Dead M6400

Update:
I re-imaged my machine from a previous backup - and all seems well - *until* I dock it. As soon as I do that all CPUs hit 100% and the fan comes on.

Any ideas anyone? My feeling is that the Vista auto-magic hardware profile thing is borked...but I don't know enough about it.

I just know that trying to explain this to Dell will result in hours of "What service is causing it" discussions...which , to be honest, I can really do without.

 

Do you have the same problem if the unit is off, then plugged onto the dock and turned on?

Is it a genuine DELL Dock?

 

Next time you call them, tell them you are REALLY computer illiterate, and that you don't even know what a service is.

They will either send a tech to fix it at your place or do it remotely. Either of these should let you avoid that discussion.

 

Yes and yes - I got the dock at the same time as the M6400 from Dell.

If the M6400 is on and I dock - immediate 100% cpu. If I undock - back to normal. If I switch it off and power it up on the dock - 100% cpu (and takes an age to boot!) - undock it and back to normal.

There are a few threads on the internet where computers are showing the same problem - usually HP or IBM machines. I'll keep diagnosing and keep you all posted here.

 

I think watching a tech faff around with my computer for hours would drive me insane! And do-it remotely? I'm not letting folks past my firewall...I do work for the MoD....and I would get strung out by the official secrets act.

 

I see your point. But in reality you need to let them do SOMETHING, right? I mean, if they can't do it physically there, they can't do it remotely, and they can't help you do it yourself over the phone, what else can they do?

I'll give you an example of my own experience -- my E6400's graphics card overheats a lot when playing games or using 3D apps like Google Earth (it goes over 100 degrees). That's a serious problem in my opinion, and Dell has made itself quite available to fix it. They said they wanted to replace the motherboard and heatsink, which they did, and the problem was not fixed (I confess I am still baffled myself). Subsequently I called again and they offered to replace motherboard and heatsink again, which I declined, and kept asking to speak to a senior tech. After a few minutes I was told that I could reach him at a certain hour of the day, I called, and they are now sending a new machine and taking the current one to the factory for investigation. I can keep my HDD, so I will keep all my files.

What I mean is that although I would of course want them to just fix the problem, I have to give them a fair chance at it. They have been quite willing to help and I think that is all you can ask of them for now (of course, if all the goodwill ends up not fixing the problem you should ask your money back or a new machine).

 

Oh I agree. What I will probably do is try to diagnose it myself and then be able to give them some information.

Failing that, I'll ask for a new machine. Just did a Vista System Assesment Test - and the graphics card came out a 2.7...which is very poor! (It was previously 5.9)
I'm doing more tests later today - I'll keep everyone informed.
M

 

Latest update.
Seems to be a thermal issue now - I think that the tech guy that "fixed" it didn't put it back together properly and it is overheating very quickly.

If I am outside in the garden (ambient temp 10C) then the laptop works just fine...but indoors it slows down considerably.

The fans come on with in 20s of boot up. And if you attach an external monitor (or 2 in my case) then the fans never go off.

Dell guys coming again on Monday to try to fix.

 

Dell guy came again today and replaced the MoBo and CPU (again) - why they did this I don't know - as it is a GPU issue.

Anyways...the problem still remains.

I've downloaded Everest diagnostics thingys, and undocked the GPU stabilises at 55C (131F)...but powering the external monitors it stabilises at 84C (183F) - but at that speed the fans are on max (obviously!) and the system has slowed down considerably.

New GPU on the way for tomorrow.

M

 

If that doesn't help get the whole thing replaced, they had their 3 tries.