Fix for M1004 Error

Question

My Inspiron 8200 suddently started flashing the M1004 error on startup and would constantly shut down during use.  Tried upgrading the BIOS but it didn't make a difference.  Knowing the M1004 error may be due to a buildup of heat, checked the heat sink to make sure it was clean (It was.)  Checked the fans to ensure they were working (They were.)   So we broke the computer down to try to find the problem.  Interesting enough, it didn't seem as if the heat sink was getting that hot or dissipating heat when the computer was running.  What we noticed was that the thermal paste that typically sits between the heat sink and CPU was gone so the heat was not being dissipated form the CPU to heat sink.  (This explains why the fans ran excessively.)  Luckily, the system shut down as it should before burning out the equipment.   Went to a local store and bought a tube of heat dissipating paste for about $2.00 and installed the paste between the heat sink and CPU where it should be, put the system back together, and the system seems to be running fine.  Heat sink now gets hot as it should and the fans are running normally.   I just rant the laptop for several hours without any issue.  Hope this helps everyone.  Flashing the BIOS didn't fix the problem.

johnallg · Answer

Great info - nice post.  Good troubleshooting techneque.  First time this solution has been proposed for the inability to get rid of the M1004 error.  And it works.

boppo · Answer

Get some artic silver 5  (7.50) and read the instructions from their site to install it, and your I8200 should run even cooler, plus fangui is a nice tool. Great T shoooting.

petmonkey5 · Answer

dell tech support does not recommend tearing a system apart cause it does affect the warranty unless your company says different it will void a warranty.

johnallg · Answer

They do not recommend it, but if you do damage while inside it will not be covered, and it will not void your warranty.  This has been posted by Dell Moderators many times.  If this is not the policy any longer, would a Moderator please correct or clarify.

garypswanson · Answer

John and others,   Follow Up:   My 8200 has been running perfectly for the last week without error and has been on for periods of 8 hours or more continuously.  Fans running as they should and it does not cut out.   Please know that my warranty was already expired so I had nothing to lose in tearing it apart.

petmonkey5 · Answer

yeah nothing to lose except a computer maybe!

DELL-Corey · Answer

All,

While Dell does not recommend disassembling your computer, it does not void your warranty just by doing that. That being said, any damage caused to the system by these actions would not be covered under warranty.
In short, you can go into the system, but if something gets broken, it is not covered.

johnallg · Answer

There you have it.  Thank you, Corey.

petmonkey5 · Answer

all i said is what we at the tech support are told to say

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