Serveral Problems with my new M17xR2

Hello folks,
my first post in this forum and already a problem .
I received my M17xR2 less than a week ago.
Beforehand I had an Asus G73, and well I'm absolutely stunned by the high build quality of the M17x. I couldn't be more happy if it weren't for those problems.

First of all, if it's of interest:
Specs: i7-740qm, single hd 5870, 4 gb ram, 500 gb hdd
Drivers: The most recent from the dell page, except the ati driver and vbios (still on stock versions)
Bios rev. A07

a) One of the usb ports does not work properly (the one which sits on the right side and is closer to you when sitting in front of the laptop). When I attach any usb storage (hdds, usb sticks) to that port the laptop is unable to install the driver and the external storage is not recognized.
If I install the driver via another usb port first, then my usb stick is recognized. However, when copying many files an error will occur. HDDTune will show many defective sectors when scanning a usb stick attached to that port.
Furthermore booting live-linux from that port is not possible as well, so usb sticks on that port are not even recognized by bios.

All other ports, even the esata combo one, work as expected.
What do you say? Sounds like a defective port in my opinion.

b) AlienFX in the grills and the Alienware logo. The lights in the left and right speaker grills glow in different colors while they should have the same.
It is noticeable for every color except red, green and blue. There is always a small difference between the two grills which really annoys me.




Next problem concerning AlienFX is the color white. The grills as well as the Alienware logo look pinkish when white is selected.



c) Last but not least: (Those points are not that important, but while I'm at it.. )
- There is a small gap between the speaker grills the aluminum chassis
- The laptop creaks when fully opening the display
- There is a little bit of black paint missing right above the Alien head on the hinge

So what do I want?
I will call the dell support because of the usb port. That can't be right.

For the points listed under b) and c) I'd like to know if it's the same for you or if I got a faulty unit (which I become more and more used to... ).
Isn't there any hardware today that just works? I still enjoy the M17x but I wouldn't have expected those problems for such an expensive laptop.
Thanks for your help,
Donnus

 

Yep definitely ring Dell and report to them all these problems. Also since you have only gotten the machine less than a week ago you should be eligible to get a replacement for this machine. Sending it back and they will send you a new one again sort of scenario.
For the bad usb port they would most likely try to change your motherboard. However seeing as its such a new system exchanging it out for another newer one would most likely be best.

On a side note I too have noticed some weird colours on my R1. When I select black for example it actually shows green LOL. I'm not to sure if its new software or a problem with hardware which causes the off colours.

It just seems to be luck of the draw these days no matter how expensive or cheap something costs. Some will receive a fully working machine with no flaws and others may receive a brick in the packaging lol. Literally a red brick. eheheheheh.

Cheers.

 

The Alien FX is great but not perfect. I've noticed that "pinkish" white on my old M15x as well as my boyfriend's Aurora ALX. I believe its because they mix certain colors together to produce new ones. That's why the red, blue, green look so good, yet others are not quite right. There isn't a single light for each color.

However, they should match on all sides. That does look like a defect.

 

You need to call Dell and report the problems, you have 21 days to return and replace or refund. Do now you will be allowed to keep using this one until the new one arrives then send the defective one back Good luck!

 

the white is always going to be pinkish in certain areas. I've had a m17x r1 and r2 and they both do the pinkish white...

The other issues sound look somewhat defective. Have you tried uninstalling the OSD and Alien FX and re-installing? Try this before you get on the horn with AW...

Have you manually tried changing the colors on each area individually rather than having everything change at once? This may also help. Anyway, try it out and post with your results. I'll try to help you out

 

-The gap between the palm rest and aluminum frame near the grill is normal.
-The pinkish whites are normal, it's a function of how multicolored LED's work.
-The failing USB port is not normal, you need a system replacement.
-The missing paint is not normal, again, you need a system replacement.

 

I've even reformatted the laptop and installed the newest Command Center and OSD software from the dell page. No improvement though.

I have set up different colors for different areas. However, you can't setup the grills individually. So in theory they should have the same color.

Sad to hear that I need a new system. I've already had a troublesome time with the Asus G73. I'm curious what dell support will tell me tomorrow.

Not sure about the 21 days here in Germany, I guess I only have 14. Hopefully I can keep it until receiving a new one as I need a laptop right now.

Thank you all very much for your answers. You really helped me out.

 

My new M17xR2 cpu just started rattling and vibrating yesterday. it's making lots of faint but audible vibrating sound, like something is touching the fan from inside. black paint on the right grill has chipped off and left LCD and base are not aligned properly when closed. talk about build quality.

anyway, im waiting for my replacement M17xR2, so i dont really care about the current unit anymore. for a premium branded and priced laptop, the quality isnt too great at all.

 

There are always problems in a mass produced product, it's to be expected. That doesn't reflect the build quality of the system which is by far one of the best if not the best on the market.

 

nothing else should have been posted after this, there is no other correct advise. get it fixed man!

 

The system may well be one of the most exquisite and finely crafted laptops ever built but if you can't replace the Catalyst drivers every month, what practical use does it have as a gaming platform?

 

What makes you think you can't? That's to be determined with the new vbios. Good luck finding any gaming system on the market that works better.

 

AMD & Dell for the 5000 series cards. The 4870 were adaptable to generic Catalyst but that is ancient history at this point. I don't think anyone is any closer to finding a solution to the Catalyst issue than they were 3 months ago. Dell can't even release an updated driver for the 5870 CF without pulling it so I really don't think much is going to change with the M17x R2 to be honest to those considering buying it. The last time I heard someone flashing a vbios they bricked their card so not sure how likely Dell is to encourage customers to flash their vbios. One has to assume at this point that there is more to the story than meets the casual eye. I agree with you that this is your best choice for a gaming laptop if you narrow the playing field.

 

What the hell are you going on about? What Catalyst issue? The vbios has been updated (AND WILL BE ON SUPPORT.DELL.COM) and the system runs like a champ with the AMD 10.8 release as well as Dell's own modified 8.763. Problem solved, case closed, end of story. Your complaining has no merit as of now. In 2 months if the reference drivers don't work, then come back and complain.

 

lol howd they brick it? i flash my vbios like every other day. dude you chime in with the most ridiculous statements. you are a ball of negativity bro. nothing positive ever come from your keyboard. if you hold such disdain for AW, sell your laptop and move to another forum to spread your negativity.

 

Totally agree.

 

Too bad for those who bought the M17x based on your boastful promises of generic Catalyst working with 5870 CF in an Alienware M17x. I told this forum back in May they wouldn't work but you didn't listen and still keep promising things that are not meant to be. Why lie to people?

 

I think this guy is on drugs.

 

wow, where is batboy when you need him? he should delete all these posts, why? beacuse where is the point? nobody lied. everything thing that you post against in your incoherent ramblings, are backed up with factual statements the PROVE, the statements. how is it your always involved with people making ridiculous arguments that are unequivocally wrong? i think that you need to spend less the the touted "18" hours a day in front of your computer, step back from the couch, put down the 2 liter of Pepsi, and take a whiff of reality. i pray for mod intervention. its like watching Peter griffin wax intellectual, yet somehow, alot less funny.

 

I guess some of you are feeling a tad frusterated that their system doesn't work with monthly generic Catalyst Drivers. I can understand that frusteration especially when certain people keep building up expectations every month with their dog and pony show work arounds. I like my Alienware but don't see the need to pump every month when it has major issues with Catalyst generic drivers.

 

Just to let you know after the massive thread hijacking that went on the last page of my thread:
I called dell support and they'll send a technician who is supposed to take care of all my problems. Well, I'll see...

By the way, the driver discussion which went on for the last page has no relevance for me. In the last 7 days I've had zero problems with the dell ati driver.

 

You tell them Donnus!!!

 

Forums are a public tool people use to voice opinions and to help others.

Everything you post is under constant scrutiny. Not only what it is you have to say, but also how you articulate it.

Granted nobody is perfect, but it doesn't mean people shouldn't spell check before posting. One spelling mistake is understandable, but making two errors of the same word is just ridiculous!

'frusterated' & 'frusteration', are not words!

 

Thank you for the clearafacation , jk