*OFFICIAL* M17xR3 Owner's Lounge Thread - Part 2

There are website you can go to where the whole screen will be different solid colors. You can use this to verify if it is stuck and possibly unstick it

 

Yeah I will do that before I call Dell. I also found two spots where it looks like a dead pixel but it is not. It's some kind of impurity in the glass.

It's really small and barely visible but once you know where it is you can see it.

I wonder if I am being too picky on this.

 

I hate you so much, I forgot to check mine for dead pixels and I just found one (just one..) that is stuck on white and colors, black it looks fine.

I said if another issue came up I'd call for a replacement system.. I guess its my time to call.

Just a question: If I DID get a replacement system would I be able to just transfer my HDDs? They're set in raid0 and I know raid is limited to the computer itself.. I'm assuming I'm going to have to do a recovery.

Pic of my dead pixel can be found here (click to see it) siiiiiiiiiiiiigh.

 

Once you receive your replacement PC, just switch the HDD.

 

I could do that but the raid0 settings are saved ON THIS computer. I'm thinking I'm going to have to wipe..

Glad I made recovery disks.

 

Yeah you will have to format.

 

You should be able to just set RAID enabled in the bios. It should see the drives and automatically show them in an array unless I am mistaken.

Creating a new array will wipe them for sure. If you have a spare hard disk and enclosure, image the raid array to that disk. Then you can create the array on the new laptop and move the image to the array. That is what I do.

 

Fresh install

 

Mmm tech support told me they aren't going to do anything for a single dead pixel. I told the guy flat out that returns offered me a brand new system less than an hour ago. Hes transferring me.

Now I just hope I can get a decent system that performs as well as this one without the issues...

 

Assuming they will send him the new one first then allow him to send the return one back. Useally if they cross-ship like that, they want a credit card to secure the return of the old one. They wont charge the card but generally will authorise the ammount, and when they recieve the return unit, release the authorisation.

 

Just called... Same specs, same nameplate, brand new, I get it in 7-10 days guaranteed and its shipped via next business day.

...Why does that seem so easy to do? I feel like something is going to go horribly wrong after seeing some of the stories around here. It was just a 10-20 minute phone call.

I "double and triple" confirmed that it is a NEW SYSTEM, with the SAME NAMEPLATE and SPECS and is shipped NBD, She said "you will receive it guarunteed 7-10 days if not before".. I'd assume its safe to say I can throw a fit if any of that isn't matched.

EDIT: Also I'm not one of those hot headed types of people but I do have expectations.. I'll give Dell a shot to get the replacement right and then if that isn't right I'll start getting angry / disappointed / whatever.

 

I doubt, honestly, 7-10 days...build time and shipping from place of manufature (China). BTW, just to mention, that NBD shipping means once its cleared US customs....not once it leaves factory. And, as I am sure you know, thats 7-10 weekdays.

Assuming you order today.

China gets order day 1
parts compilation and build day 2, 3 and 4 (at BEST time frame)
delivered to FedEx China day 5
Customs China day 6
Flight to Alaska day 7
US Customs day 8
NBD shipping day 9

Thats if everything go es with out a hitch.......

 

Speedy, what did you flash it with? My defaults are 100Mhz less on the clocks.

 

Anyone else a power supply other than the Alienware 240w with their M17xR3?

I'm using an old Dell 90w PA-10 and it is able to power the laptop with reduced performance but the real kicker is that it doesn't charge the battery. So, this may be a good way to avoid charging the laptop unnecessarily.

 

OMG PEOPLE, please read the threads before asking questions. He answered this question in great detail already just a few pages back.

 

I would just remove the battery.....

 

On premium screens if you got anything 4 or more you screen will be replaced. And tell those Dell morons that you have a HD 1920*1080 screen.

IF YOU CAN SEE A DEAD PIXEL AT THIS RESOLUTION YOU CAN BE REST ASSURED ITS NOT ONE SINGLE PIXEL THATS AFFECTED. ITS A CLUSTER. AND CHECK YOUR SYSTEMS RIGHT AFTER YOU RECEIVE EM. DO NOT ACCEPT SCREEN REPLACEMENTS. ITS A MAJOR HASSLE AND YOU ARE NOT GUARANTEED TO GET NEW PANELS REST ASSURED. I have a very thorough experience with Dell on this.

I had pasted the link for Dell Dead Pixel policy somewhere b4. This is page is hidden among Dell pages......What do you expect!!!!

 

Alright. Don't bite my head for posting this, but I did do a little search before this post. My SSD came in today. It's a Corsair P3-64, 64GB SATA III. So far I've switched out the HDD, went into bios and changed from raid to AHCI or w/e. Without even formating it, I tried to install on the whole drive's "unallocated" partition. This went all the way through until it was trying to update the OS. Now I'm trying to install the OS on a partition, which consequentially made a 100 MB reserved Windows partition. However, I have to get going to work now and I will not be around for the result. The favor I need is either to confirm that this is the right process, or to point me to a guide around this forum. Thanks in advance!

 

They're sending me a new one in 7-10 days.. Though I find it hard to believe that because of how simple it was to ask and I won't believe it until I get the email saying its being built.

First thing I'm going to do is test everything wrong with this.

Dead pixels, stress tests, rattle, keyboard flex, broken speaker grills, etc.

 

Let Windows 7 deal with partitions itself when installing @ssd.
If the drive shipped with a partition, I would secure erase before installing OS.

 

My unit is still in production right now, but I am starting to worry that something is going to be wrong with it based off of the issues that I have read about here... I know that there is nothing to do but wait, but its really hard not to worry.

Has anyone used the keyboard for anything yet besides typing in web addresses and gaming yet (well, forum posts here I guess )? I am just wondering what your impressions are on the keyboard for typing. I know there is flex when it's pressed on hard enough, but do you guys feel that it is good for typing? Has it missed keystrokes or anything like that? Thanks in advance!

 

Its fine for typing, I actually like it over a lot of laptop keyboards (Though I still prefer the DECK Legend)

I wouldn't worry too bad about the Alienware, just look through it and be VERY thorough and you'll be fine.

Stress test, dead pixel test, look at how everything fits together, etc. You'll be fine

 

Awesome, thanks. It's just nervous anticipation. Glad to know the keyboard does the typing duties well.

 

Hey guys,

Anyone trying to reinstall fresh windows 7 on your R3? Mine took forever to install it. Much longer than in R2. The total time to install was like 40-60 mins.

Any idea ???????????

 

As I type I am in the middle of running some benches on my R2 for some direct comparisons when I get my R3. I am running 3DMark Vantage, 3DMark 06 (I know-Old), Unigine Heaven, WPrime and Furmark. Any other ideas??

 

I like using the Crysis benchmark tool to get a real use scenario (game)

 

Don't have Crysis. Never played it. So I've never installed. Might see if I can get it from a friend and play it for a few.

 

I believe you can still download the demo to use for benchmarking:

Crysis Demo Download Live Countdown October 26th 2007 PC EA Games

Try that link.

I used it to bench my M15x

 

I should run that on my system........got a url for it ?

 

Almost 2 gigs!!! Gotta wait till I get home to dl that. It would take 5 days through my phone.

 

Well since you don't have the game installed it has to download a large chunk of game to render the needed stuff

 

here is crysis with 780-1000 clocks on the 6970

 

you need to do this to overclock the 6970 http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...7x-benchmark-thread-part-4-a.html#post7256792

 

Will download the benchmark tool and run it later, am at work now so would rather not run it right now, all sorts vm's running right now anyway

 

Looks like the 6970m and GTX 485m are single cards that can beat my pair of 4870s

My R1 is showing its age lol

 

I remember last couple times you say that but you can still play games can't you?

 

No clue, have not used my R1 for MONTHS to play games lol.....ever since I got my desktop up and running (it is beautiful indeed) I have been using it. I did use the M17x during the desktop construction though.....(which went from pre thanksgiving to post new years)

The M17x is sort of my backup computer/portable blu-ray player lol. And I use it to do some tests occasionally like the A07 BIOS (and the modded A06)

 

R3 replacement order is in production.

They got everything right but the 3 year warranty / accidental and all that is missing from the list. I am assuming it will transfer?

 

Ugh. I'm having troubles installing the Windows 7 Home Premium that came with the laptop onto my new Corsair P3-64 SDD. Now I'm trying to install Windows 7 Pro that I had extra. Any pointers? Thanks.

Update:
Same exact F'n error!!!
After the completion of the OS and restart, I get a black screen saying:
Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might be the cause. To fix the problem:
1. Insert your Winows installation disc and restart your computer.
2. Chose your language settings, and then click "Next."
3. Click "Repair your computer."

If you do not have this disc, contact your system administrator or computer manufacturer for assistance.
File: \Windows\System32\config\system
Statsu: 0xc000000f
Info: Windows failed to load because the system registry file is missing, or corrupt.

Please help!!!

 

if it's not, call em up.. should be a fairly straightforward fix

 

Yes, it will transfer as soon as the replacement's service tag is moved over to your customer account. When my XPS M1730 was replaced with the M17xR1, it was not until I returned my XPS M1730 using the pre-printed airbill that my warranty was moved to the new system. Dont worry - it will move over. If it doesn't after a week or so once you ship the original back, give them a call.

 

YouTube - Dell Vostro 3400 rattle -- Same as R3... This is to piggyback on X3NIA's previous video demonstrating the noisy keyboard/frame. The computer in my video, captured from my cell phone, is of the Dell Vostro 3400 dated 2010, from my work. The computer is pretty durable, but has flex of course, and the same noisy plasticky/metal rattle as the R3. I guess this is just a regular thing with most computers now, cuz the previous Dell Latitude we had at work did the same thing

I created a youtube account just for this, and in anticipation of my future video reviews

 

Have a question, these machines come with 1year warranty so if you buy the 3 year package is that an extra 3 years or just 3 inclusive, what would happen if you waited until the first year was up then could you not extend for 3 years

 

Oh hey I'm not completely alone in my rattling . Seems to have that same tinny rattle in certain areas when tapped. Is yours bad enough to happen when typing?

Its REALLY bad when typing on a solid wood table.. Either way I got a replacement coming to solve other issues.. The rattle doesn't really bother me as much as the plastic wrapper in my heatsink and the dead pixels on my screen and I won't be completely bothered if the other system does it as well. If your drive is on the same side I'd think its safe to assume some sort of mechanism or SOMETHING in the optical drive is causing it.

Also unrelated I almost want to say don't search actively for dead pixels. I found mine after being relatively happy for a few days and now I can't stop noticing them LOL. Ignorance is bliss

 

check bios is not in raid

 

I seldom feel/hear the rattle when I'm typing. It usually happens if my palms hit the palmrest. And yes, I agree about using the lappy at my desk at work (which is made of wood hahah). Also, when we use the laptop in the conference room, when I set it down on the table it makes that rattle. I really do believes its all the flimsy metal/aluminum lining on the inside. Or as you suggest, it could be the brackets holding in the drives. The vostro has a regular tray DVD drive, not a slot-load, btw. Gotta say this again though: My old HP doesnt do any of this

Dead pixels: I found one on my first PSP and noticed it every day afterward. My 2nd PSP had the same, and I learned to ignore it. But I can honestly say that it took a while to learn to ignore it haha. Same with my nds.

 

I have this 'rattling' sound too, its definitely coming from the area directly about the right speaker / light (the dvd / blu-ray drive area). I think is it the retention mechanism inside the drive itself doing it. Try inserting a disc into the drive, after doing this mine doesn't rattle anymore.

So, while slightly annoying it doesn't seem to be something to worry about. I don't really hear it while typing unless I start hitting my keys really hard (while on a wood table).

 

You can extend your warranty for 3 years for a total of 4 years of coverage. My warranty expires 3/3-/2011. I just extended for another year . And in talking with the tech, I can extend again before that waraty expires. Since I already have 2 years of possible coverage 'used', I can still get 2 more, provided I re-up before my current warranty expires. Got it???

 

Ive noticed alot of people have chosen the 2820QM is it really worth it? I also noticed some has Intel i7-2920XM Extreme? is this true?

 

The 2920XM will fit, but I don't thinl it is available on Dells site yet. And a pretty pricey jump from 2820 to 2920-about $500-600 I believe.