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4642
December 9th, 2008 16:00
XPS 1330 Boot Issue
When starting our machine, the Dell screen starts, followed by a blue screen with a bunch of numbers on it, followed by a Recovery screen with 2 options: 1) System Repair and 2) Start Windows. When choosing to Start Windows, it goes through the same cycle just described. When choosing system repair, at completion of repair, we the message that the system isn't able to be repaired. We ran a check disk repair which was not able to complete - got hung up at 54% (left it on all night and still no progress).
Dell tech support indicates that we need to do a system reload. This will be the second system reload in the three months since we have had the computer (all it is used for is general ms office applications, web browsing, loading/viewing pictures, and listening to music). We had another issue (related to auto-updates), but they were able to fix that by simply doing a system restore. I am very unhappy with the purchase and have very little faith in the reliability of the system as a whole. I don't know if it is related to Vista or if we just got a bad machine as we have never experienced this with our previous Dell machines or Microsoft products.
I am very frustrated at this point for 2 reasons. My wife just loaded our recent honeymoon pictures onto the computer and we don't want to have to spend upwards of $1000 or more to try and recover them which is what Dell has suggested we do. Second, if there is any way I can return this computer I would, but am being told that is not possible because it is not a hw issue. Which leads me to my two questions:
1) Is is possible that the problem as described above is a hardware issue and not an OS/SW issue? If so, how do I make my case to tech support?
2) Are there any lower-cost alternatives to trying to retrieve our photos off a computer that won't boot?
Any assisstance is greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
husky0894
1.6K Posts
0
December 9th, 2008 17:00
It sounds like a faulty hard drive.
BEFORE you do anything else, buy a 2.5" SATA drive enclosure (as little as $10, newegg.com has dozens of them), and put the drive in it. Attach the drive to a working system by USB and BACK UP your data. Seriously consider buying an additional hard drive to put in the enclosure for backups, as well.
Then return the drive to the system and run a full diagnostic on it (F12 at powerup) - BUT, back up FIRST -- don't work on a suspect drive without a backup.
bg21015
13 Posts
0
December 10th, 2008 12:00
Dear Friends,
Based on my experience, this is all abot the overheating and CPU problem. You will end up with replacing the CPU at the end.
Here the problem is. Your XPS is overheating the CPU and freezes so frequently. At some level, CPU cannot turn the computer on. So goes to blue-dead screen. The final stage is to change the CPU. Forget about any refund or something in benefit of you. They will not even think of it.
But be careful. First they will send on-site technician with a motherboard, and they will change the motherboard, but the problem will continue. Then you have to change CPU: They will ask you to send the laptop back to factor...then they will more likely replace the CPU if you are lucky. But, they are more likely downgrade your CPU to Celeron from Core 2 Duo. They did it to me. To my knowledge, I have not seen any XPS with Celeron, but they put Celeron. I think CELERON CPU causes less heat. This is why they put Celeron.
Be careful what you ask then what you get from dell. They will answer you always...very wisely, even you could not turn your computer on for 8 months, they do not care about it. I bought XPS 1330 for 9 months ago...I had same problem and second week, my little 1330 died on the way back to Turkey. They could not provide services in Turkey for XPS. Then I brought it back to USA. They told me to fix it...sent on-site technician and they could not fix it. They asked me to sent it back....but they downgraded my computer. Then they ask one more time to re-replace it. They do not care about that I paid 9 months ago and could not use it for 9 months.
For me this is new. Dell has new strategy it seems. Costumer half-care Services.