m17xR2 to R3

All,
Good day.

I have an interesting problem.

I currently have an m17x R2, purchased late last year.

Which when working, is a very nice machine.

The r2 machine has had endless issues with the dual 5870s. Mostly booting to black screen, but now has a blue screen unless booted to safe mode. Tech support says it is a bad video card.

Dell has offered to replace the r2 unit with a factory fresh r3.

Based on what I have read here, the r3 chassis is a cost reduced r2. Albeit, having better CPU, Sandy bridge, and the other ancillary features.

Comparably equipped the r3 is significantly less dollars then what I am paying for on the r2. I say paying because, I still have not completely paid for the r2 yet. The delta is almost $1K.

So I am not thrilled about their offer.

My question to the community is, should I take the offer?

 

I would ask for compensations to fill the "gap" if a maxed out R3 is not enough.
But if the cards boot perfectly in safe mode than that feels more like a video driver issue.

 

I thought so too, but tech support has been unable to revive the machine.

I like my r2, but my concern is that I have lemon.

Also, every time they look at it, they take a little life off. e.g. cycling connectors, fasteners and particulate contamination.

Tried to get a factory fresh r2, but no-go, they only offer the r3.

Every call lasts, 1-3hr with no resolution. Frustrating.

 

I'm sure these machines are not that bad as they sound, only bad trained "techs". If you feel like you can tell us more about your problems and maybe come up with something.

 

Just curious, does it boot to black screen after a factory restore via Alien Respawn?

 

katalin,
sure, let me try.
The current issue is, booting normally causes a BSOD. I don't have the specifics on me, but it looks like a BIOS message, something about not receiving a clock pulse within an expected window of time. After some time the machine reboots automatically right back to the BSOD.

jyang,
No. only BSOD
FYI.

Started having trouble within the first month, with it booting to black screen, no BSOD. This was in September 2010. Tech support got it running after installing new video drivers.

In December, same issue, booting to black screen. Tech support call yielded a truck roll with refurbished cards. Installing the cards failed to fix the issue. Field tech called his tech support, installed new video card BIOS and new drivers. problem fixed.

In mid February, noticed SD reader dead. Tech support called, truck roll. Field support guy tears the machine down, swaps reader/sound card. Upon check out, I could smell smoke, noticed the track pad light is dead, still no SD reader. Also this guy failed to use any ESD protection, machine ungrounded, no wrist strap, synthetic shoes on a wool rug stacked the cards on bare cardboard ect. I have pictures.
Called tech support, they sent a box for the machine to be sent to Texas depot on February 18th.

Get the machine back in mid March. Booting the machine normally causes the BSOD. Safe mode is fine, but not sure if both video cards are being used. Call to tech support, triggers a new depot trip but, I am still waiting for the return carton. Tech support claims the video hardware is bad, again. BTW. they replaced the LCD Display, Main Logic board and the Reader/Audio board on the last trip.

Trying for a refund, but Dell is stubborn.

 

if the R3 comes with the nvida card and the new moniter i'll trade you an R2 ( some 240ish days left on the warrenty with duel 5870's ( depending on the specs i may throw in some cash as well ) .. i'm itching to play with that 3d bundle ..but i have an r2 so im told that my moniter wont support it..

 

Your money is long gone but not impossible, as you know you can spend hours on the phone all day and get no where with people telling you different things.

Thing is, it all depends how far and how long you want to spend going after a refund.

I'd say this, get the best spec'ed R3 you can. If your that far apart on how much you spent on your R2 Vs their R3, escalate it with Dell. If your here in the USA and used a credit card, call them and see if you have any options there. AMEX is great for things like this when it comes to large $ purchases.

IMO it is up to Dell to make it right since they gave you a Lemon + with all the other problems.

Thing is your dealing with Dell, I could write a very interesting story (XPS 700 saga) that spanned nearly 1.5 Years, meetings with Mr Dell himself and board Execs. Lot's of promises made, and I have yet to see one implemented lol.

If it was me, get hard with Dell get the best R3 they offer and if you don't like it sell it.

 

if the value of the R3 is not close to the value of the R2 I would ask for a complete refund and order what ever you want.

Several people I know have had complete refunds issued even after years of ownership, so it is not out of the question, but could take allot of effort and perseverance on your part

 

I agree with Dave-p get the full refund and then you can order whatever you want, even taking an R3 plus saving some green! They have it documented on several occasions that they can't revive your machine, so it's now time to just escalate and go for refund rather than system replacement.

 

I know this issue, as I've had it myself. It's caused by using the A01 video drivers without the A01 video BIOS, and is triggered when the system is taken off AC power. Every time the system tries to boot after that, you get a BSOD with that message.

The good news is that this should be fairly easy to fix. All you need to do is to reinstall the A01 VBIOS.

To make your system bootable again, you'll need to boot into Safe Mode and bring up the Device Manager. Delete all of the Mobility Radeon cards from the Display Adapters section, removing the drivers when asked. This will allow Windows to boot using the default VGA drivers.

Once the system is booting again, follow the steps in the huge A01 drivers/VBIOS thread ( http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...5870-gpus-5870-vbios-discussion-non-beta.html) to re-flash the VBIOS.

If this fix works and there are no more issues with your system, it may be easier to keep what you've got than to haggle with Dell for a replacement/refund.

If you do decide to go for a replacement, remind them of all the issues you've had and push for the best system you can get. Don't back down until they're 100% certain they can't do any better for you. Go for the 6970M and non-3D screen, and it'll be better for gaming than the 460M + 3D. (Bear in mind that while 3D is kinda cool, bear in mind that the 460M is quite a bit slower than the 6970M, and that it has to render each frame twice. Never mind the eye strain issues that most people complain about with 3D.)

Good luck!

 

Guys,

Thanks for the feedback.

I am starting to apply formal pressure on Dell.

My position is Breach of Warranty, Express and Implied.

All I want is a refund.

Funny thing is, I used Dell Financial Services, so technically I don't even own the machine.

Spahz

 

just puling random numbers here but if the r2 you got was say 3200 when you bought it all maxed out and they tried to offer you a new r3 with specs that make it cost say 2300 but they are still gonna charge you the full 3200 u originally charged that would totally not be cool at all. I would expect them to to put 900 more dollars worth fo specs into the r3 like i dunno adding an ssd + a hdd adding 16GB ram i dunno whatever they got to add to it to bring it to the same price as what you originally ordered or refund the difference off your balance. Either that or just get the same laptop you got now just a brand new one. But I would demand one of those criteria's be met

 

laststop,

close, 3300

Did protest their offer, but no go. So, I am through with Dell

This is a sad testimony.

I really liked the form factor and the performance, when it worked.

Will keep you guys posted.

Spahz