The Past 2 Months With My M17x

Alright, so I haven't really checked this forum in a while simply because they released new models after the M17x R1 so quite a bit of the information on here nowadays is of no use to me. Regardless, I still check up from time to time.

Now, for the past 2-3 months I've been constantly talking with Dell Tech Support about my laptop and they can't seem to get it working. Here is a brief rundown of what's been going on:

GPU fan wouldn't kick in so they sent a tech to replace the motherboard and GPU fan. After this replacement, hybrid GFX no longer worked and if I had it enabled in the BIOS, and went to use the 9400M, the system would randomly shut down (anywhere from immediately after unplugging the system, to 10-20 minutes after). Dell decided another motherboard replacement would fix this, except this time when they sent the new board, it was DOA (yay for me!) so I was out of a laptop for a few days.

They asked me to send the laptop into their depot, so I did (they paid for shipping) and I got it back ~1 week later. When I got it back, nothing, and I mean nothing, had changed. They replaced the GPU, GPU fan and the motherboard but Hybrid GFX was still not working.

I called Dell Tech Support another time and told them that nothing was fixed. They said that that was impossible because they checked for it. When I asked him how they checked because I kept my hard drives when I sent it back, the supervisor didn't respond and told me that he would need to have someone remote-control my system to verify that it was in fact a hardware issue. 2 hours, many restarts and driver (un)installs later, they decided that it is a hardware issue. I was told I would be getting a call last week about this, but of course, I have not received this phone call yet (nor do I expect to).

The laptop ran fine without Hybrid GFX enabled up until last night while I was playin some MW2. I was in the middle of the game, fans roaring and all when out of nowhere the screen went black, then started flashing colours randomly until I shut it down. Now whenever I power it on, the keyboard lights up but I get no display (even with an external monitor). I'm pretty sure the GPU died on me.

This has been going on since Easter Weekend (when my GPU fan first stopped working). When I decide to contact them, I'm going to demand a refund..seriously, I'm tired of all these replacement parts and crap. If they refuse, I'll just put it up for sale. I just thought I'd share my story with you all. I'll keep this thread updated as the situation progresses.

UPDATE:

I was supposed to get a call on May 28th, but that call never happened of course.

I called back today and the tech support guy said that the supervisor was busy and that I'll be getting a call from him tomorrow. The tech support did tell me that a replacement had been approved, but no news of an R2 or an upgrade at all...

I decided to call customer service to see about a refund and the guy said that they couldn't refund me money unless it was in the first 30 days. I asked to speak to a supervisor but he said there were none available because they were closing (I called at 8:58 EST and they close at 9:00 EST) so that is acceptable.

I have a feeling that you will see my system in the for sale section pretty soon.

 

why not ask for an r2 replacement? many people who have issues with the r1 got it replaced.

 

I want the battery life of the R1, that and I don't want to deal with Dell anymore.

 

Personaly I prefer a working laptop over a non working one that has a long battery life

 

+1...those were my final words to Dell. They know the R1 has massive problems.

OP-you have been very patient & done everything in your power to try & assist them in FIXING the computer. There has to be a line somewhere....Tell your tech to submit the request to exchange your faulty R1 to a glorious & wonderful R2.

Best of luck!!

 

Compose a email to [email protected]. That for me was the start of getting my R1 replaced with a R2!

 

Lol, you don't seem to understand, I don't want an R2. I am building a desktop in a couple weeks that will destroy R2 system they offer me (even if they give me a top-of-the-line model), so if I get a new laptop, I want a decent battery life so I can use it as a laptop, not just a portable desktop.

 

Then why get an m17x at all?

 

Getting a working laptop is better than keeping a crappy messed up laptop.

Hell, sell the dang M17x R2 they give you, and buy a more portable laptop. I don't see any reason to keep the R1 over the R2.

If you're looking for battery life or something, sell the R2 you get and buy a new notebook that suits your needs since you are getting a gaming desktop already.

There is no logic in keeping a messed up laptop and refusing a free upgrade to a m17x R2.

 

lol seriously.. just sell it and buy the m11x

 

At the time I didn't have a desktop and I like(d) the M17x. It had decent battery life (I got 3-3.5 hours) and it was powerful enough to play most current games at full resolution.

No way I'm keeping the R1, if they refuse the refund I'll just take the best R2 replacement they give me an sell it. I agree, it would be very foolish of me to refuse any sort of upgrade/replacement from them. I just don't want a replacement, I mean, I'll take it if that's all they'll give me, but I'm going to try my hardest to get a full refund so I can be done with Dell.

I have an Asus EeePC 1005HA that I use for classes and stuff so I don't really want the M11x. Also, I'd never buy anything from Dell ever again (except maybe their monitors).



I was hesitant to buy an Alienware in the first place because I knew what their service was like, but I figured I'd just suffer through it or I'd be lucky enough to not have any problems at all. I tried my best to give them a fair chance at fixing my system but they seem unable to do so. I have a feeling nothing will change if they give me an R2 replacement and as I stated before, an R2 is of no use to me because of its short battery life.

 

Alright, here's a little update.

I was supposed to get a call on May 28th, but that call never happened of course.

I called back today and the tech support guy said that the supervisor was busy and that I'll be getting a call from him tomorrow. The tech support did tell me that a replacement had been approved, but no news of an R2 or an upgrade at all...

I decided to call customer service to see about a refund and the guy said that they couldn't refund me money unless it was in the first 30 days. I asked to speak to a supervisor but he said there were none available because they were closing (I called at 8:58 EST and they close at 9:00 EST) so that is acceptable.

I have a feeling that you will see my system in the for sale section pretty soon.

 

Yay, more updates!

Customer Service said that a refund was in no way possible, but that they'd extend my warranty for free for 12 more months. Finally got through to the tech support and he said that my only option is a replacement. He tried to give me an R1, but I pushed for an R2 (might as well, right?) and he said that because this is my second system, I'd likely get one. Hopefully it'd be spec'd with a 720QM and dual 4870's, but it isn't for sure.

Wish me luck, or flame me, but I'd appreciate the luck .

 

Good luck. Sorry I didn't mean to insinuate anything in my last post.

 

Thanks and no worries.

 

Well I hope everything works out for you.