I think my problem is finally resolved. What I did was kept calling Dell support and going through their troubleshooting steps until they finally gave in and sent a tech to replace my motherboard.
Though I haven't been pleased with Dell's telephone support, I have nothing but praise for the way things were handled after they decided to replace the motherboard. The very next morning a tech came out on site and replaced the motherboard; and I was running by noon.
Now when my machines boots, an unusual difference that I've noted is the base video mode is still 640x480 during the Win2K load & startup screens except that the video isn't expanded to full screen; it's within a smaller "window" centered on my display. And when Windows switches to the high resolution video mode (when the system typically locked up) all seems well (typed while crossing fingers and knocking on wood).
I don't really understand why changing the motherboard would change the initial expanded video mode. Apparently the video card is separate from the motherboard and was not exchanged as part of my repair.
I would suggest you keep calling support until they agree to replace the MB.
My C840 is from July 2002 and recently developed problems on start up.
The Dell Tech Support advised a disc format and reinstall of the Win2K O/S
This hasn't fixed the problem because the nVidia drivers cause the boot to fail randomly. Now into day three and various suggestions received, but no nearer a proper solution.
Like other postings on this forum, I'm sceptical that the nVidia card is forward compatible. Using the 'latest' drivers and BIOS hasn't worked.
My attempts to get back to a July 2002 configuration have been unheeded so far.
The other big gripe is that Dell's attitude to support is that the user must do all the diagnostic testing because Dell engineers do not provide this service. Their business model is totally off the wall - targeting the home user and expecting 'granny' to equip herself with earth strap, screwdriver etc... for the diagnostic cycle!!!
Dell - get your engineer's on the road and start servicing the customer properly
I made some progress by browsing the Forum pages and realising I was 'not alone' with my problem. The video display problem I was encountering has been solved after finding the link to www.laptopvideo2go.com. Plenty of evidence that Dell have failed to provide support for the ageing nVidia GeForce4 440 adapter on the C840 Latitude. (I'ved used the modded driver and immediately restored the 1600 x 1200 resolution).
Not the end of my issues however, as after normal startup , the C840 then locks up for no apparent reason. Results are random but a 'cold' laptop tends to work for longer periods than when it's been running for a while.
I've called Dell (rather than persist with the /FAST email option) and the technician listened attentively to what I described after the last three days of grief. Conclusion was that the problem is hardware related (original advice was a software conflict) and like you, I now have an engineer coming to replace the motherboard! Watch this space .... but I may have spent the last three days trying to fix something that wasn't broke:smileymad:
Your screen resolution problem sounds like you still have a video driver issue?
I'll post again after my motherboard is swapped out...
No good news - the motherboard swap left the C840 refusing to boot at all!
The engineer reckoned it's common for Dell parts to be pronounced DOA (dead on arrival). Worst still it was claimed that Dell issue refurbished parts in response to hardware failures.
Anyway, the problem continues and I have to wait for replacement parts to be shipped and the engineer to call again. Keep watching this space.
To instill confidence, the engineer remarked that he could see why Dell shipped a motherboard and not a replacement video adapter card! :smileysurprised:
The second visit from the same engineer with another replacement motherboard, three daysafter the first call. The result ws the same - C840 refuses to boot at all.
In escalating to Dell's Tech Support Management, I have been disappointed that the only initiative was to book a third call "with another motherboard replacement". Third time lucky...! :smileymad:
When I reminded the Dell manager that the engineer (Banctec not Dell) had spoken with his support team and requested a motherboard, video adapter and processor for the next service call, the manager was unaware. Clearly the service engineer attending is not receiving the proper support from Dell!
As it stands the manager has agreed to go away and talk to the support team to see if these additional parts should be shipped for the engineer to replace.
The resolution time for this problem is coming to the end of the second week. It is surprising that Dell send out parts that appear to be DOA, and yet they do not seem to care.
I'm sorry to hear that your machine has been dead for so long. I'm surprised that these motherboards would be DOA from Dell service. Maybe the issue is in fact a video board? I hope the service tech is successfully able to order both in for replacement.
If the tech does get a new MB & Video board, it would be interesting to see if just replacing the video board brings your machine to life.
Though my machine has been "better"; it still does suffer from the occasional problem of the blank screen on boot; even after the MB has been replaced. It's now about 1 in 8 boots; so I can live with it for while. Maybe the video card is the common problem with both of our machines.
:smileyvery-happy:Hopefully the last posting from me on this subject (?)
Today, the Dell (Banctec) engineer replaced the C840 Motherboard / CPU / Video Adapter Card / CPU Heatsink after I called the Tech Support Manager last week.
On the face of it, the laptop now boots normally and I'm leaving it to warm up and check it's behaviour then. I'll repeat some of the earlier tests but remain of the opinion that the original problem was the adapter card not the motherboard. The video driver is still the one I downloaded from the web (modified not nVidia original).
Of course, I now have to reinstall all software after the original Dell diagnosis was to format and reinstall the O/S :smileymad:
mpodhor1
3 Posts
0
December 9th, 2004 16:00
Grey Beard
8 Posts
0
December 9th, 2004 16:00
The problem is so familiar.
My C840 is from July 2002 and recently developed problems on start up.
The Dell Tech Support advised a disc format and reinstall of the Win2K O/S
This hasn't fixed the problem because the nVidia drivers cause the boot to fail randomly. Now into day three and various suggestions received, but no nearer a proper solution.
Like other postings on this forum, I'm sceptical that the nVidia card is forward compatible. Using the 'latest' drivers and BIOS hasn't worked.
My attempts to get back to a July 2002 configuration have been unheeded so far.
The other big gripe is that Dell's attitude to support is that the user must do all the diagnostic testing because Dell engineers do not provide this service. Their business model is totally off the wall - targeting the home user and expecting 'granny' to equip herself with earth strap, screwdriver etc... for the diagnostic cycle!!!
Dell - get your engineer's on the road and start servicing the customer properly
Grey Beard
8 Posts
0
December 10th, 2004 11:00
I made some progress by browsing the Forum pages and realising I was 'not alone' with my problem. The video display problem I was encountering has been solved after finding the link to www.laptopvideo2go.com. Plenty of evidence that Dell have failed to provide support for the ageing nVidia GeForce4 440 adapter on the C840 Latitude. (I'ved used the modded driver and immediately restored the 1600 x 1200 resolution).
Not the end of my issues however, as after normal startup , the C840 then locks up for no apparent reason. Results are random but a 'cold' laptop tends to work for longer periods than when it's been running for a while.
I've called Dell (rather than persist with the /FAST email option) and the technician listened attentively to what I described after the last three days of grief. Conclusion was that the problem is hardware related (original advice was a software conflict) and like you, I now have an engineer coming to replace the motherboard! Watch this space .... but I may have spent the last three days trying to fix something that wasn't broke:smileymad:
Your screen resolution problem sounds like you still have a video driver issue?
I'll post again after my motherboard is swapped out...
Grey Beard
8 Posts
0
December 13th, 2004 16:00
No good news - the motherboard swap left the C840 refusing to boot at all!
The engineer reckoned it's common for Dell parts to be pronounced DOA (dead on arrival). Worst still it was claimed that Dell issue refurbished parts in response to hardware failures.
Anyway, the problem continues and I have to wait for replacement parts to be shipped and the engineer to call again. Keep watching this space.
To instill confidence, the engineer remarked that he could see why Dell shipped a motherboard and not a replacement video adapter card! :smileysurprised:
Grey Beard
8 Posts
0
December 16th, 2004 13:00
The second visit from the same engineer with another replacement motherboard, three daysafter the first call. The result ws the same - C840 refuses to boot at all.
In escalating to Dell's Tech Support Management, I have been disappointed that the only initiative was to book a third call "with another motherboard replacement". Third time lucky...! :smileymad:
When I reminded the Dell manager that the engineer (Banctec not Dell) had spoken with his support team and requested a motherboard, video adapter and processor for the next service call, the manager was unaware. Clearly the service engineer attending is not receiving the proper support from Dell!
As it stands the manager has agreed to go away and talk to the support team to see if these additional parts should be shipped for the engineer to replace.
The resolution time for this problem is coming to the end of the second week. It is surprising that Dell send out parts that appear to be DOA, and yet they do not seem to care.
mpodhor1
3 Posts
0
December 16th, 2004 13:00
Grey Beard,
I'm sorry to hear that your machine has been dead for so long. I'm surprised that these motherboards would be DOA from Dell service. Maybe the issue is in fact a video board? I hope the service tech is successfully able to order both in for replacement.
If the tech does get a new MB & Video board, it would be interesting to see if just replacing the video board brings your machine to life.
Though my machine has been "better"; it still does suffer from the occasional problem of the blank screen on boot; even after the MB has been replaced. It's now about 1 in 8 boots; so I can live with it for while. Maybe the video card is the common problem with both of our machines.
Best of luck on your repairs.
Grey Beard
8 Posts
0
December 22nd, 2004 09:00
:smileyvery-happy:Hopefully the last posting from me on this subject (?)
Today, the Dell (Banctec) engineer replaced the C840 Motherboard / CPU / Video Adapter Card / CPU Heatsink after I called the Tech Support Manager last week.
On the face of it, the laptop now boots normally and I'm leaving it to warm up and check it's behaviour then. I'll repeat some of the earlier tests but remain of the opinion that the original problem was the adapter card not the motherboard. The video driver is still the one I downloaded from the web (modified not nVidia original).
Of course, I now have to reinstall all software after the original Dell diagnosis was to format and reinstall the O/S :smileymad: