BIG M4400 problem: full system lockup!

Seriously - does anyone know exactly (or even closely) what the problem is? Getting no negative results with normal system diag scans. Nothing in the logs after the crash other than system log message of unexpected shutdown. Nothing obvious kicking off application or system modifications before the events. Is it Hardare, Software or an inebriated lepprchan. (Though these are not mutually excllusive.) You folks have lots of posts but are there solutions out there? Should I just insist on new pc's until one eventually works?

 

I have had my m4400 since october and so far I never even had 1 crash. I haven't tried gaming with it but I have been updating the Bios and drivers as they become available on the Dell website.

If you have tried a fresh install and you still get a system lockup you may have a faulty memory module or something else that is hardware related.

Good Luck!

 

Just a quick check in. I did a reinstall with the original disk image I got from Dell. No luck - still had the lockups. Then I did a completely clean OS install. I don't have all my software loaded back on yet, but I'm putting different pieces on every 3 days or so. No lockups yet. It appears that there was something that was causing the issue from the image dell shipped with the computer. (I hope that was it.)

 

Are you guys following the installation order for the drivers when doing a clean install?

 

Sorry for resurrecting the thread, but I'm having the same issue- with a twist. Problem started as random hard locks- no keyboard, mouse, trackpad, screen brightness, nothing. Restart and system usually comes up. No discernible pattern as to load, heat, activity. Now the system refuses to boot any OS from any Install source- USB, eSATA HDD, Network, Optical Drive. System also randomly powers-on and off. Happens across multiple OSes- Vista x86, Vista x64, Windows 7 x86 and x64 at various builds- Beta, RC1, OEM, all from Microsoft directly. Happens across different Memory and HDDs. Replaced MB and Processor (done myself), Allowed a Tech to replace MB, HDD and Memory, and just received Laptop back from Depot Repair. Problem still exists. Including the troubleshooting Dell had me do before they would send any parts this is 5 tries. I'm going to try and get a replacement laptop.

I purchased my M4400 in October of 2008. Any feeling on if there was a couple of 'bad batches' from this time frame? Thanks in advance for any comments.

 

We also purchased an M440 in Oct 2008. My wife uses it with Autocad, and another design package. The last few months, it has also been freezing up, for no apparent reason. She's currently in Calif, so I can't look at it. May try the bios upgrade when she gets back (it has whatever was installed when we first got it). I'll also be contacting Dell and see what can be done - it sounds like there are some serious problems with these machines. Sounds like it should get replaced or credit toward something else.

Currently running XP Pro, 4G memory available (should I ever go to Vistas or Win7).

 

I don't know....mine was built in Dec 08 and I've had no issues at all...gaming, running linux, daily use many hours...

You need to get his straightened out with DELL. Most of us don't have any problems, so there could have been a run of a bad batch somehow...it's not unrealistic.

 

So it went for nearly a year without freezing, I'd be looking at my own OS maintenance, software update's, windows update's, viralware, that have possibly caused it before I went telling dell their pc is a pos and expect a refund.
Run the diagnostic's, do a clean install, then tell dell your not happy

 

Weegie....that guy has "1", count, 'one' post to this forum.

 

Oscar Wilde~"Misfortunes one can endure - they come from outside, they are accidents. But to suffer for one's own faults - ah! there is the sting of life."

merry xmas Z