calls up a menue which includes the Task Manager.

Thanks Kirk D.  Unfortunately nothing happens when I ctrl+alt+del - the screen just stays frozen.  Is there anything else I could do?

 

If it is a hardware problem - how good are dell at replcing the machine or component, or will I need to moan and groan for eternity?

First try a Restart Repair by pressing F8 at the Boot screen to get to the repair menu. If this doesn't help, do a System Restore to the Last Good Configuration at the same F8 screen. If this doesn't help you should do a system Reinstall, again from F8. The Reinstall will go back to the factory supplied Vista configuration and wipe out everything you have installed and any data, so if you can, try to back up your data.

If the system is OK after re-doing the factory image, then what you are installing may be a problem. I had problems with i-Tunes with my first Vista machine. Make sure you are using a Vista version. Make sure you have installed all the Vista updates and that Vista SP1 is installed.

 

Installing XP programs and many Vista programs benefit if installed with Administrator priveges and with the anti-virus turned off. If you are using McAfee, I would uninstall it (may need to get an uninstall program from the McAfee site to do the job correctly) and install AVG AV (free) and use Defender anti-spyware. There is a lot of poorly written software out there than will cause lots of problems. Anything not Vista compatible should be installed in the XP Compatibility Mode.

I also have an XPS 1530, bought new in June, that I'm having the same issues with. In fact, it's so bad that I'm posting this message using my husband's HP because mine is pretty much un-usable and I honestly just don't know what to do.

 

I had the first freeze just a few days after purchase  and it's been non-stop since. I've done numerous restores as well as repaired and taken it back to factory image 4 times, and nothing seems to help. At first I thought it was Windows auto updates, so I turned them off. Then I thought it was when I added my printers. Then software that I'd purchased specifically for this laptop from Dell. I've seen the blue screen probably 20 times, have turned it off by holding the power button *at least* 50 times, which of course gets me to the safe mode option screen. I can't stay online for more than 5 minutes one day; could stay on forever the next. Task manager is impossible to bring up because it's froze... period.

 

I've virus scanned, defragged, cleaned it, checked the disk, updated drivers, BIOS.. you name it, I've tried it. I've only called and connected with Dell support once because the hold time was so long and ended up asking a family member who works for Microsoft for help. When all he had to suggest didn't work (and he's been in support for almost 15 years!) I called Dell again and this time held on until I got a tech who was super nice but really didn't seem to believe that I'd done all this stuff and still had a problem. He had me remove the battery, unplug the power and hold the power button to "drain all reserve power", then had me do another repair and take back to original factory configuration and settings. He assured me that this would fix things and everything would be wonderful. This last fix lasted all of one day and really went bad when I installed iTunes and QuickTime.

 

Truthfully, I'm at the end of my rope and if I could send it back I would.  I can't get any work done. I'm afraid to save anything to the hard drive and I just don't know what to do.  

 

Sorry for the rant. I'm just so frustrated. Any and all suggestions are very much appreciated.

 

 

Sue

Thanks for such a quick response!

 

Everything is okay after the factory image re-install until any changes are made and it doesn't matter what type of changes. Could be printer installation, Win updates, McAfee updates, downloaded software, software from disk... anything. I've tried FireFox and all software I'm trying to use is for Vista. I ordered Pinnacle Studio software with my computer and that will set it off. I've had Defender on AND off. Had McAfee removed completely and even tried using nothing just to see if that would help. Downloading an attachment, no matter what type, from my Yahoo account will screw things up. My camera software, again Vista, messed things up. It's like whatever was installed at the factory is okay but anything else, no way.

 

I'll try the AVG and see what happens but beyond that I've already done what you've suggested multiple times. I know it probably sounds like I'm being negative just to be negative or that I'm not being open minded but please believe me, I'm not. I just tried to turn on my Dell and see if some miracle happened and maybe it would work and now it won't even boot up. Just hangs there at the little green progress bar screen. In fact, it's still hanging there. This is really bad.

 

I guess my next question would be does anyone know if there's any way after four months that I could get a replacement, and not a refurbished or repaired one, and if so who would I contact?

 

Thanks again.

 

Sue

 

Has it been doing this from the beginning?

 

The first thing to do is a complete Dell Diagnostics. Do F12 at the Dell intro screen (press several times as the scree progresses). Select the complete diagnostics and see if any errors occur. The first thing to suspect is a bad RAM module.

Hi guys,

 

I did the F12 diagnostics task and received the error message 2000-0142 about a hard disk.  I ran virus software as I was briefly allowed a bit of time after disabling windows updates and it showed no viruses etc...  It worked ok after disabling the updates, but I don't want to make do with this solution and want to get a permanent fix.  Do you know what this could be?

 

 

Thanks again!

 

I've done the first part of the diagnostics and got error code: 2000-0146. Looked it up and find that it means DST log contains previous errors. How do I access that previous log? Or does this error message mean the hard drive is bad and needs replacing?

 

No memory other errors so far. Advanced (?) second part of test still running.

 

 

 

Sue

Your hard drive is faulty. See this Dell page:

 

Dell hard Disk Errors

 

Call Dell for service; the drive needs to be replaced.