So many problems with one machine M17X

Hey there community.
I have been using this forum for the past few weeks and have been reading many threads. It has come to the point that I couldn't hold it any longer and had to post.
Please be patient, because my story is quite long.

I have had this system for about a year and it has been working well mostly, with only the minor issue of the known hick-up every few minutes.

+For quite a while the cpu fan was rattling, it got louder and louder until it eventually died - I called dell support who were nice enough to send 3 fans and have all 3 replaced.

+About four weeks ago my DVD-drive died - Called dell support to have it replaced, they sent a guy with the drive and had it replaced.

+As soon as the guy leaves, and I turn on the machine, the right fan is dead, the computer is constantly beeping and the AC adapter stops working correctly, creating power cuts which shut the computer off automatically. Diagnostic gave me an error for the hard-drive - Called dell support who told me the error means that the hard-drive needed to be replaced, and they will send a fan and a new AC adapter as well.

+The guy comes and changes the parts. Windows has to be reinstalled, as well as all the drivers. But dell didn't think it was important enough to tell their customers that installing the old version of command center which is on the CD that came with the computer will corrupt the firmware. So I install the old version of command center and indeed corrupt the firmware, causing lots of crashes to blue screen as well as AlienFX not working - Called dell, told them about my sad situation. They hold me on the phone for 40 minutes claiming that everything should be alright and eventually tell me they will send me a new motherboard.

+The tech comes about 4-5 days later and changes the motherboard, we start the computer and everything seems to be ok. He leaves and I'm finally happy. I start playing a little game and suddenly the computer shuts off due to overheating. Turns out, now the left fan is dead - Called dell and told them of my new issue, they tell me that within two days they will send over the techy with a new fan.

+It is now the end of the fifth day and no one has contacted me yet. But now all of a sudden my keyboard lights are dead (although keyboard is working correctly), and the top panel stopped working completely. The lights are off, no function of the touch pad keys, and best of all, the power button has no response at all. The computer is currently on, but if it overheats again and shuts off, i'm screwed.


So after this long and tenuous journey I feel quite fed up.
It has been over a year since I purchased the computer, but I still have more than 500 days of warranty.

Does anyone here know Dell's policy when it comes to exchanges?
I know there is no chance in hell of actually getting a new computer, but I don't mind getting a refurbished one as long as it will work.

Is this normal procedure of dell to keep sending over parts to no end? I think that with the parts, shipping and servicing they are probably close to spending more on servicing my warranty than what I paid them for the computer.

Has anyone else encountered so many hardware problems that just keep popping up all the time?
I am starting to have a feeling the tech guy is messing things up just so he would have a job.

 

I think it's three services than a replacement and I always thought the replacements were supposed to be new machines but then on the other hand refurbished machines might have better build quality since they are probably gonna be double and triple checking that absolutely everything works before sending it out

 

I'm fairly certain replacement machines are new.

You definitely sound like a guy who might need a replacement.

Call them up today and pester them. Make sure they know all you've had to do recently with the machine. Elevate the call if you have to, and make sure you express how unhappy you are. You dont have to be rude, but you should make it clear that your machine isn't anywhere near the end of it's warranty and it shouldn't be acting this way after 1 year.

If they dont offer you a replacement, ask for one. The worst thing they can tell you is no and you keep this process up with the in home service.

 

So I ended up calling support again, when I told the rep about my problem he looked it up in his system and could not find the last dispatch, as if the last rep never processed it.
Anyway, I told him kindly that i'm quite fed up and am interested in a whole unit replacement. He said that he will try to fix the problem now but its on file that if there is any following issue I will receive a full system replacement.

This morning the tech called me and told me that he has 7 parts (!!!) waiting at his office for me. I guess the guy at dell wanted to make sure he covers every possible little thing it could be.
The tech said the shipment has 2 fans, a new motherboard, a top panel hinge, connectors and wires, possibly a palm rest and some other things he doesn't remember.

So now i'm waiting for him to show up and do some replacing.

I'll update later just because it's quite funny.

 

Wow very interested ordeal. I hope it works out for you in the end!

 

My replacement was a refurb machine, I believe. Feel free to read about it in my thread in my sig. I'd say go for the replacement, cuz you're better off than that junk you already have