Small black dot on the screen...

Just noticed that in the central-right area of the display there's a little black dot, which is exactly a dot, clear shape, thing is i would've posted a screenshot, but when im pressing print screen, adding it to a file, no black dot there.
So my question is of course: could that be a broken pixel and is what is any software app to check the screen?

edit: I'd also mention that since day 1 I feel difference in color reflection between left and right sides of the monitor, left side shows rather darker, where as white is crystal sharp.

thanks!

 

open a white page/image etc. sounds like it's a dead pixel.

 

thats exactly how I found it. white page in browser...
so it does sound like a dead pixel, right? Damn....!!!

 

use this to check LCD Dead Pixel Test Backgrounds

 

thanks, kvn.
black dot appears on all except for, of course, black.
well.. I'm guessing it's a dead pixel after all...
assuming the following, 2 questions: should I really start a headache involving calling dell and asking for screen replacement?
and second, if yes, can any1 tell me of any tips to avoid the unnecessary steps they usually take like uninstalling the drivers and all that bull stuff?

 

I had this problem on my M15x but it was a red dead pixel. I believe they have a policy regarding to this issue. If it's a certain color at a certain location, 1 is enough to be qualified for a replacement screen but I'm not sure what the policy is for black. When you give them a call, simply tell them what is happening and they will ask you to connect your monitor to their screen via program. After connected, the rep will ask you to put your mouse over where the dead pixel is and they determine from there. BUT when they try to replace your screen, they WILL damage your computer to a certain degree. Unless you get REALLY lucky with the tech that comes over, I'm pretty sure it will have some marks here and there. My M15x pretty much got destroyed after 3 tech attempts to fix an issue caused by the 1st tech so I requested a refund although I had it for 3 months or so. Always be polite with all techs and reps! If your friendly with techs, they will try to cover all the damages caused by them and they will actually try to convince the Dell reps to give you a replacement on behalf of their mistakes. But I just took the full refund and upgraded myself to an M17x-R2 so that's my story!
**
I don't think I answered your #2 question. It really depends on the rep you talk to. Most of them know what a dead pixel is and the policy as well. So anyone with some knowledge on their mind, they won't ask you to do all that useless attempts!

 

I've read that gently massaging the affected area can fix the pixel.
Sounds fairly silly, but that's what the web-netz have spokens

 

@Doublee
thanks for input, appreciate it. will give dell a call tomorrow will see if i can push for a refund right away...
and this is why:
since it arrived, it has only been a problem so far: first wrong psu, then the vent, then driver issues and what not, some keyboard functions as I've mentioned on forums previously also don't function (w+e+spacebar and s+d+spacebar, took some knowledge on web, this problem occurs mostly with usb keyboards and rarely in laptops and is hardware-related. took a headache only with that. now monitor, seriously, the last thing this monster can do is to shut down and never wake up on me...

p.s. to that: I also have a tendency to believe they do not have ultrasharp RGB screens, can any1 provide me with part number please?

@kunekaden
what's the claim for massaging the area? that sounds not just silly but technically doesn't make sense (IMO)

 

Dell will tell you (like me) That they won't do anything for small amounts of dead pixels.

I tried to get a refund before I discovered it (lied saying I want to return it) and then discovered my problem and asked for a replacement (Which isn't a RETURN, Right?)

Then I get call 5 hours later from India saying that if I do not keep this system I'll lose the $200 I got offered back.

I told him "But I'm not returning it I'm asking for a replacement for a flawed laptop" and his response was "OKAY SIR I WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THIS THANKYOU FOR CHOOSING DELL"

 

To kick off, most reps i've been speaking with are from Puerto Rico, I had some nice talking to one of those guys (and though he was extremely tired, could sense in his voice) he was extremely helpful and well,
since you mentioned your case,this is not the first issue with machine I got here (sadly) and I believe that counts too.
Thirdly, some people over here wrote about their bad/good experiences with dell reps, I've had completely vice-versa situations, so you never know.
Anyways, I got my GPU fan replacement without even a need of doing anything, I just told the guy "hey, I know what's wrong in there, I know how to replace it, I just need a properly working detail", it arrived 12 hours later.
On the other hand, if i don't get a refund, ill get my part and will try to replace the screen, honestly, I got no intentions of waiting without a laptop again, its a extremely necessary part of my life and no can do without it.

 

It's true that its going to be really hard to get a replacement but just be reasonable. After the techs breaking my laptop, I was offered to send it to depot. Do not waste your time on this. We paid premium for a premium service. Then they will offer you a replacement. Same as you, I had no intention of waiting without a laptop. So I spoke with the manager and told him give me a simple Dell laptop for the time being because the laptop wasn't even working anymore. He said no. At this point, he's gonna just push the replacement method. I told him I need a laptop for college. I was taking a course that time involving Solidworks. I told him that I'm not wasting a quarter worth of tuition because I'm going to class without a damn laptop to study with. He kept saying he couldn't do it. The tech was really on my side because I was so friendly with him. He tried to convince them with me. Anyways after going back and forth with this issue, the manager pretty much gave up and told me another person will be calling you regarding to this issue. Couple days later, another guy calls me and says the same thing the manager says but I told him the same thing what I told the manager then he offered a refund FINALLY. Although he lied and told me tax is NOT refundable. I was like wait what? Just because I'm a student doesn't mean I know nothing about how refund works. So I told him what I knew and he agreed. Next thing you know, full money in my bank account! Hopefully it might help you to get the money that you deserve!

 

Made a decision.
I'm not gonna do anything about this just yet,
want to push for a replacement, but only when I receive some cash to buy a laptop for my lil' sister. Ill get her something cheap and use it myself meanwhile

 

Hope you aren't expecting cash AND a replacement as Dell won't do that.

 

of course am not a replacement would do perfectly

 

UPDATE: so, am right now finishing talking to AW techs, the following is what they told me:
they need to have 5 parts replaced in order to send my system on a replacement review (currently I am missing 1 more replacement )
so they are willing to:
-replace the screen
-replace the keyboard
-replace aw panel with sensor keys
+ in addition to all that they are giving me another 256 gb SSD for my bad experience (another option was one of AW Tactx accessories for free, but I chose SSD)

What u guys think?

P.S. can someone check for me please? RP6JR is the part number for ultrasharp RGB LED screen for r2?

 

That's great news,Le0 !
For the screen part no, there's a thread with part numbers for the m17x, try to Google the number and you should find it (would've done it but I'm on the phone).
Hopefully the screen will be new or in good condition, as they ran out of them for the last builds.

cheers

 

thx mate
well, if its not in a proper condition (which i am going to test with tech standing next to me) i will have him to call AW and demand a proper one, well, in case if they cannot deliver, the law clearly states that replacement should be done with same/better part.
p.s. i tried to google aw parts thread couldnt find it so thats y i am asking it...
p.p.s. how do i put 2 ssds in raid0 in the machine? or is it like...dunno just never changed hds on lap

 

Put them in and select RAID 0 in BIOS

 

thx! +1 rep! hey, since im not familiar with raids, would i have to reinstall system or how does that work? just select raid0 and it'll be all same, no system reinstall required?

p.s. is this normal at all?

 

Le0-

I looked at your screen shot and I am wondering if the correct chipset drivers have been installed on your system. Look at the screen shot I have attached and compare the drivers for the chipset to yours. If you don't have the same, download and update the Intel chipset drivers. You can get the download from Dell or the latest from Intel's web site.

 

OK! here's what I've got so far (screenshot shoot-out )
Version is lil bit outdated... that I agree with.
Maybe this is why Assassin's Creed brotherhood is making system failure once a 20 minutes of game (and except for restart there's nothing you can do)
anyway, here's what I've got:

will try to update teh driver u shown me



edit: though I screwed up the screen shot, version of the driver you screened is same as one i shot (dated for 2009)

 

Le0-

Select the properties for the Intel 5 series controller. Sorry for putting the box around everything under IDE/ATAPI controllers, as that may have been misleading. I should have highlighted only the Intel device.

The Ricoh device is the memory card reader and it would not be related to the motherboard chipset.

 

update: yep, finally it updated, but I still have the same issue with processors.... what teh hell do i do
and yea man i understood you were talking about intel 5 series controller, i just selected ricoh by mistake

but actually what the description says here is :
A driver (service) for this device has been disabled. An alternate driver may be providing this functionality. (Code 32)
maybe this is due to 5% bios OC?

 

Before updating any drivers, right click on the very top i7 device and select uninstall, then reboot your computer. When Windows reloads, it will reinstall the drivers for the CPU. (The one you drew the small circle around.) See if that fixes things.

Edit: also, what do the properties show for the i7 device? Is there an error code?

 

yea, i just wrote upstairs what it says

 

I don't know if that's due to the 5% OC, but I doubt it.

Here's the latest IBEX chipset driver from Intel: LINK

 

hm... i don't feel like it's chipset driver... more like the cpus themselves. I'd like to know more regarding issue code 32 though...

 

Le0-

Go back into Device Manager and right click on your i7 CPU, select delete. If all of them disappear, reboot. If not, delete the rest of the instances of the i7 CPU and reboot. I think this may fix the problem.

Here's some information that makes me think this suggestion might work. LINK and LINK

I do not think it's a hardware (CPU) problem. I think it's a software (driver) issue or something not correct in the registry. That is why I am suggesting deleting the CPU entries in Device Manager and rebooting to let Windows try to correct whatever is preventing the correct driver from loading at startup. The code 32 suggests it's a problem with the information in the registry not letting the driver start.

If that does not work, try the new Intel chipset driver I provided the link to.

 

Problem fixed! Cheers!
wish I could give u a +1 rep but it doesnt let me

 

SWEET!!! Glad to hear that, Le0-

Which was the trick that worked? Deleting the i7 CPUs in Device Manager and rebooting or the newer Intel Ibex driver? It would be good to clarify that so anyone else that runs into the same issue will know what action to take.

 

i didnt risk for new driver, rather i figured to delete all cpus, since i deleted one, nothing happened, so i deleted all rest, rebooted, went back do DM -> scan for hardware changes, it refreshed, i scrolled down to processors, and they are all there sitting shiny

 

Hey Le0- this is off topic, but I just stumbled onto this thread about something that has been bugging you. Check it out. LINK

 

sweet! thx. actually yea, that is exactly whats happening with me. that combo and s+d+ spacebar doesnt work, the only thing those guys are missing is that w+e works where as SPACEBAR doesnt seem to be making any reflection, that is why when they open word pad or any other text redactor they hold same buttons and get smth like wweeeee but no spaces!) correct me if im wrong, but they didn't find solution there, did they?

 

No, I did not see a real solution. From what I gathered, it's not an uncommon issue on laptops keyboards. It may have something to do with the memory resident software many laptops have to perform special functions with the FN key... not sure. But, I think someone said that the gaming macros worked with an external USB keyboard.

 

well, this monday a tech is gonna come and replace it anyway (one of the reasons I wanna have tech do it, apart from that he is also replacing my screen and sensor key panel (dont ask me about that ) - if it won't work I 'll have em call AW n see if there is something else that needs to be replaced )
its kinda fun... you get a $5k worth laptop and a kaboom of problems with it. have them replace me everything inside! and yea I hate that laptop is awesome

thanks for the input again, Fox. I was doing some research here and there and from what I have found out - my screen is clearly degrading, and as of keyboard - many people on web say they have same issue with USB keyboards, so I don't rly understand whether if is it hardware or software related. in case if it is hardware, the only thing left from replacing the actual kb is replacing motherboard...

p.s. fox, can you please also check for me, there are 2 audio-in 's for headphones; on the right side of the laptop, on my R2 they have different volume levels (the one closer to me is a lot, a LOT louder)
thanks!

 

There are 3 audio-out, Le0.
Yes one of them should be louder.
Glad to see you got things sorted.

 

Le0-

The second jack does double-duty for a center channel/subwoofer in a surround-sound set up. The output is typically lower on that channel by design. Go into Windows Control Panel and play around with the IDT Audio Control Panel. You may be able to increase the volume on the second jack if you are looking to have three people use headphones at the same time. Otherwise, simply use the first and/or third ports for headphones. Also, look on page 16 of your Alienware M17x R2 User Guide. (See both attachments.)

 

Good point about 3 jacks. Its just that they got different pictures to them, i thought its something else there DD

@Mr.Fox nice, really nice! just found the software from IDT. curious why doesn't it start up, but anyway, cool thing! my roomie has some hearing trouble so he needs louder jack when we watch something on my lap, so this is kinda advantage!
thanks for your help guys, I appreciate it much.