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Dell XPS 420 X-Fi Screech
The all new Dell XPS 420 with screeching parts :smileyhappy:
First the PSU now the soundcard. After using the computer for a while the X-Fi will screech and stop outputting sound for a short while. After that it will direct a lot of sound to my subwoofer which means it booms literally! To fix this you have to exit all applications using the audio which means most! Go the control panel and select quad speakers before re-selecting 5.1.
Clearly this is a fault, not being able to install the latest drivers from creative.com don't help that much either. Hopefully Chris or one of the other reps will be able to help out on this one.
So far Dell UK have ignored all attempts to communicate with me and the telephone technical support is erm rubbish...
Toronto699
1.7K Posts
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June 1st, 2008 22:00
paulbeattie87
241 Posts
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June 1st, 2008 23:00
Hmm... Going to have to speak to Dell UK about this. Does anybody know an easy way? To say they have taken my money and then run away into hiding is an understatement. Tried calling their UK HQ and got no response at all, calling their customer service number you get somebody who really doesn't understand what you want and either puts you to sales or the wrong technical department.
Had a look on the Creative forums to see that Creative have been fobbing their customers off since 2006 with lame excuses blaming various other companies and not really taking ownership. Not entirely sure why Dell have sold me this computer which clearly has a faulty soundcard
Off to e-mail their support department and wait for the reply. Last time it was 3 weeks before they finally got back to me.
DELL-Chris M
Community Manager
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54.3K Posts
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June 2nd, 2008 19:00
All,
* We sell three X-Fi sound cards:
Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeMusic (D)
Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeMusic (D) (Vista only)
Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer (D)
* Have you tried all of the available Dell drivers, even the XtremeGamer drivers?
XtremeMusic drivers
3-05-07, Vista, Creative Labs Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeMusic (D), v.RC2, WebA00
6-15-06, XP, Creative Labs Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeMusic (D), v.RC2.1, Web A02
6-01-06, XP, Creative Labs Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeMusic (D), v.RC3.0, Web A03
10-14-05, XP, Creative Labs Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeMusic (D), v.RC1, Web A00
XtremeGamer drivers
10-16-07, Multi OS, Creative Labs Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer, v.RC2.0, WebA01-00 <ADMIN NOTE: Broken link has been removed from this post by Dell>
6-27-07, Creative Labs Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer, v.RC1.0, A00-00
* Has the X-Fi been replaced by us?
vangink14
5 Posts
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June 2nd, 2008 19:00
vangink14
5 Posts
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June 2nd, 2008 22:00
DELL-Chris M
Community Manager
Community Manager
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54.3K Posts
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June 3rd, 2008 14:00
I have next day business support, and when I asked why they could not send someone to fix the machine, I was told if they couldn't figure out what was wrong, how could they send someone to fix it, I kid you not...well, lets see...it screeches, it freezes, it acts erratic, umm, aren't those things that are 'wrong'??
* Simply put, we do not send a technician out to troubleshoot. They only go out to replace a defective part. That is what the warranty covers. You and I (or support) have to troubleshoot to ascertain the defective part.
* Reinstall this driver and restart the PC
* The WMI errors have nothing to do with the sound card. That is two different issues. What are the specific WMI errors?
* List all of the software you added to the PC.
vangink14
5 Posts
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June 3rd, 2008 23:00
In response to you stating that it is up to 'us' to troubleshoot...I have called several times...if I cannot get a tech to figure out what is wrong, that means I suffer??? Half the problem there is the language barrier and the tech's favorite answer of lets erase and start over...um, NO!
As for the WMI errors...
WMI provider host stopped working...
As for software, what difference does that make?? The problems with this PC have been from almost day one...so software has been loaded, but the problems preceded them...early programs would be CS3 and CorelPainterX...both are up to date and have been approved to work with Vista...
You also skipped over the aprt that this sytem came without a service tag attached...somehow, I find that unsettling...and the fact that tech support tried to tell me the system did not exist...what gives with that?? Seriously, do you think Dell Financial would go for it if I told them I obviosuly don't have to pay for something Dell says I do not ahve...
DELL-Chris M
Community Manager
Community Manager
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54.3K Posts
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June 4th, 2008 12:00
Please provide me with the following information in a private message so I can check the service tag status -
Name:
Shipping address:
Phone:
Order number:
paulbeattie87
241 Posts
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June 4th, 2008 22:00
linthorn
9 Posts
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June 8th, 2008 14:00
I am having this issue as well. I had it from the time the system was new. I have been trying to get my XPS 420 with X-Fi XtremeMusic fixed for several months now. Dell techs have taken over the machine several times, updated BIOS, drivers, killed all startups, and even sent a replacement card. With my original card I had sporadic crackle and hum and the sound would cut out for a short while. With the replacement card I get the sudden loud shrieking for a few seconds. It seems that the replacement is worse than the original (I wish I hadn't sent back the original, but they give you 15 days to swap them). Who knew?
Anyway, short of taking the hit and figuing that the Dell parts are simply junk- buying a retail card - what can I do? Should I do as Chris_M seems to suggest and try out 5 sets of drivers until I either fix it or mess up my system so badly that I have to reformat? I have an XtremeMusic and I run Vista. How do I know which card I have?
paulbeattie87
241 Posts
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June 8th, 2008 15:00
linthorn my X-Fi does exactly the same as your new one with the loud screech/shrieking and then stops working for a few seconds before it needs to be reconfigured.
Spoke to Dell and got a replacement card but not installed it yet.
Wouldn't say Dell are junk though as its a fault with all Creative hardware, that said the problem is with Dell whether they like it or not. The best Dell can do is either admit the fault and pull the card which would hurt Creative financially or start refunding users who have problems cards. Thats if they cant find a solution.
vangink14
5 Posts
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June 8th, 2008 19:00
paulbeattie87
241 Posts
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June 8th, 2008 21:00
paulbeattie87
241 Posts
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June 9th, 2008 19:00
Just another quick update guys, got my replacement card and fitted it earlier....
Still the same! Screech then no audio for a couple of minutes before the following speaking mapping takes place:
Front Left - Outputs Front Centre
Front Centre - Outputs Rear Left
Front Right - No output
Rear Right - Outputs Front Right
Rear Centre - No Output
Rear Left - Outputs Front Left
Subwoofer - Outputs Rear Left.
I have Creative Inspire 6700 speakers just in case your thinking where are the extra speakers coming from.
Will keep you posted on Dell's next move, not really sure where they can take it now its been replaced :(
Drange
155 Posts
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June 9th, 2008 23:00
Take a look at this thread. I linked to the last page.