My computer is working good now, it was a struggle, too many hours for a new computer.  Tech support is terrible (reading a screen is not tech support), all

of the fixes were done with suggestions from people on the forum.  It seems obvious that this computer is not compatible with hardware acceleration in the

flash player, disable it or get a video card that supports it.  I do not use vmware and do not play games, also no iPhone.

Problems:
Many random freezing, totally random, the computer was useless.
Video locks up with black screen with 1080p HD Video.
The function key is still reverting back to FN first.  It is programmable in the Bios.  No one else has reported this problem on this forum.

Repairs:
Ran System test tools, no problems found.  Dell had me run them again. Results:No change.
01-05-10 ran chkdsk /r from cmd and system disk.  No change.
01-10-10 Updated Realtek Ethernet Driver from Microsoft win updates. Results:No change.
01-18-10 Dell Replaced the mother board.  Results:No change.  I Re-flashed the bios to 03 (this update at Dell is marked urgent)
01-20-10 Did a system repair install from the system dvd that came with the computer.  Results:No more random freezing.
All the latest updates from Dell and Microsoft have been installed.
03-06-10 Flashed the bios to A04.
03-15-10 Disable "hardware acceleration" in flash player. Results:No more 1080p HD video crashes.  Also ran videos on battery only for approx 45 minutes

until the batter was down to 78%.

Received 11-25-09
Specs: Studio 1557
Windows 7 Professional 64 bit
Video Card:ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4570    512
Core i7-820QM
8GB DDR3 1333Mhz RAM
Full HD 1080p High Brightness LED with TrueLife
Module, Dvd+/-rw And Bd-rom, Hitachi Lg Data Storage
Battery, Primary, 85WHR, 9C Lithium, Samsung Power Division.

Computer info:
Flash Player: WIN 10,0,45,2  02-23-10
Video Card:ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4570    512
ATI Catalyst Install Manager 03.00.0758
Driver Date:1/22/2010 - Installed 02-23-10 - Released by Dell 02-22-10.
Driversion:8.692.1.0
Sleep and hibernate are off, these features do not work properly.
Using McAfee Antivirus Plus.

I suggest a returning/replacing procedure for all of you. I called the customer support many times and have some know-hows. :emotion-1: I believe all of you have at least one year limited on site warranty - that means they will come to your place and fix the problem. Just make sure you have the warranty coverage and follow the procedure below. The bottom line - Keep asking them to come until they actually fix yours. 1. Before start, let me explain how Dell customer service works. They have a call center in India to filter out all basic and simple requests. They have to check all basic things including remote controling to your comptuter and checking all the settings. Once they give up, they elevate the case to level 2 tech support. If level 2 tech support can't solve the problem, they issue a repair ticket and assign a local technitian to contact you to schedule an on site repair. The purpose of this note is to tell you how to contact to the manager and persuate him/her to replace your laptop with better one. 2. First, try to contact via online chat support first. Especially from 7:00AM to 12:00 PM Pacific time is the best time to contact them. Here is the link. http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/chat/hardware_chat?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs  if you're not a good typist, call them at 1-877-293-1197. please be your service tag ready. Please make a call in the morning or you will have to wait more than 40 minutes. Please follow all things they ask because they don't have any authority not to do all procedural check up. Don't fight with them. You have no choice but follow their directions in order to contact to the manager. Telling them you're a computer expert may help skip some stupid directions like switching off and restarting things. Be patient. They will try to say like 'Everything's OK', "This is a software issue." "You called the wrong department." , etc. But focus on. Show them this forum article and convince them the laptop has the known issue. Keep asking them until they elevate the case to level 2 technitian or a manager. 3. With the Level 2 technitian or manager. If they try to analyze your system again, tell them you've done it with the previous technitian. Ask him fix your laptop or replace your laptop with better graphics card. He will try to say these things.   1) "We are trying to fix the issue and there will be an update soon. Wait until the update"          Your point : It has been more than six months since this issue found. But no true solution has been found so far. I need to fix it right now.   2) "We only can replace the part with the same one you originally ordered."         Your point: Even Dell acknowledged the HD 4570 is not compatible with Studio 1557. The web complains it is not compatible when you tried to order from dell.com.  (Show them the proof if you need to. Ask them to go to this link and choose core i7 for the processor. It will show the compatibility error message.)         http://configure.us.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?oc=dndobw2&c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19&kc=laptop-studio-1555        They have the responsibility to replace the part with the same or better one. The same one is proved to be not compatible, So they have one other option - HD 5470.    3) "We just can't do that, sir"        Show them you have on site warranty coverage and tell them you will keep asking them to fix it until they fix it. At least they have to come to your site and try to fix it, don't they?   4) If nothing is accepted, upgrade your warrnty to advanced one and give a big glass of milk to your 3 year old cousin to play around your laptop. - just kidding. :emotion-5: Final word: Dell customer support is notorious and someone has to tell them to fix it. Dell can be like Toyota any time. I like the studio 1557 spec and price very much. I couldn't find any other laptop that fits my need this perfectly. Dell can make great laptops like this. Let's help them help us.

jlong,

This guide helped me very much last night when I was chatting with Dell. I had the best luck of any of the 30 times I called dell. Just follow the instructions and make sure they understand that the computer you own would not be compatable with a replacement 4570. Ask for a upgraded graphics card, thats what I did. I am currently waiting to hear from the "Senior Research Team" to see if I will get the upgraded graphics card, but I am pretty sure I will.

Dissatisfied customer

- John

My previous post is buried like 20 pages back so I'll repost it now: I, too, had the random freezing problems and no amt of removing/replacing drivers, McAfee helped.  I then did a completely clean reinstall of Windows 7 64 bit.  I did not install the ATI catalyst software nor did I install the ATI driver, rather I used the Microsoft WDDM driver for the 4570.  I have had zero random freezes now for over 2 months.  I also installed the Realtek driver for the wireless as I was previously getting blue screens disconnecting from my VPN when I was running the Microsoft drivers.  That seemed to solve the blue screen issues. That being said I am not sure this fixes the problems with HD video and flash as I don't do anything highly graphic intensive.  I have seen the screen go hinky when playing hi-res avi files.  Perhaps that's part of the same symptoms.  The bottom line is if you want to stop the freeze ups, reinstall Windows cleanly.  Don't do an upgrade install, do a brand new install, wiping away your current install of Windows.

How is your computer doing with Sleep or Hibernation mode ? If it works, I will re-installed my windows 7.

I think Windows driver is more stable than ATI driver. I had the same problem on my Dell Vostro 400 running Vista. The problem is gone after I installed Windows 7. So the ATI driver is the one that cause it to crash.

They should issue the system exchange which means they will send a new system with the same spec you ordered and 5470 graphics card. Once you receive the new system you can use the box to send yours back. No charge should be applied. They will give you the returning shipment label, too.

It will take about 3 to 4 weeks to receive the new laptop but you can still use yours before that.

I want to encourage all of you to request the system exchange. You deserve it with no extra charge. No matter how long you use your laptop, they should offer the system exchange with 5470 graphics card. You have been suffered enough from unstability of 1557 and 4570 combination.

I'm writing this post because I believe Dell still has the chance to improve their service. Otherwise I wouldn't have started.

Please mention about Toyota while you're talking with their manager to remind customers are the kings.   

I am going to show my ignorance here a little bit...would they replace just the graphics card with the 5470 or would they end up replacing the entire system?   Is it something that would have to have the laptop sent back to DELL?  Reason I ask is that I need to have a computer for my job...even if it's this one that is causing me problems.

Thanks bigbro777...  I agree about us suffering too long with this.  This is making me a bit more hopeful.  I have been dealing with DELL support through email the last week or so and it was the usual..."update bios, chipsets, make sure that there are no loose screws, battery isn't loose, etc..."  I had already done all that stuff myself, of course and to no avail.  I think/hope that they are beginning to see that there actually is a problem.

I just went on the DELL website to "customize" a Studio 15 and it's still showing up that there is a compatibility problem with the HD 4570, of course...but not with the 5470.  However, it is showing the configuration being for a Studio 1555...not a 1557.  Is there a major difference between the two...because I'm not sure what it would be. 

Let's everyone keep fighting the good fight...no reason why we should have to pay for a product that is not compatible...according to DELL no less! 

Still no comments on this thread from DELL support over the last 2 days...wonder why not?

[quote user="mhan66"] My previous post is buried like 20 pages back so I'll repost it now: I, too, had the random freezing problems and no amt of removing/replacing drivers, McAfee helped.  I then did a completely clean reinstall of Windows 7 64 bit.  I did not install the ATI catalyst software nor did I install the ATI driver, rather I used the Microsoft WDDM driver for the 4570.  I have had zero random freezes now for over 2 months.  I also installed the Realtek driver for the wireless as I was previously getting blue screens disconnecting from my VPN when I was running the Microsoft drivers.  That seemed to solve the blue screen issues. That being said I am not sure this fixes the problems with HD video and flash as I don't do anything highly graphic intensive.  I have seen the screen go hinky when playing hi-res avi files.  Perhaps that's part of the same symptoms.  The bottom line is if you want to stop the freeze ups, reinstall Windows cleanly.  Don't do an upgrade install, do a brand new install, wiping away your current install of Windows.

How is your computer doing with Sleep or Hibernation mode ? If it works, I will re-installed my windows 7.

I think Windows driver is more stable than ATI driver. I had the same problem on my Dell Vostro 400 running Vista. The problem is gone after I installed Windows 7. So the ATI driver is the one that cause it to crash.

I tried windows clean install but it didn't solve the freezing problem. Furthermore, since it is not using PowerPlay option, my battery runs out within 1 hour 30minutes from full charge to shutdown. And the computer heated up so much that you may feel it's uncomfortable to put it on your lap.

I also want to mention that solving problems by disabling the features it deserve is not the true solution. Dell keeps asking us to do that and try to claim they solve the problem but that's not gonna happen. It's like they sell the full loaded Lamborghini and asking not to use the turbo mode because it is unstable. (I don't know if Lamborghini has a turbo mode or not :emotion-5: )

And before they find the true solution, they should do their best to accomodate the users by offering various options like full refund, system exchange with higher model, etc. That's their design problem and they are responsible for their mistake, not us.

One other thing...saw in another thread that if you type in "reliability" in the Start/run area, it'll bring up the different errors, shutdowns, installs, etc... that have taken place.  I wasn't aware that you could do this...but am sure that others probably knew this.  It's interesting...and depressing to see all the shutdowns, errors, that have taken place since I got this thing in late December, 2009. 

Good luck with your 1557's everyone. As I mentioned before I canceled my order, but lo and behold they sent me the laptop anyway. I have made 6 phone calls just trying to return it to them.  The cancel went through, the authorization removed from my credit card and they still shipped it.  It is finally on it's way back to Dell.  If the HP I ordered fails to please maybe I will be back (for a different model).  All the machines I have owned in the last 10 years have been dells so this is a change for me.

Again.  Good luck all!

How is your computer doing with Sleep or Hibernation mode ? If it works, I will re-installed my windows 7. I think Windows driver is more stable than ATI driver. I had the same problem on my Dell Vostro 400 running Vista. The problem is gone after I installed Windows 7. So the ATI driver is the one that cause it to crash.

I don't have any problems with sleep/hibernation after the full reinstall.  The laptop has been super stable since the reinstall of WIndows.  Now I will caution everyone that I did the absolute bare minimum of none-Microsoft supplied drivers.  The only driver I installed that Windows didn't install automatically were the wireless card drivers.  Otherwise I haven't installed anything else.  So I would caution everyone not to go hog wild on installing manufacturers drivers once you have Windows reinstalled.  It's clear the freezeup issue has something to do with the Dell image of Windows and some driver, service or software they have installed as part of their image.  Also, I am on version A03 of the bios.

Not sure if this has been mentioned, and excuse me if it has...but was looking around through the Downloads & Drivers section for the 1557 and under the "video" section (last one, at the bottom) it is listing the AMD Drivers for both the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4570 and the HD 5470...however, when you click on the link for the 4570 card it takes youto  the download for the HD 5470 update.  Is that how it's always been, or are they basically the same update so it doesn't matter...?  I was just curious. 

Again, sorry if this has already been talked about...guess I am starting to grasp at straws that show DELL is aware of what is going on...and that maybe they will eventually admit it.  I think I am taking up way too much time trying to get this rectified.  Gotten no response from DELL support via email today, been on the phone for almost 2 hours with their phone support (mostly on hold)...and no support on this thread for almost 2 days.  Come on DELL......

All Right. This link: http://configure.us.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?oc=dndobw2&c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19&kc=laptop-studio-1555

Is the prove that exist  a serious problem with the video card ATI 4570 and the processor Core i7; So, why Dell don't contact all the customers that buy this system between November 2009 and Feb 2010 (somebody knows when Dell start to sell the Studio 1557 model, and when they removed it?) and change this Video card?. Somebody owner of this Studio 1557 in EEUU knows people that works in PC Magazine or PC World Labs? to bring them this laptop, and they make all the necessary test to this system; and that they will send a report to Dell of all the issues that they find in this Studio 1557 model; or maybe better; that they public in the April's Edition and article of this Model and all its failures ; and the number of unhappy customers that don't have the appropriate support from Dell; I say this because it seems like Dell don't trust in the Word of their customers when they say that have an unstable system; and the only way that they can get a stable system is turning off some features like sound (Sound blaster);  and hardware acceleration(Flash Player). It's like we are the beta testers of this Model; and the beta testers don't pay to test a System; the companies pay to the beta testers to test their system... Dell will pay all of us to test this system for 5 months?

To be honest I have 10 days without random freezes; the solution: Uninstall Sound Blaster Software. To see HD 1080 Movies from YouTube Install the Beta flash player 10.1. To work in full screen with VMware; to this; don't exist solution until now.

Why I have to do all this tricks??? If others customers that buy others system of other vendors with the same specifications  (6GB RAM, Core i7, Windows 7 64bits, 512MB Video RAM) like Sony Vaio F Series, only took the product out of the box and began using it without any problem.

Because dell dont care about us, all they care about is money and how much they can stiff us for.

All you will get from this bunch of ignorant rip off merchants is pretend help at best , all you have to do is read other threads with systems with similar spec PC's to see that all that happens is that they offer the minimum help. and even then they expect you to pay. In most cases(in the UK ) it is a premium rate phone call then they blame soft ware so want you to pay for that as well how many people do you think will follow that route as they are less savy in dealing with computer company's more than there are posters on this forum i bet.

Google dell class action makes for interesting reading. or try the inspiron 5150 threads even more fun reading.

Raz

PS. i bet this post gets deleted

Some of you who ordered 1557 within 2 months, you could return your laptop and get a new one now.

I just checked the price for 1557 has been down quite low. You can return the system with 4570 graphics card and reorder the one with 5470. At least you have to try to ask to return yours and get a full refund.

The people who are within in possible return period should ask them to leave a note as a proof that you had asked the return within in legitimate time frame. I heard from the manager that if I have record for requesting return within the possible period,  I can claim the return and full refund even after it expires.

Dell are not afraid of our return because they can use our money for their fund. I think they intentionally delay the return process to keep our money to use. So I recommend to use the Dell preferred account. If you pay back the full amount within first 12 month, you don't have to pay the interest. And also, you can get extra 3% discount if you use the preferred account. By doing that you can have some flexibility for returning and receiving new laptop. You can minimize the "downtime" - living without any laptop.

Be careful. You have to choose credit card pay option first and then click the extra 3% discount offer to get the discount.

Good luck.