M170 - Read/write video memory errors @ Dell Diagnostics.

Hi All,

 

Well, despite it being repeatedly sent to the wrong address I finally (over two months after the initial fault) got hold of the new (well, it was reconditioned) graphics card while in the UK last week and self-installed it when I got back to Sri Lanka yesterday. The guidance on taking the computer to bits and reassembling was excellent with only one slightly confusing bit (the instruction to remove the Internal card with bluetooth wireless technology when removing the palm rest - although the item is linked it isn't illustrated in the diagrams and links aren't too helpful when you're working off a printout and your computer is in bits before you!)

 

The old card had some severe dust blockages on one end of the heatsink assembly, so on the assumption that that's the cause of the problem I'll be getting a can of air to keep the heatsinks on the new card clear. I also got a new coolpad for the laptop to try and keep it happy for longer.  

 

All is working tickety-boo now, I shall no doubt be back on here if it fails again in the near future.

 

Despite the delays and problems with the phone service though, for £163 (about $300) I'll be happy to get another year to eighteen months of games out of my XPS. The service hasn't been as smooth as advertised but it did get there in the end - a better result than previous manufacturers I've bought from who basically required me to dump the entire computer. Also, The overall design which enabled me to continue to use the computer in VGA mode even when the card was dead was pretty nifty - well done the Dell design engineers - I'd strongly suggest you maintain this design philosophy in future models.

 

Cheers

When you use the canned air, where do you think all that dust is going to go?  Some will come out of the air vents but a lot of it will just settle elsewhere inside the notebook unless you plan on taking it apart again to clean it.  Sounds like you did a great job with your own self repair!  I wish Dell would either put the air intake somewhere else or install larger fans inside their notebooks.  I even propped mine up in the back to get more air underneath.  It didn't help. :( 

 

I think a cooling pad is a great idea.  I am sure it will help some.

 

My M170 LCD worked at the speed of cold molasses in VGA mode, but I too was grateful to at least have a resolution available without the artifacts and that an entire window would fit into, lol.

 

I think I have worked out an acceptable deal with Dell in reference to my M170.  When you get to the right people they are most helpful. :)

 

Best of luck and wishes to everyone who are still experiencing problems.

 

Toila

Hello Toila,

 

I have had the same kind of problem as you did: non-working graphics card, distorted blue lines, and a lot of frustration coming from the thought of buying a worthless pricey machine. I'm wondering if you ever got a solution to your problem? Please tell me if there's anything I can do to get my money back or get another laptop. I have done pretty much everything to get DELL's attention regarding my laptop but noone's ever responded for almost a year now.. Pls. I would appreciate an immediate response.

 

                                                     -jrad_22

 

Dell notebook XPS m170 w/ Nvidia GeForce Go 7800 GTX 256MB
 

I just kept at it until someone would listen to me.  The most help I actually got came from the Jimmy, the liaison on this forum.  He put me in touch with a higher level of Resolutions either here in the States or Canada.  I think I got noticed because I posted my Service Tag number in a link which is a no-no (sorry Jimmy).  Hopefully he will notice your post and offer his assistance.  

 

Let me know if I can offer you any more assistance or suggestions.

 

Toila

I have called DELL over and over about this problem but I don't think no one even cares. I can only make so much money and to buy a pricey high end laptop computer like this wasn't the easiest decision thing to make.. So Jimmy if you're still monitoring this forum please if there's anything you could do to give my life a little bit of break, respond. I would very much appreciate any of your concern.. And thank you Toila, if there's anything else you think I should know it would very much help me a lot.

jrad_22

 

 The first thing you need to do is put your service tag into your profile,(Please don't put your service tag or any other personal information in a post) that way I will be able to look over the case.

Jimmy P,

 

    There I've put the service tag number into my profile, thank you Jimmy.

jrad_22

 

I sent you a private message.

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@jrad_22 wrote:
Thanks for hearing me out Jimmy..

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NP, I wish I could have been more help.

Hi jrad_22,

 

So what happened, did you get any kind of resolution?

 

Toila

Hey Toila,

 

Unfortunately I didn't get any kind of resolution because he said my laptop has been out of warranty for a very long time now, just like what everyone else from DELL told me.. He's right, it's probably too late for me to be asking for any kind of help. I guess it's my fault because I didn't ask them for their assistance when my laptop first began to have problems. I still had my warranty when my laptop first started to give me this problem. The reason why I didn't pay attention to its warranty at first is because I thought I'd be able to fix the problem myself; that's why I didn't bother them for a while. I wasn't aware that my warranty had already ended when i realized that this problem was bigger than I thought.. that there's no way I could fix it.

Despite every bit of head ache this machine has given me, I don't totally regret buying a laptop (or anything) from DELL; this whole experience has taught me one good lesson.. there won't be a next time. This will be the last DELL product I'll ever buy. I'm thinking Alienware in the near future now that I have saved a little. Well Toila, I hope you don't make the same mistake yourself as well and this goes to everyone else. Thank you Toila for sharing your experience.

 

                             - jrad_22
 

I sent you a private message jrad.

 

Toila

I sent you back a private message Toila.

 

              - jrad_22
 

Dell installed a new video board in October 2007. As my machine was out of warranty I had to pay for it. The board had a three month warranty. In March 2008 Dell telephoned me to ask if I would like to extend my warranty for the whole computer.

I agreed and paid for two more years warranty. In April the board died with exactly the same fault as before (details in my previous posts in this thread. I telephoned the XPS laptop support line. Two days later Dell replaced the graphics board and the motherboard without any hesitation. Great sevice Dell!