Hi, I am also having this trouble, so if anyone has any information as to why  this would be happening, please let us know!!
I called Dell and sat on the phone forever and got nowhere "I am sorry sir, you must purchase software support for me to help you with this question"
What the heck!?!? That is sooo lame...

 

So yes, If anyone finds anything out, post!

 

Thnks

I e:mailed DELL Support and they sent me the generic instructions below.  I should point out the problem I have is that the laptop just cuts out (without following the normal shutdown process). 

 

I've just discovered if I diable the Wireless device, the problem goes away.

 

Anyone have any thoughts as to why this is ?

 

Thanks

Ian

 

***************************

 

After reviewing your information, I have come up with the following
steps to find a resolution to this problem. Please do note that
every step has significance in arriving at a satisfactory resolution,
therefore please provide the result of every step. This will
help me in getting a better understanding of the issue so as
to reach a faster resolution.

1. Tighten screws on the bottom of the system.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Some systems lose connection to the DC/DC board when there are
loose or missing screws.
? Make sure all the screws are tight and none are missing.

? If there are screws missing, try obtaining a screw from another
system.
? If there are none available, make sure that the screws located
near the media bays and the center of the system are present.
They are located very near the DC/DC board and are the most crucial.
Try using a screw from a different location and testing.

2. Disable power management within the operating system and the
System Setup (CMOS).*
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1. Enter the System Setup (CMOS).
NOTE:  For more information regarding how to enter the System
Setup (CMOS), refer to Dell Knowledge base article:
http://support.dell.com/us/en/kb/document.asp?DN=TT1012573
2. Disable all power management options.
NOTE:  For help with usage and navigation within the System Setup
(CMOS), read the on-screen instructions at the bottom or right-
hand side of the screen.
3. Exit the System Setup and boot to Windows.
4. Click the Start button, point to Settings, and then click
Control Panel.
The Control Panel window appears.
5. Double-click the Power Option icon.
The Power Options Properties window appears.
6. Adjust the following settings:

System Standby: Never.
System Hibernate:  Never.
Turn off Monitor: Never.
Turn off Hard Disks: Never.

3. Remove all CRUs except for the memory.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1. Unplug the AC adapter from the system.
2. Remove the battery from the system.
3. Press and hold the power button for 5 seconds to discharge
power.
4. Remove all of the removable components, but except for the
memory.
NOTE: This includes, but is not limited to the following devices:
o Battery
o Modem daughter card (MDC)
o PC Cards
o Floppy drives
o Optical drives (CD / CDRW / DVD)
o Mini PCI cards

4. Test the portable memory individually in each socket.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Test the memory individually in each socket.
If there is only 1 DIMM in the system, move it to the other socket
and test.
If there are 2 DIMMs in the system:
1. Remove 1 DIMM and test.
2. Move the DIMM that is currently in the system to the other
socket, and test.
3. Swap DIMMs and test.
4. Move the DIMM that is currently in system to the other socket,
and test.


5. Inspect and reseat the power connector.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1. Remove the power cable from the AC adapter brick and visually
inspect the pins on the connector.
2. Reconnect the power connector to the computer.
Determine if the shutdown is affected by wiggling the AC adapter
cord.
A system may shutdown or reboot if there is damage to the ac
adapter wiring.  Try to wiggle the AC adapter power cord to see
if this affects the symptom.

** Does the problem occur while wiggling the cable? ***

6. Check the AC adapter status light.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Verify that the AC adapter has a solid green LED light when attached
to a power cord plugged into a live electrical outlet.  The light
should remain steady as long as the AC adapter is not connected
to the notebook or docking station.

*** Does the Ac adapter light Dim/Flicker/no light? ****

7. Move the system to see if the system shuts down.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pick the system up and move it side to side.  See if any movement
causes the system to shutdown.  Loose components or connections
may cause the system to shutdown.

*** Does moving affect the problem? ****

8. Reset the BIOS defaults. - Portables
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
For more information about resetting the BIOS defaults, refer
to Dell Knowledge Base articles

http://support.dell.com/us/en/kb/document.asp?DN=FA1035265

9. Flash/ Upgrade the BIOS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Refer the Dell Knowledge Base article given below for instructions
to download the latest BIOS update file and flash it in the system.

http://support.dell.com/us/en/kb/document.asp?DN=FA1033387


In order to view the contents of the above link please copy and
paste it in your browser and press enter.

10. Run the 32-Bit Dell diagnostics.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Restart your machine, immediately tap on the F12 key till you
are able to view the Boot sequence window. Here make sure that
the first Boot device is set to CD/DVD drive. Save and exit .

Now restart the machine with the Resource CD ( Drivers and Utilities
) CD in the CD/DVD drive . The Dell Diagnostics should auto run.
Choose to run " ALL " tests and check results. Inform error codes
to me.
Please refer the Dell Knowledge Base article at the link given
below for instructions to run Dell diagnostics.

http://support.dell.com/us/en/kb/document.asp?DN=1034504

You can also download the Dell Diagnostics from the link below
and run it .
Diagnostics: Dell 32 Bit Diagnostics (Graphical User Interface
version), Diagnostics, English, Multi System, A1205

http://support.euro.dell.com/uk/en/filelib/download/index.asp?fileid=R52999

** Does the problem occur while running the diags? ***

11. Boot to the System Setup (CMOS) to determine if the shutdown
or
reboot occurs outside the operating system.

Refer the link below for How do I enter the BIOS, CMOS, Setup,
or System Setup on my Dell? computer?

http://support.euro.dell.com/uk/en/kb/document.asp?DN=TT1012573&tag=

**** Does the problem occur while in BIOS ( CMOS )? ***

Do note that each of the above mentioned steps are important
for us to reach an accurate diagnosis of the issue and help us
resolve it at the earliest.

My friend has this same problem he gets no warning of the shut down its one minute your useing it the next it goes *boop* shut down