My 5150 seems to be running fine even when I move it around, adjust the screen, etc. But, then it happened - it shut off! Now, I haven't successfully been able to reproduce the situation but it shut off whenever the "M" panel was pressed. It did this a number of times (right after it shut down the first time) but I left it alone for a minute and it started up fine afterwards. I tried pressing on the "M" panel and it seemed to work fine. I also pressed on the "C" panel just for fun and it still worked.
But, I had my 5150 on the floor this morning (my cable modem is on the floor so I set it down next to it to plug it in directly to test something) and when I closed the CD tray, it shut off! I've played a number of DVDs and installed from many CDs since I thought I corrected the shut off problem and reinstalled Windows XP. I'm not really sure what to make of it all but putting a screw into the "O" space and removing that little "do not remove" thing seems to have stabilized the computer more. Also, since I installed Speedswitch and the fangui, temps run in the upper 20s and low 30s.
Has putting a screw into the "O" space worked for anyone else? Has anyone else tried to remove the "do not remove" piece and met success with their laptops?
Quick update from me: I left my laptop on a couple of days and when I went back it was dead. It no longer powers up or anything. Dell support seem confident they can help and have given me a list of things to try but I suspect it will end up being sent back under warranty.
Something that may be of interest...I received my 5150 in January 04 and the problem has not cropped up yet, but I did notice that I DO have a screw in the O hole. I checked to see how tight it was and found that it was very loose and probably would have worked its way out eventually.
Is the O screw missing for those of you with the problem?
Got my laptop back yesterday and so far it hasn't crashed yet. They said they were going to replace the touchpad, but the document they shipped back with it said they replaced the motherboard. I certainly hope the motherboards they are putting in to fix this problem are designed differently than the original motherboard.
For those tracking this, I received my laptop 1-10-04 and the problem began just at the end of September.
Still very curious. Trying to understand the 'cluster' of failures, but some have seen it as early as April. What was the triggering event, if any? Just dunno.
Touchpad might be involved (???) Perhaps using it puts pressure on the wrong spot, eventually causing a short. Have mostly used external mouse; also, all screws in place. Some were a little loose, and re-tightened, but (knock wood) no failures - yet.
So far today it has shut off four times. Once while I was walking down the stairs, once while I was adjusting on the screen, once while I was closing the lid and once while I was typing.
I have not been able to reproduce any of these shut offs.
I checked to see if one of the previous fixes had failed but they seem to be holding up. The panels and screws seem to be in place and study (when pressed it does not shut off like before) but it still shuts off.
I think I might have shifted it to the right while walking down the stairs and I think that when I was adjusting the screen, the actual case made contact with the surface (I was using a small desk in class that isn't big enough for all four pads to touch the desk). The desk was made of plastic and might have had static build up on it (the backs of the chairs are made of the same material and has a lot of build up). My floor is also carpeted and I was wearing socks (it's pretty cold in my apartment). I wonder if it's a combination of problems that all seem to go wrong at the same time.
I just came across this thread
after calling support and sending my 5150 into DELL. I bought mine 1/04 and started having problems 10/04. At first I thot it was SP2 since I'd just installed it and started noticing the problems. I dumped SP2 did a complete re-install of XP Home but still had the same problem. When I called support they had me do the same re-install (after I told them I'd already tried that). She had me connect an external monitor with same results, touch a spot around the touch pad/cd drive "crash". She gave me a dispatch number and the next day had my box to send it in. Now I'm just waiting, coming upon 1 week and I'm going to start calling to find out the status. I was told they will be replacing the mobo and palm rest. I just wanted to add my mobo to the pile incase it helps in some way get those out of warranty a fix/recall.
Thanks for the input, Slade. I speculated on 10/4 and 10/8 (yes, this thread has been going a while) a possible link to SP2, and backed away from that, based on what the others were reporting. Especially since some had observed the problem before the SP2 release. While it is still possible, it's a real stretch: either SP2 is unmasking a sensitivity to the open/short circuit, or SP2 introduces a bus driver conflict, which in turn compromises motherboard trace(s). If the latter, return to SP1 would not fix the blown trace(s). Like I said, it's a stretch.
Sure wish Dell would give us some feedback on their failure analysis of the returned boards, so that we can get a handle on this. Otherwise we (including those with replaced boards if there has been no design change) have a 'ticking time bomb' on our hands. Is it a flange scraping the board, some mis-dressed wiring being 'crunched', ... what ??? :smileymad:
This isn't a software issue, I don't think. Mine was acting up before installing SP2. The only thing, I don't know about is the BIOS updates. It seemed like I started having problems after upgrading from ver. 28 to ver. 36. I don't know if it was a factor or not. I just contacted tech support who is sending me a box to ship mine back to dell. They cleaned the heatsink and fan assembly a week ago, but the problem resurfaced 3 days later. Maybe once these things get hot, they damage the mobo's somehow? Who knows. I hope dell replaces the mobo this time. I'm running out of warranty time.
Yes! thank you mnorri. There is no way that this has anything to do with SP2 or windows XP. "Why?" you might ask? Because I'm running Suse 9.1. The problem started for me in linux, and was still occuring when I use my windows XP drive. Now a BIOS update, that may be a cause. I was thinking, if they changed the fan speed configuration on these BIOS updates, wouldn't it be possible if the laptops were then over heating, or at least getting more hot than before, and like someone else said in this thread: damage the mother board just enough to cause a short.
I just sent mine out today :(
How log has it been taking for everyone to get theirs back? (Please don't say a month)
How log has it been taking for everyone to get theirs back? (Please don't say a month)
Mine went out last wednesday 27 Oct 2004 (due to missing the DHL dude) I would have had it back last night but once again I missed the DHL dude. So it will be here today 2 Nov 2004. They coould give better warning as to delivery time. Once I get it and get it all reloaded I'll report back as to bios ver, and anything else I can find out.
aznman43
62 Posts
0
October 29th, 2004 13:00
rich1980
14 Posts
0
October 29th, 2004 14:00
WHEN DID YOU GET YOUR LAPTOP?
January 13th 2004
WHEN DID THE PROBLEM FIRST HAPPEN?
October 20-25th
Very similar dates to yours, threepointonefour
Quick update from me: I left my laptop on a couple of days and when I went back it was dead. It no longer powers up or anything. Dell support seem confident they can help and have given me a list of things to try but I suspect it will end up being sent back under warranty.
Rybo Flavin
21 Posts
0
October 29th, 2004 17:00
threepointonefo
39 Posts
0
October 29th, 2004 17:00
rhammersmith
8 Posts
0
October 30th, 2004 17:00
Got my laptop back yesterday and so far it hasn't crashed yet. They said they were going to replace the touchpad, but the document they shipped back with it said they replaced the motherboard. I certainly hope the motherboards they are putting in to fix this problem are designed differently than the original motherboard.
For those tracking this, I received my laptop 1-10-04 and the problem began just at the end of September.
dspman
306 Posts
0
October 30th, 2004 19:00
aznman43
62 Posts
0
October 30th, 2004 20:00
Slade_wv
3 Posts
0
October 31st, 2004 12:00
dspman
306 Posts
0
November 1st, 2004 01:00
Thanks for the input, Slade. I speculated on 10/4 and 10/8 (yes, this thread has been going a while) a possible link to SP2, and backed away from that, based on what the others were reporting. Especially since some had observed the problem before the SP2 release. While it is still possible, it's a real stretch: either SP2 is unmasking a sensitivity to the open/short circuit, or SP2 introduces a bus driver conflict, which in turn compromises motherboard trace(s). If the latter, return to SP1 would not fix the blown trace(s). Like I said, it's a stretch.
Sure wish Dell would give us some feedback on their failure analysis of the returned boards, so that we can get a handle on this. Otherwise we (including those with replaced boards if there has been no design change) have a 'ticking time bomb' on our hands. Is it a flange scraping the board, some mis-dressed wiring being 'crunched', ... what ??? :smileymad:
mnorri
5 Posts
0
November 1st, 2004 02:00
This isn't a software issue, I don't think. Mine was acting up before installing SP2. The only thing, I don't know about is the BIOS updates. It seemed like I started having problems after upgrading from ver. 28 to ver. 36. I don't know if it was a factor or not. I just contacted tech support who is sending me a box to ship mine back to dell. They cleaned the heatsink and fan assembly a week ago, but the problem resurfaced 3 days later. Maybe once these things get hot, they damage the mobo's somehow? Who knows. I hope dell replaces the mobo this time. I'm running out of warranty time.
Cheers!
-Mack
threepointonefo
39 Posts
0
November 1st, 2004 19:00
cordless_larry
69 Posts
0
November 1st, 2004 19:00
KingSnake1
2 Intern
•
193 Posts
0
November 1st, 2004 23:00
It's worth the wait to get your notebook working again.
dspman
306 Posts
0
November 2nd, 2004 03:00
mnorri, there is no definitive clue yet. Users with bios A34 and earlier (before fan changes) report the problem.
BTW: You might want to extend your warranty while you still can.
Slade_wv
3 Posts
0
November 2nd, 2004 11:00