Something weird happened with my laptop today. After using it, I pressed the power button to turn it off and walked off assuming it would carry on shutting down. I went back about half an hour later and it was stuck (a program wouldn't shut down so windows couldn't shut down). Nothing strange there, but the laptop was scortching hot. I could literally smell the plastic eminating from the gaps in the keyboard it was that hot. Perhaps this could be one of the triggers of the overheating problem? Just a thought.
This has happened to me a couple times and you're right...it was so hot I could smell the plastic. My theory is that, as you said, during shutdown an application "locked-up" and went into an endless loop...thus causing the CPU to run at 100% usage.
Since Windows was in the process of shutting down, it may have already stopped services necessary for running the cooling fan. As a result, you were left with a CPU running at 100% with the fan running at low speed.
i agree that having the CPU at 100% during a crash will cause a ton of heat, but the bios should still kick on the fan, independent of the OS -- I don't think the OS has any hooks that could turn it off completely -- could be very wrong though
YEa ur right same thing happened to me on several occasions too. Oh well My laptop was picked up 7:30PM on Friday so hopefully Ill get it back by next friday. Eww Burning plastic stinks!!
Could that be a trigger? A36 and A37 do let the notebook run hotter at full load than earlier releases, and the cluster occured with those bios releases ... hmmm ... the dots are starting to connect.
For the record, and at the risk of tempting Murphy's law, I have not yet experienced the 'shutdown meltdown' you describe. There is no major damage under the C tab, and I have not had the shutdown problem. Not bragging, just dumb luck so far. Stating some evidence to support the connection you have noted. It's as important to understand the machines that have
not failed, as those that have.
You can add my name 3 times to the list of affected users. I bought a refurbished inspiron 5150 at the begining of January, and was struck with the pressure induced shutdowns in about a month or 2. After long calls to Dell, they sent a service tech that replaced most of my laptop (motherboard, touchpad, videocard, lcd). This fixed the problem for about a month and then it started again. The next time i spoke to dell, they sent me a replacement 5150 and i sent my old one back. I was then happy until now. My laptop is having the same exact problem for the 3rd time! I will call Dell shortly, but am dreading the long phone calls. I just wish I could get some sort of explanation to the problem. At first I thought it was something I might be doing that was causing the problem but seeing so many people with the same symptoms make me feel a lot better. I wonder how many 5150s i will go through by the time my 3 year warrenty is up?
Souer, I've been having the exact same video problems as you. My screen will go black for a second or two, then usually come back. only about 1 out of 10 times has it not come back on. I'm noticing this only on battey power (I'm almost 100% sure).
I recently updated the video drivers, you might want to do the same. I'm not sure what video card you have, but they're are nVidia drivers from 11/2004 on the support site. I haven't had the problem since.
Thanks for the advice, i will do it today. My video card is a nVidia GeForce FX Go5200 64MB, same as yours. I will see if the problem happen again. One more time with that problem and I will call DELL before my warranty expires (in 20 days).
i think what we could do to get dell to take responsibility for this is to report it to the Better Business Bureau. or maybe sent emails to MaximumPC's Watchdog. I saw that these guys help a lot of people. also send letters to other big computer magazines. they have more say than us.
I also agree with the idea of sending letters to the Better Business Bureau, I read PC magazine monthly and I remember reading where a bunch of customers complained of the same problem and the Company then gave them all new comps. Whoohhoooo I wouldnt mind a 9200 :smileyvery-happy:
This post may get deleted, but I do not feel as though dell is going to respond to letters in a pc mag, maybe a class-action would be more beneficial to getting our computers "fixed". I now not only experience the "pressure power-off", but also green pixilation when my machine heats up. I do not feel as though I can with good faith recommend dell to my customers any longer.
I agree with 829... class-action seems like the logical route. Does anyone have experience with it or know a lawyer that handles these types of actions? I continue to fight with Dell, but cannot get my phone call returned currently.
Rybo Flavin
21 Posts
0
December 5th, 2004 20:00
rich1980 said:
Something weird happened with my laptop today. After using it, I pressed the power button to turn it off and walked off assuming it would carry on shutting down. I went back about half an hour later and it was stuck (a program wouldn't shut down so windows couldn't shut down). Nothing strange there, but the laptop was scortching hot. I could literally smell the plastic eminating from the gaps in the keyboard it was that hot. Perhaps this could be one of the triggers of the overheating problem? Just a thought.
This has happened to me a couple times and you're right...it was so hot I could smell the plastic. My theory is that, as you said, during shutdown an application "locked-up" and went into an endless loop...thus causing the CPU to run at 100% usage.
Since Windows was in the process of shutting down, it may have already stopped services necessary for running the cooling fan. As a result, you were left with a CPU running at 100% with the fan running at low speed.
rich1980
14 Posts
0
December 5th, 2004 20:00
NemesisDB
2 Intern
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7.9K Posts
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December 5th, 2004 22:00
METALGEAR
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December 5th, 2004 22:00
aznman43
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December 6th, 2004 00:00
dspman
306 Posts
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December 6th, 2004 01:00
Souer
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December 6th, 2004 01:00
iamDrewbacca
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December 6th, 2004 02:00
threepointonefo
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December 6th, 2004 11:00
Souer
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December 6th, 2004 14:00
quangdaika
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December 6th, 2004 19:00
METALGEAR
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December 7th, 2004 00:00
829
2 Posts
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December 7th, 2004 02:00
Message Edited by 829 on 12-06-2004 10:51 PM
DrewUNH
6 Posts
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December 7th, 2004 11:00
DrewUNH
6 Posts
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December 7th, 2004 11:00
Dear DrewUNH,
You are on the Dell Preferred Accounts Board. Click on this link and go post your problems there...
http://forums.us.dell.com/supportforums/board?board.id=insp_general
Please let me know if you need further assistance with any other matter.
Thank you,
Denise W.