Dell Inspiron 17R SE 7720

I received a 17R SE a week ago and...tomorrow I am calling in and sending it back.

It turned out that every time I start up the laptop there is a strange sound coming from the subwoofer. Initially it would be like a short pop repeating randomly but sometimes it would just hiss for a while. It was quite noticeable. Browsing or starting up programs would cause the same things randomly. I called the technical support and got a technician change the motherboard - no change. I was left with the explanation that it is a driver problem (Windows 7 Ultimate, latest BIOS, latest drivers).

I am unsure whether it is directly connected to the problem but running programs like Everest, Speedfan, GPU-Z or any other software that tries to read the sensors would cause the system to freeze (in the intervals of the software updating sensor readings). I would play a song (regardless of player) and the song would freeze, hearing a loud Buzz for a second.


Moreover I am totally disgusted by Dell's design - the keyboard is held down by 4 plastic extensions under the palmrest which are now loose (after opening the laptop 2 times, extra carefully) and the keyboard is wobbling around. No screws to properly fix it to the laptop. Additionally the keyboard is not fitting the palmrest tightly but has 0.5-1 mm of space around it.


Has anyone had these issues? Is it just me or is this laptop a piece of ****?

 

I got a 7720 se, a week ago also. No problems here. I am quite happy with the new machine.

How did you get a 7720 with Windows 7? There were no options for any other OS, when I ordered.

I'm running Windows 8, I was quite pleased with it after learning the just of it.


Rob

 

Ouch, thats a bummer OP. I also have windows 8 and I LOVE this thing. It's rock solid with no sound issues at all. If you have win 7 on it is it a dell outlet model? I have read other people in the Sept-Oct range of buying the 7720 have sound issues, it might be a MB problem or win 7 or maybe a combination of both?

 

I had a spare copy of Win 7.

Nope, it was supposed to be a new one. It was a common problem according to the tech who came home - this was not the first motherboard to be replaced. However as the new MB has the same problem the guess now is that it is the DC power jack or the charger.

The technical support guy was surprised - according to him the problem was solved in the new "batch".

...so reading the sensors on Win 8 doesn't cause issues?

 

I got a new 17R SE a few weeks ago & the MB was defective on arrival. After a replacemetn & fix of some BIOS issues, all seems to work fine. The fan only comes on when busy & is not too noisy, but I noticed that cleaning it will be a pain, as you have to get down to MB level! Overall I am now happy with my Inspiron, as it compares well in spec/price with XPS & Alienware machines.

 

An update: the strange hissing sound came up this morning when I entered BIOS and went on for 1-2 minutes. Definitely not a driver problem.

...and after cleaning it a few times you will need to replace the plastics - mine is squeaking already.