Supposed m15x hinge fix?

So recently in this forum there have been accounts of people tightening the srcews on the hinge's of their m15x's to fix the issue of hinge breaking/squeaking.

iElSayed posted below pics of how to do so and claimed it worked. Any other accounts of this fix working?

http://forum.notebookreview.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=24803&d=1222476271
http://forum.notebookreview.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=24804&d=1222476271

My question:

Didn't people discount this fix? I don't remember why but I do remember their reasons being valid and supposedly tested. Help with this?

I have yet to buy my 15x (holding out hope for black for a few more weeks) and i'm also wondering if the hinge problem has been fixed recently infactory.

 

So in regards to not having the hinge issue if I bought a m15x now I found a post by cdnalsi on 08-11-2008 saying the following:

(Now also looking for resent buyers of the m15x about hinge issue)

 

i'm suspicious of this "new batch/old batch" thing. there's no proof of this so far, and no date line to separate "new" models from "old" ones.

 

As am I thus: thread

 

We seriously need representation on this issue from people outside of CS.

 

when I called em to change my order from m15x to m17x I told them that i want to change the order because of the design problems, and who ever I spoke to, didn't really care lol he just put me through to another department etc.... I told them the same thing and no1 said that the design problem has been fixed...... (that was about 2 weeks ago)

 

im also doubting the new batch thing. it was just an assumption so im still thinking that its false. the screw thing might work

 

I agree. Jhon L was just talking out his A**. Giving me a brief moment of hope. Anyone who are owners of m15x who have tried this screw fix? If this is a solution then it may fix one of the biggest problems with the m15x. Seems WAY to easy to me though.

 

you probably should not publicly say who you where chatting with...

 

Actually it was cdnalsi who was chatting with him because I was quoting cdnalsi. And if he was wrong then he deserves the bad cred.

 

well, ielsayed's m15x looks like its fixed... wont harm u to try his little fix

 

I wish more people would try this and let me and everyone know how it goes for them. I am still really surprised by how solid the hinge is now.

 

i bet alienware have no clue of this quickfix...

why dont you call them and suggest your little fix? It might save them from many refunded m15xs.. charge them for it too

 

Haha, I did let someone in the "Critical Issues Team" know about this. I forgot to charge them for it though

 

I agree at least we'll know that next time some1 will talk to him, wot ever he says might not be true.....

 

can someone link me to ielsayed hinge fix?

 

Actually it was just a post on the 3rd page of the the OMG not cool alienware thread. the original post was:

that was it

[hint]But if ielsayed wanted to make a more in-depth thread about it I dont think anyone would complain. . .[/hint]

 

I am going to do that, but I am kind of busy this week I will try to make it very soon though.

 

+rep

so true so true

 

I tried this fix recently - the scews were already tight and so it hasn't made any difference. I still get creaking - but this has only ever been when closing the lid, opening it is generally much better.

 

hey guys ye i tried this fix. i had no issues with the hinges much before but a little creaking. when i took off the little glue things the screws were actually quite loose so i tightened the and it feels much sturdier now and there is less creaking so in my opinion i would do it even if you dont have issues with hinges.
just dont tighten too much or the plastic will snap

 

I did tighten the screws on mine and the only difference it made was that the screen wobble lessened. The lid still squeaks excessively and the bottom right corner seems to be separating between the bezel and the lid. This is a 2 week old notebook.

I must say that this issue is quite disappointing and unacceptable in a notebook that touts itself as the best. I have a Dell m1530 and a Macbook and the build quality on those 2 machines is hands down better than the AW and they arer half the cost. The only advantage to the AW is in gaming performance, that is it. Heck, my 2 year old toshiba doesn't even creak and moan!

 

I agree, it's shocking. I'm really ****ed off. I'd like to carry mine around with me when I go abroad etc. But I never do because it's feels so fragile and I don;t want to damage it.

 

You're being paranoid

I walk around school everyday and take my laptop around with me all day (carrying it vertical in one arm). It's no big deal. It creaks, but so what

My 2 cents.

 

Paranoid would be if we were afraid that the alien head on the power button was watching us.......hey wait, I think it is!

 

izoid maybe you should send it back and get a new one... that is if you dont have to pay a restocking fee. i got mine a week ago aswell, but its sturdy hardly creaks, and there is definitely no seperation. both sides of mine are equal, if i squeeze the bottom of the lid it doesnt make any noise, Im surprisingly satisfied with the quality. I saw someone elses new m15x in another thread that had scratches/raised lumps on the speaker grill. no bueno. just my 2 cents

 

quick off-topic question. This is kinda random but when your m15x ships does it come in the black alienware box or is it a normal looking brown shipping box?

 

should have put this in the delay form with your other post...
but it comes in a black box.

 

The Black box used to come inside of a brown box. My previous m5550 did. My m15x came in the Alien Black Box.

 

Guys seriously, the build quality is not THAT bad as you guys moan about! Yeah its not Rock Solid Carbon or whatever but perfectly adequate for a semi-portable notebook!

 

I bring mine around quite often, and I don't have any complaints abt the build quality. The chassis is sturdy enough to my liking, but having people stare at you in public gets annoying after a while

 

I really don't think anyone is moaning about anything. It is simply stating observations of the laptop that was purchased and how it compares in build quality to other computers.

If you bought a BMW and it had a build quality that was worse than a Ford would that be cause for disappointment? It would for me and the build quality of this computer is not as good as cheaper models from the competition. It is what it is, lets not make believe that it isn't. Just because we spent a lot of money doesn't mean we can't be honest about it. Not moaning just stating my observations. Observations that many others have also had.

With all that said, I still have my m15x and have not returned it. I like the computer. It works well and looks great. I have had no major problems, only concerns. Anybody who is considering this deserves to know what they are in for both positive and negative. Even with the creaks and driver issues I would still think this laptop should be high up on anyone's list.

 

Lol. Perhaps, I shouldn't take it all so seriously. Anyway, I'm glad those of you who have sturdier m15xs can carry yours about without any issues - when I pick mine up I can feel the lid flex - that's not good for the lcd panel, surely?

 

yeah, I have just recently noticed what appears to be some separation on the left side. I paid way too much money for this computer for this to happen. But im going to try and tighten the screws and i will let you know how well it works!

 

and another.. and another...

 

Mine has opened up too
Will post pics of it in a while. Will gmask help now?

 

Sorry to hear that guys...
There are so many cases surfacing every week. It's quite sad really... People that paid so much for a laptop deserved much more respect from Alienware than the way AW dealt with all the m15x fiasco.
Good luck

 

Will be talking to TS soon. White pieces are out of the machine. Right bottom panel is coming off Hope these guys accommodate my warranty like the US guys

 

For all of the people reporting problems (or the problems starting), could you please post pictures so that we can add it to our compilation? I'm sure it will provide a precious source of information that will help everyone getting their problems solved.
Good luck to you all.

 

Here are a few images. Note the huge gap in the 4th pic. 5th pic is when i press it back to what it looked like normally

 

wow!! That's a huge creak.

 

Mine originally came with the ripley top, and it had white pieces of plastic falling all into my case. I bought another one from a company calle cyberinfinity on ebay. I bought the Skullcap for 39.99 + Shipping. I haven't received it yet, but the hinges look to be a little better made.

One question though. Has anyone tried to add a piece of aluminum to the hinges, maybe across the whole back from left hinge to right hinge? I am fixing to bust out the dremel and see if I can get something created to solve this problem. Mine completely broke free from the front of the LCDs black trim.

Secondly, my lcd is changing colors and flashing and stuff. Is that the power inverter, or maybe the lcd connection to the motherboard?

Thank you, and if I get something created here in the next week, I will post pictures and specifications for it.

 

Once you get it in, can you please post a picture of the hinges of the 2 and point out any differences so that we can see it ??? Thanks for any info. God Bless

 

I will definitely do that. Also, I will show you what everything looks like when I get home tonight. You will be amazed at all the plastic that was pulled out of my LCD and Base. There were pieces of plastic where the GPU vents out the rear. The cable that connects to the motherboard is a PITA to get to. Thanks.

 

I have changed myself my Ripley hood for the skullcap, I have ordered my hood on ebay (cyberinfinity)and I can tell you that the hinges are fixed with the plastic (I think all the hood of the M15X will break sometime..... Metal attached to plastic is not really a good idea by Alienware.....). You'll need to completelly dissassemble your notebook for that..... Finally it is not too hard.

(google traduction inside)

 

Well, how do I get to the LCD motherboard connector?

 

As Promised:







Can anyone look at the fourth and fifth pictures and tell me what is wrong with the LCD? Thank you.

 

looks to me like the connection is poor from LCD to Mobo..or the GPU is going out. Have you hooked up to an external monitor to test the GPU?

Oh, and Dr. Pepper - the reparations beverage.

 

As E-wrecked has suggested hook it up to an external monitor, if it does the same thing on the external monitor, then it may be the GPU going bad. If it looks good on the external monitor, then it may be something with the LCD, connection, inverter, etc. Hope this helps. God Bless

 

Also can you take pictures showing how the NEW stronger Hinge looks like.