Area 51 5550I New problem

I know I been gone for a while. Laptop working 90% but my internet messing up.

Not a major problem but a buissness problem.

Ok I am on the road more and I want to use sleep mode and still be able to connect to someone else wireless internet.

When I close the Lid the wireless card is disabled. when you open it you see Just the power battery and hard drive running

I talk to alienware. They tried everything I tried and ended up with nothing.

Basicly I can not close my laptop lid to go in sleep mode and open it and have the wireless internet card run unless I reboot.

Frist guy I talk to seid it was due to my dual Boot with 3 partion 250gb hard drive. Glad I did not listen to him. He told me to format the hard drive on one partion and install the OS I want to use and then call back. I ask if I could use my old 60gb hard drive he seid that was fine. Just make sure it was formatted. How stupid do I look lol.

A hour or 2 later I had windows Vista on a 60gb hard drive. Guess what. I close the lid and my wireless connection would not work. One other thing I tried direct connect No go. The tech that was helping me was nice and so on.

They have it setup where they can use there computer to work on your computer. I had nothing to lose or show. It was a fresh install. No crap ware. We where on there for about 3 Hours. I tried things he tried things. I am still in the same boat I can not go in sleep mode then out and be connected to the internet.

Things we did was Update drivers. He look at the same things I did nothing. There a button on the laptop that shut the wireless internet. It work if I was connected. Go in sleep mode it did not work.

Any ideas.

 

Try installing Vista Service Pack 1. See if this helps.

This seems to be a driver-related problem to Vista.

 

Is this problem only happening with Vista, or can you not go into sleep on XP either? Also, do you still have your warranty?

 

I installed both Xp and Vista. When I close the lid on vista the computer went to sleep mode and the blue light for wireless turn off. Then open the laptop and the light never came back on untel rebooting. This also happen on XP. We Tried the update for the wireless card. It still have the same problem.

 

Did you try installing the newest Intel wireless drivers off the INTEL Site yet?

 

Yep On both xp and vista. Same problem

 

Do you still have a warranty because that could help you out a lot. If not then I'm not sure what to tell you since I have not had this problem with any of my laptops.

Oh and welcome back. A lot has changed

 

Oh hell ya. When the laptop started cooking it self. I payed for a 3 year warranty.

I talk to Intel rep. about the INTEL PRO WIRELESS 3945 A/B/G MINI-CARD LEAD-FREE.

I explain the history of this laptop to the Intel rep.

Frist 6 Months of overheating and so on.
4 heat sinks replaced
1 Grapics card
1 Motherboard

The Intel rep. Seid that card could have problems due to the heat of the system untel it was fixed.

He also explain having both Windows XP and Vista on the computer Help point out the problem. For both XP and Vista have the same problem.

 

I suggest giving AW tech support a call.

You should send it in for a "tune-up" by AW.

 

I've been having the same problem with AtolSammeek, and the best way is rebooting it. Mine is actually just about not waking up from sleep mode, and everything else works fine to me.

specs: c2d T7600, 100gb 7200 rpm, 2gb of ram, gforce 7600 go with 256mb

 

Thing is vzv. We paid for a quality machine. What we got was lack of Quality. You might be going it just a simple problem. Let me put this little fact in. That simple problem can slow you down. I remember the tech that went to my house. His words. "Laptops tend to get Hot and shut down." I just look at the guy dumbfounded. A certified Tech. All I ran was the Internet. 7 Mins later I would shut down.

Let say you work in a office with your team 5 people maybe making a game or a new type of hardware. The programs to access the data is on wireless network and servers. So your team Put his her info on laptops. Before going to a meeting. So they can can point out what they working on. Let say it a new part of Lord of the Rings online. Which is a cool game.

What better. To open your laptop get out of Sleep mode and have everything setup to a wireless network. All you have to do is plug the laptop in Projector or Large TV so the whole staff see everything and you can start in a few sec. Or new age stuff. Everyone has his or her own laptop so they can see it first hand. Also connected to the network and they can review the Data and debate over it.

Or do you want to hassle with restarting all the stuff you had setup. Then have your team and other Staff wait while you get loaded. Which make you and your team look bad. All because you have a faulty wireless card.

I am not the type that let company get away with faulty merchandise. See it could be a New car. That had faulty Brakes that needed to be recalled. I rather have a Car company recall it. Then have friends of family Dead.

 

I think now would be a good time for all owners who are having problems with their m5550's to come out of hiding.

 

@Atol - I would send the laptop in to try to get it repaired if possible. I know that Dhoang and I have both received credits on our M5550's because of overheating. It's worth sending back to them to see if they can fix it. If not then they should be able to get you a credit after around 2 - 3 attempts.

 

I agree with Stone. Send it in and make them fix it. If they can't after 2-3 times. Demand credit towards a new replacement.

 

yeah, you're right AtolSammeek, but the thing is mine is over a year already. As y'all know, AlienCare doesn't care about the system that is out of warranty. So I can't do anything now. What are you guys talking about "credited"? and what r you gonna get for that credit? Thanks!

 

AW credit is basically AW money that can be used to purchase ANYTHING on the alienware site. I used my credit to purchase a new m15x.

You are out of warranty so basically you are on your own. AW won't give you credit back for a system that is out of warranty. You can either sell the parts or the whole computer on ebay or something.

 

what they did with us is gave us an rma number for the m9750 and are making us return it like a normal return

then, they ordered the m15x without even asking about the nameplate - they just asked my dad the exact things he needed on it - they agreed to lower the price to $2000, but we are paying $2092

 

Travis, you guys got a normal return cash refund right? That means you could've left AW and went for a Dell or something. I wasn't able to do that unfortunately, so I just went for the m15x since this is the best thing out right now.

 

he said he would give us an exchange, but it's like he makes us return it and lets us buy another - and we could not have switched - he ordered it himself over the phone before we got the rma number - so basically, we have over $3700 on my dad's credit card

 

So, it's basically like getting full AW credit then. If you went for the refund then you would've got stuck with the 15% fee, so it's like AW-Steve not getting you the refund anyways.

I think it was wise to stick with the exchange though. That way you won't lose any money.

 

its not aw steve we called them
yea i think we did the best option - we would get the same thing on the thinkpad but the graphics card for $500 less but i get the lights

 

Any new news Atol? If AW tries to pin this on natural wear and tear I think that we all have your back here. Let us know if you decide to send it in or w/e. Also, demand a critical issues agent after the first time back if it still doesn't work, since that is your best chance at getting a credit if they can't fix it. A better chance would actually be the roswell crew, my bad.

Heh I need to finish up this term paper on Iran's Nuclear Intentions. Dual Screens ftw, WEE!

 

yup, got yo' back. haha. Stone, stop being lazy and get some work done!!

 

Wheww I'm done that term paper. 6 pages exactly with 1.5 pages for my bibliography. I already miss you Atol, come back and give us the news

 

Sounds good. I have a 10-page research paper due soon as well haha. Love college. I wonder how Atol is doing...
It's funny how we've all been through the same things with our m5550's. I bet there's a lot of people out there who have the same problems as well.

 

Heh Dhoang this is for 10th grade. I remember in 9th grade we had to write a term paper on an ancient topic, and I choose "Roman military tactics" which was pretty good even though my paper had to be 8 pages . Crazy ass school but I guess its good for me.

 

Daem...10th grade and 6pgs. Crazy school man. But, it'll make you a better writer, well hopefully. haha. If you think that's bad, wait till college.

Where's Atol? Did he just disappear?

 

why not post Alienware excuses. I will start

1 The wireless card is faulty. They sent a new one. That funny I plug both old and new wireless cards into my Acer laptop and it works 100% In sleep/standby mode . And the Acer laptop has the same card. After telling the tech this. They wanted to send another freaken card.

2 They blame windows Vista. But Intel tech has vista drivers and seid it should work. Then seid it could work on xp but had the same problem.

3 They now saying it due to Both Vista and XP are 32 bit. Sounds logical in there small tech minds. But the Acer is also windows xp 32 bit and it works.

About the looks of my laptop it looks like it did when I took it out of the box.

 

I setup my laptop with a 60gb hard drive. With windows Vista. I will tell them if they want to install XP to rule out there stupid 32 bit crap. Also I will tell them to install windows vista ultima. To rule out the 64 bit crap.

The one thing I love the looks of the laptop. The system it self was junk. Overheating untel motherboard replaced. ABG card not working when drop down into sleep/standby mode or hardware problem.

Oh one thing I did notice on alienware website. If you look at Alienware mobile system>general issues> Wireless problem when the computer goes into sleep mode has a error. So basicly you dont see what is writen about the problem. (Runtime Error) It will be on the second page or 3 page of website. I wonder are they trying to hide a fact. That they never came out with a fix for this laptop.

 

I never had these problems with my previous m5550 and Vista. So, I don't know what's wrong with your wireless.

Well, one time I had connection problems but after the Respawn the problem stayed fixed.

 

@Atol - I never had these problems with my Alienware M5550. While the M5550 did look good, I had way to many problems for it to be practical for me. I would suggest you just keep on sending it back over and over again until you are given credit for the laptop because if you don't take stern action with AW they will try to just keep on sending your laptop back over and over.

I would suggest calling the Roswell crew (the number is in Dhoang417's signature). From what I've heard the Roswell crew is much better than standard tech support and should be able to help you out with a lot more techinical experience.

Good luck and I hope your outcome may be the same as Dhoang417's and myself. Right now I'm trying to get my friend credit for his M5500 because it has had so many problems and he has just been taken advantage of by AW so I have to help him out in his issue so he can recieve some real resolution.

 

Ok they are going to try a upgrade the

INTEL PRO WIRELESS 3945 A/B/G MINI-CARD LEAD-FREE
to a
INTEL PRO WIRELESS 4965 A/B/G DRAFT-N MINI-CARD

I still dont think it will work.

 

that is excellent adn what I was going to suggest.

 

Do you have Vista Service pack 1 installed?

 

One thing I did before talking to alienware about the wireless cards. I talk to a Intel tech. That tech is 100% Positive it not Intel wireless card that at fault. Due to me testing it in a Differnt laptop differnt windows.

Yes ExiledDuke I did ask that Same Intel tech would a upgrade for the wireless card fix the Issue. That tech seid it would not fix the issue. Due to the fact. All 3 wireless cards work on the Acer laptop. He seid it could be the Bios or Motherboard. I have bios 1.06 The newest one is 1.07 and that only deals with Ram. One thing the Intel tech seid I need to have 3 wires/leads to take the full effect of the INTEL PRO WIRELESS 4965 A/B/G DRAFT-N MINI-CARD. The laptop only has 2. I was told this last Tuseday.

So when Alienware called yesterday. I told them the upgrade wireless card would not fix the problem and it uses three wires/Leads. Becuse it not the Wireless card fault. But I did agree to try it.

 

Just let AW try to fix it. And if they are not able to, then you have the right to demand a replacement. (credit)

 

Oh you like this excuse for that one dhoang417. I ask if I can send it in and the tech seid The techs that work on computer might not understand the problem. I was like ya I can understand that for frist 4 times I sent it back they keep replacing the heatsink and fan and one video card.

I am also Useing Scott Mueller Website to get some help.

 

I sent you a PM, AtolSammeek.

 

Two weeks ago I sent the laptop back. The tech seid it might be the mother board from the CEO office. I told him it was not. On Friday they sent me this message

Please be aware that the last Depot Status update we received shows that the PCMCIA port/slot needs to be replaced.

Then on friday they are sending it back. So on the 28th I will have the laptop back.

I will let you know if this laptop works or not.

 

Damn man this has been going on for awhile now. I feel for you.

 

I am going to test the laptop and talk to the CEO afterwords.

Stone

I know it unfair for the users. I think they should hire people who know how to fix computers.

I am looking at this laptop. When the Stress test where tested when this laptop was new They did not see the heat issues. Due to the fact they stress it for a Few mins and shut it off and package it. Then sent to me. Then it took about 6 Months for them to solve the one problem I tried telling them 4 times it was the motherboard I sent it back. Then talk to one of the CEO. They fix the problem.

Now it was a Sleep mode issue. I Hope the Main Alienware center fix it. I would not let them send it to the Basic tech station. Where they look at the issue and they would of put in a new WLan card in and send it back. With out checking the issue frist hand.

 

I have the laptop now. Guess what. Same issue. Here what they tried so far.

This is the List of what techs tried on this laptop.
3 Motherboard Frist motherboard was overheating. Other two Motherboard ran fine. Other then Wlan issue.
3 of the abg WLan card One sent to alienware One was from Acer Laptop Same issue
1 abn Wlan card Same issue
5 Heatsink Fans. 4 From the Frist Motherboard that was Overheating. Now the 5 one with new motherboard
Bios update from 2.04 to 2.07

What Next I am unsure.

 

try to get AW to refund you the amount. I know a few guys that got credit back for theirs and then bought a m15x or some other AW product.

 

@Atol - Seriously press them on this. Get a critical issues agent and tell him that he has 1 time to fix it (aka call roswell). If they don't fix it you get a credit as I did which netted me the M9750 (happy with it but it is bigger which is a minor downside).

 

I did not have to press them. I use the list of facts Listed earlier. To prove there was a fault. I got a message earlier today they want to talk about credit.

I did not want Credit. I really wanted this system fix just due to the nice looks and such. But I also want a system that works also. So Monday I will talking about getting credit.

Now I need to see what system seem the Most Stable.