Okay...so after 6 days of this problem, I decided to try and enable my GeForce Go again. And what do you know...it's working fine. Either my video card was miraculously healed, or it WAS my power cord/battery. Any ideas on what the heck happened would be greatly appreciated. If you need any more info please let me know and I'll respond asap.
Well, the joy was short lived. After about 15 minutes of running with my GeForce enabled it went black again. Had to reboot in safe more, disable it, then reboot normally. Obviously it can't be my display considering I'm looking at my screen now and it has no problems running with my card disabled. I'm not sure what to think now. I'm still thinking it's a shoddy video card. Going to try to enable it again, but this time get a second monitor displaying before it poofs on me.
!!!UPDATE!!!
Was able to enable it again and get dual monitors set up. It lasted about 10 minutes before I got some funky pixelated lines around my cursor and then on the screen right before it went black. Looks to be the video card. Was identical on both monitors. So, all my questions above still apply with how to go about getting this fixed.
Thanks again!
Message Edited by Nadhatter on 04-02-2008 01:23 AM
Be carefull with changing the video card!! Explanation:
A little over a month ago my Inspiron 9400 (the european name for the e1705) started showing weird horizontal lines in windows. The next day, there were also graphical errors during bios starup etc. In my country we have a 2 year warranty, and I was 14 days over that. I decided to call support anyway and long story short, I got them to change the video card anyway.
Here a little over a month later, they are about to change the video card for the third time and have already changed the motherboard aswell.
I am in position to complain, as I have no warranty, but it would be easier for Dell to admit that the E1705/9400 runs too hot and call them back when customers phone them about heat trouble.
My point here is that if you buy a new video card and replace it, you can not be sure that will solve the problem.....
Just curious, but if they will not extend a warranty, why do they sell 1 and 2 year limited warranty upgrades? When you login to your account on Dell.com, click warranty information, and enter your Service Tag, they show me a lovely Limited Warranty Upgrade page where I can add the following to my cart. Is this for something else? If so, they sure are misleading.
"Extend your support contract, and ensure your Dell Inspiron is ready when you need it most. Select your support options below."
Next Business Day Onsite Plus Nights and Weekends till 12/18/2008 -- 1 year(s) [add $188 or $15/month1]
Next Business Day Onsite Plus Nights and Weekends till 12/18/2009 -- 2 year(s) [add $268 or $15/month1]
Next Business Day Onsite Plus Nights and Weekends till 12/18/2010 -- 3 year(s) [add $318 or $15/month1]
Etc, etc, etc, with other options for Return to Depot as well.
Message Edited by Nadhatter on 04-02-2008 05:01 AM
Message Edited by Nadhatter on 04-02-2008 05:01 AM
By the way, anybody have any links to a manual on replacing the video card in the Inspiron e1705? I remember seeing a Dell Mod post one at one point, but I can't find it again.
You can upgrade a warranty as long as the existing one hasn't expired. If it has expired, you cannot extend/upgrade the warraty - that's standard practice for just about anything.
If you let your car insurance lapse, and have an accident, can you call your insurance agent and extend the policy?
May be true at most places, but my Sears washer just died 2 months ago and it was 3 years out of warranty. They sold me a warranty for $200 and I was able to get $500 on that toward a new washer. Anywho, the fact I could add the new warranties to my cart was a little missleading and confusing. You'd think they'd simply take those options away from people with expired warranties. It seems they don't tell you "you can't buy this" until you get to the checkout process.
Thanks for the manual link though, now, the only matter remains to find a place that sells the GeForce Go 7900GS. As of now...only Dell, for $340-something. It's still quite frustrating that a $1500 laptop only lasts 14 months. I'll get my next laptop at Costco where I know I can exchange it if it ever has a problem.
Before you run out and buy a new video card, try taking your notebook apart and checking the graphics card (Google for disassembly procedure). My bro-in-law uses his E1705 in a dusty environment and started having major issues running BF2. Pulled it apart and found a massive dust/lint clod clogging the fan. He was running with no cooling at all!
Vacuumed the whole lot out and hasn't had a problem since. GO CAREFUL WITH VACUUMING THOUGH - the rush of air through the plastic nozzle causes electrostatic buildup. Don't touch the graphics card or surrounding circuitry with the nozzle tip!
Nadhatter
6 Posts
0
April 2nd, 2008 06:00
Okay...so after 6 days of this problem, I decided to try and enable my GeForce Go again. And what do you know...it's working fine. Either my video card was miraculously healed, or it WAS my power cord/battery. Any ideas on what the heck happened would be greatly appreciated. If you need any more info please let me know and I'll respond asap.
Thanks
Nadhatter
6 Posts
0
April 2nd, 2008 07:00
Well, the joy was short lived. After about 15 minutes of running with my GeForce enabled it went black again. Had to reboot in safe more, disable it, then reboot normally. Obviously it can't be my display considering I'm looking at my screen now and it has no problems running with my card disabled. I'm not sure what to think now. I'm still thinking it's a shoddy video card. Going to try to enable it again, but this time get a second monitor displaying before it poofs on me.
!!!UPDATE!!!
Was able to enable it again and get dual monitors set up. It lasted about 10 minutes before I got some funky pixelated lines around my cursor and then on the screen right before it went black. Looks to be the video card. Was identical on both monitors. So, all my questions above still apply with how to go about getting this fixed.
Thanks again!
ejn63
9 Legend
•
87.5K Posts
0
April 2nd, 2008 08:00
You'll need to replace the video card; they will not extend an expired warranty.
Dell Spare Parts 1-800-449-3355 ext 7269937
KingManon
14 Posts
0
April 2nd, 2008 10:00
Be carefull with changing the video card!! Explanation:
A little over a month ago my Inspiron 9400 (the european name for the e1705) started showing weird horizontal lines in windows. The next day, there were also graphical errors during bios starup etc. In my country we have a 2 year warranty, and I was 14 days over that. I decided to call support anyway and long story short, I got them to change the video card anyway.
Here a little over a month later, they are about to change the video card for the third time and have already changed the motherboard aswell.
I am in position to complain, as I have no warranty, but it would be easier for Dell to admit that the E1705/9400 runs too hot and call them back when customers phone them about heat trouble.
My point here is that if you buy a new video card and replace it, you can not be sure that will solve the problem.....
Nadhatter
6 Posts
0
April 2nd, 2008 10:00
Just curious, but if they will not extend a warranty, why do they sell 1 and 2 year limited warranty upgrades? When you login to your account on Dell.com, click warranty information, and enter your Service Tag, they show me a lovely Limited Warranty Upgrade page where I can add the following to my cart. Is this for something else? If so, they sure are misleading.
"Extend your support contract, and ensure your Dell Inspiron is ready when you need it most. Select your support options below."
Next Business Day Onsite Plus Nights and Weekends till 12/18/2008 -- 1 year(s) [add $188 or $15/month1]
Next Business Day Onsite Plus Nights and Weekends till 12/18/2009 -- 2 year(s) [add $268 or $15/month1]
Next Business Day Onsite Plus Nights and Weekends till 12/18/2010 -- 3 year(s) [add $318 or $15/month1]
Etc, etc, etc, with other options for Return to Depot as well.
Nadhatter
6 Posts
0
April 2nd, 2008 11:00
ejn63
9 Legend
•
87.5K Posts
0
April 2nd, 2008 11:00
You can upgrade a warranty as long as the existing one hasn't expired. If it has expired, you cannot extend/upgrade the warraty - that's standard practice for just about anything.
If you let your car insurance lapse, and have an accident, can you call your insurance agent and extend the policy?
Here's the service manual:
http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/ins9400/en/sm/index.htm
Nadhatter
6 Posts
0
April 3rd, 2008 05:00
May be true at most places, but my Sears washer just died 2 months ago and it was 3 years out of warranty. They sold me a warranty for $200 and I was able to get $500 on that toward a new washer. Anywho, the fact I could add the new warranties to my cart was a little missleading and confusing. You'd think they'd simply take those options away from people with expired warranties. It seems they don't tell you "you can't buy this" until you get to the checkout process.
Thanks for the manual link though, now, the only matter remains to find a place that sells the GeForce Go 7900GS. As of now...only Dell, for $340-something. It's still quite frustrating that a $1500 laptop only lasts 14 months. I'll get my next laptop at Costco where I know I can exchange it if it ever has a problem.
moph2000
6 Posts
0
April 3rd, 2008 07:00
Before you run out and buy a new video card, try taking your notebook apart and checking the graphics card (Google for disassembly procedure). My bro-in-law uses his E1705 in a dusty environment and started having major issues running BF2. Pulled it apart and found a massive dust/lint clod clogging the fan. He was running with no cooling at all!
Vacuumed the whole lot out and hasn't had a problem since. GO CAREFUL WITH VACUUMING THOUGH - the rush of air through the plastic nozzle causes electrostatic buildup. Don't touch the graphics card or surrounding circuitry with the nozzle tip!