computer should not even bootup. Most BSOD is caused by software and device drivers.

 

you clueless of what you're posting!

even your USB slot on your PC can cause BSOD!

 

Everyone, thank you for your response. I think the logical thing to do right now is to get it replaced. rhody, you're right, I didn't pay all this money to have a malfunctioning laptop. I shouldn't have to do a fresh install.

I've also had some more huge BSOD failures when it wouldn't even go into Repair without a blue screen. Then I unplugged my computer and it finally went into repair. Maybe it's my power adapter that's causing this. Anyway, I couldn't be bothered to find out. I shouldn't have to deal with this on a spanking new computer. I think I've shown enough patience.

I've emailed the Dell tech in charge of my screen replacement issue about this, and I've asked him for a replacement. I expect to hear from him soon. If they don't agree, that seems like a clear breach of the warranty claims made by Dell.

And thanks for clarifying that hardware issues can cause BSODs. XPSboy, I'll be sure to install RollbackRx8.1 on my replacement laptop.

 

Just as the other 2 quotes you had, i work on IT 2, and i saw severals BSOD couse of defective ram.

 

That's the reason why you buy a good quality ram. Your BIOS should have detected a bad ram and computer should have hung up at POST. I guess you turned off a full test at bootup.

 

I have the same problem with my AUO screen http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?p=4072873#post4072873