The Alien Has Landed

How many applications were you running at once

when the computer started getting slow?

 

do you think it's hardware flew? have you tried to reinstall the whole system? I feel sorry for your situation.

 

i dont think there were any other applications running.

its slow from the boot up. 2 days ago it was roughly 20 seconds faster than my fujitsu laptop. now its 10 seconds slower.

when i was playing the games there is no lag or hesitation at all.when it changes to the next section of map it takes about 5-8 seconds to load the next scene.

there are 67 processes running at the moment.
the largest ones are:
Alien Fussion Controller 17,216k
Alien FX Controller 20,256k
dwm.exe 47,836k
windows explorer 17,436k
firefox 78,528k
sidebar.exe 11,524k
sidebar.exe 15,512k
all the othere are below 3,000k

i havnt tried a total re install yet as im a little worried i might mess it up as ive never done it before. also loading all the drivers will do my head in.

ill see what support suggests.
cheers

 

i cant even get through to tech support now. rings once and then line goes dead.

 

I'm pretty sure they don't work weekends

 

support is 24/7 so they should be.

 

Yea, regular TS works on weekends as well.

Defragment your harddrive. Use a different program like Iobitsmartdefrag (this is what I use). Windows takes forever to defragment.

 

you "shouldn't need to" but you can try defragging your system as dhoang suggested. I use Diskeeper Pro on some systems but i recommend Auslogics for most people.

Auslogics offer free standalone disk and reg defrags or you can download the 15-day trial of Auslogics Boostspeed which is their suite for cleaning, optimizing, defragging, etc. It doesn't have a real time "frag-shield" like Diskeeper Pro but it's a lot cheaper.

I hear that IObit is also really good and it has an auto defrag on idle... never tested it though. Will test it soon.

 

thanks for the advice guys. i opted for auslogics defrag in the end.
its nice to be able to see what its doing unlike vista defrag working in the background.

 

I've tried using Auslogics, but the optimizing option isn't as up to par as the lastest beta version 5 of IobitSmartdefrag. It defrags quickly, but optimizing isn't as good as I liked. For me Iobit works.

 

thanks dhoang417
ive downloaded it now and will give it a go the next time i defrag.

 

sounds a bit like vista being vista, with those problems,
although, the whole sound card problem, is very worrying, did you ever find out if there were updated drivers for the x-fi?

good luck getting it sorted
by the way mr DJ are you Superstar DJ Eyeball Paul?

 

i couldnt find any new drivers. today ive deleted the the whole creative software 3 times. the third time i reloaded it everything worked. ill try a few more things and report back later.

 

Looks like as soon as some of your problems are sorted, others come up

 

nope,thats not me,especially as my name is jim

thats just my luck. hope yours is doing ok.

 

time to bump this thread back up to the top.
as crystak stated above, this has been the story of my laptop so far.

so whats happened lately....
if you didnt read my thread on friday here goes. hibernation, totaly pants.
before i deleted the 2.5gb file in clean up i thought i would see what hibernate did compaired to sleep.
i pressed the hibernate button and it shut the screen and mouse down. everything else stayed running,all lights and fans. no matter what i did i couldnt get any response. rang support and they hadnt heard this problem before. he told me to take the base plate off and on the motherboard there was a reset button. reluctantly i took the base plate off and pressed the reset button, this done nothing.the only way to reset it was to remove the battery. if this is what you have to do after using hibernation then this is a joke so i deleted the file straight away. everything hunky dorey again.

last night i thought id do a speed test.
(im in hospital now (as a patient this time) and cant remember what the software i used but it ended in 06)
the day i received my computer i got a score of just under 10,000 and last night it was under 3,000???. just in case i was in stealth mode(no display in task bar to say what graphics card im using) i re booted and ran it again and got the same reading.
this is slightly worrying me thinks.
the computer is defanately going back to AW for a check up but i wont be able to send it back until next monday at the earliest. im still within my 30 day return policy but have still not totally made my mind up yet about getting a refund even with all the problems ive had.

 

I am sure it's 3dmark06 you talking about. the integrated GPU can not possibly score 3000, so it must be 8800m gtx with underclocked voltage. question tho, have you plugged the AC in? If you haven't done system re-installation yet, please try so; but if you've already did, then it's very possible that you have an defective motherboard there.

 

thanks for the reply nirvana0001
thats the one. 3dmark06
oh great, so i could be experiencing underclocking. the AC was plugged in for all the tests. i havnt done a system re install or upgraded to the lates bios yet.

 

that stinks.

from my understanding the downclocking isn't consistent. if you made no changes to your system since then, run it again to see what you score. The point is if it hovers around 3000 again than maybe it's not the downclocking but a setting or driver issue. Also the stealth mode "might" boot back into stealth, i'm not sure. It's not too obvious but if the gauge light on the touch panel is on (brighter) than you are actually in stealth mode. If i question whether it's on or not, i would turn on/off one of my other touch controls to compare brightness.

The sleep/hibernation thing can usually be fixed by completely updating windows... and if that doesn't work, updating bios and a reinstall of windows might help.

 

here are the results of the speed test i done today (and they stink).
i wont be able to return my computer until at least next monday so it looks like its time to chat to my friends at support (almost on first name terms).

this was my score on the 22nd april 3DMark06= 9968
i know i did post a picture of my results a day after i got my computer with a score of just under 10,000
if only i knew which thread i posted them in. if anyone comes across the post on their travels through the pages could they please send me the link so at least i have proof.
thanks

 

I actually wish I am there so that I can try to reinstall the whole system for you.

 

Mr.DJ - What can I say! - After reading your experience, I can honestly say that I dont think I could have been that patient...and still be that patient! I blew a fuse with AW when they delayed shipping my HDD (They said I would have it in 5 days - but even after 3 days it was still in INVENTORY - had them overnight it!!!). Really hope you can get all this resolved. I know how it is when the damn thing doesnt work.

 

i will post it to you tomorrow nirvana0001
2 reasons i havnt done a reinstall yet,firstly ive never fully done it before. i know everyone keeps telling me its simple but knowing my luck so far it would just be my luck that it buggers up.
i had a major problem with my mesh computer when i had to do a total reinstall.put the disc in and it started overwriting everything and then all of a sudden the BSOD appeared and that was it. disk stuck in tray and computer totally dead. thats why im slightly uneasy about doing it again.
secondly, why should i do all the work. really i think it needs to go back so as they can sort the problems out and hopefully rectifie the problems so they dont happen again to some new owner of a brand new m15x. i could understand if it was a few months old but straight out of the box is taking the biscuit a bit to far.

i did blow a fuse after i was at phase 5 for 24 days and receiving quite a few emails about out of stock items. the last words i said to them after being put on priority build was make sure it goes through its 200 point check
at least i did get a free tee shirt for my troubles.
ive tried to keep my cool over the whole matter as shouting at them doesnt help much.
it is defanately going back but due to hospital comitments for work and as a patient it wont be until next week.
they did send me a rma number for return 4 hours after i took the thing out of its box.
i also feel bad for my mate who is waiting to buy my other laptop off me. he is getting so impatient that hes been waiting since 7th march when he said he would buy it off me as i had then ordered my m15x. i just hope he doesnt change his mind as £500 is much needed at the moment.


i forgot to add this link to this thread on friday so i can keep all my problems on one thread.

horror story no. 237 = hibernation http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=246079

thanks for everyones help and support so far as it really is appreciated.
jim

 

hey dj make sure your power profile is set to high performance. Like click on the little battery in the bottom right hand corner just to make sure cause that happened to me once too.

 

always been on high performance since day 1

 

You should try:
1) reinstalling the video card's driver
2) make sure your system is in "High Performance" mode via the icon on the taskbar

Before you send it in, I would strongly suggest a reinstall. I understand why you're hesitant about doing it, but that sounds like it was a pretty extreme case. Just reload the thing. You can't damage your system by reinstalling the OS.

 

Or try respawn. U dun need to put in a CD. Pres F10 and then repawn back to factory setting with all your data intact. Take about 1/2 hr and you are done. No need to install any drivers.

 

now that is what i wanted to hear. i thought after respawn you had to download all the drivers from my hive.
after doing this will it load the latest versions of drivers and bios updates or will this have to be done afterwards.

i know on first boot up it says press f10 for respawn. if it is already loaded on your system why did we have to buy the disc for £29 as well or is that just a back up if the pre loaded doesnt work.

 

No respawn is different from vista CD. with respawn, you are ready to hit the road once it's finished. it will installed all the drives/software automatically during the process. however it doesn't include the bios update tho. drivers will be the same if you haven't upgraded them by yourself.

 

but respawn should not affect the bios as respawn is only reimaging the HDD. If you've done a bios update, you won't need to do it again even after respawn.

 

That disc is necessary in case your whole HDD failed and u need to get another HDD like 500gb hitachi (I am getting that soon ). U will need to load the CD.

IF u feel u wanna go more advanced, get true image software. Once u installed all your data and customizing your DJ software, MP3, porn etc etc, image that immediately. In case one day 3dmark decided to discount again to 3000+ points. Hit F11 (this time its your own customisation with all your favourite programs, mp3 and porn intact 100%).

 

on the 500GB hitachi, make sure that it fits first as it is not your typical size of other 2.5" HDDs. you've probably done your research but i just didn't know if it would fit the m15x.

I agree with the True Image (by Acronis). That's what i use and i like it.

 

it's not standard-size?

 

i think it's thicker... standard is 9.5cm and this one is 12.5 i think. laptop makers would need to start offering the 12.5cm and then a cage to fit regular 9.5.

If it was the same i would've configured the smaller capacity now and upgrade it later also. But since it's thinker, i just upgraded all my notebooks to the 320GB.

 

I check the m15x HDD holder has quite a lot of room left. And further the holder is not wrapped around type. Its open at the bottom so it can hold size bigger than 9.5mm. The problem is the screw location may not be the same. I am not sure where are the screws location yet.

I am still thinking about the 500gb at night. Imagine the amount of porn it can hold....

 

hi everyone, its me again. im keeping everything in the same thread now so i know where to find it

ive just found a handy bit of software in control panel > administrative tools > called reliability & performance.
its quite interesting how the score was 10 until it left the factory. i received my m15x on the 21st april and didnt load or change anything at all until 3 days later but from the first turn on things started going wrong and it looks like a rough score on the graph of about 7 with plenty of nasty red cross circles.

does anyone else fancy posting a picture of their readout. it would be quite interesting to see a few other graphs.

checking my windows experience index base score its 5.1
pictures below
cheers
jim

 

WEI is the most inaccurate tool i've ever seen.

 

@nirvana

Nice to see a new avatar. And who is that pretty lady?

 

don't you guys watch "the forbidden kingdom"?

 

Hmm, I'm pretty sure that I won't be rolling with the m15x thanks to these issues MrDJ, your input is appreciated... but quick question for anyone who truly knows the answer...

Now I'm thinking about getting the New Area-51 Desktop. Simply put, are there far less problems when it comes to AW Desktops? I assume desktops are more reliable and work right-out-of-the-box because they don't use specific mobile hardware like in laptops.

So like I said, are desktops more reliable? I think I'll get a crappy laptop for college and roll with the Alienware Desktop if you guys think they have less problems. Thank you.

~B

 

Hi Brutality
firstly its not my intention on putting anyone off buying the m15x and i apologise if this thread has done that. these are my experiences so far with this laptop but youve got to remember that when i bought mine back in march/april there were also a lot of other happy customers as well who dont visit these forums any more as they have got perfectly working machines.
ive been asked how i can stay so patient with all the problems ive had and to be honest sometimes im not sure.
my computer is definatly going back next week for repair as every day i turn it on there is another problem. today its the bluetooth. it keeps asking me to download the drivers for it but they are already there so thats another glitch.

ive had my computer for 19 days now and ive still got the 30 day return/refund policy in place so i want to give AW a chance to rectifie all the problems. i just hope that once its returned the 30 day policy is put on hold.

im not sure if all the problems are solely to do with just vista or a combination of vista and AW and the last thing i need is to be left a nice new shiney doorstop.

totally agree with you nirvana0001

 

MrDj... I thought that you only had 14 days to return your notebook. :|

 

they extended it to 30 days because i was having issues from day 1

 

Cool!
I hope mine will be ok... I'm really afraid. Oh well...
Hang in there DJ.

 

i also think that the majority of the problems were from the systems shipped for order in Feb and March. A few people were having "unique" problems including myself and DJ.

That being said i still believe that there are people who are perfectly happy with their systems and i have high hopes for the m15x still.

I'll also note that all but one thing on my system was eventually fixed - albeit not by tech support. I have no idea why they never changed the gpu. They eventually changed the mobo and ram but not the gpu. Since my problem was supposedly unique, I would figure that one of those components must have been at fault. I received the system back after the second repair with the exact same problems. So now I'm going through the return/replacement process.

It looks like i won't get my replacement system until much much later. the new intel mobiles won't be out until next year so i don't feel like waiting for that. I guess i will just wait for the m15x since AW doesn't have anything else that i want.

I think there's a good chance your system will be fine.

 

Good luck NNugles
i have now got to find time to ring up TS to check that my rma number still stands and then get on to dhl.
unlike you mate,if it comes back with just one thing wrong after this return then that will be it and a refund will be on the cards. i dont want to do that but it will be my only option as there is no way i can risk having to put up with all this stress for the next 3 years.

 

i am now seriously pi*sed off.
after my conversation last night about returning my computer i explained i had had enough with it and because i had my return/cancelation extended to 30 days on the day i received it i would like to return it for a refund. i was then told,sorry sir but i have no record of it being extended and i can only return it for repair now.
just spoken to customer service who checked with a manager and they confirmed it that it had not been extended. now if i had known that i would of packed it up after the third day and returned it. i now have to return it for a check up and once its returned i will then have another 14 days to cancel as long as it has not been fixed or the same problems happen again.
dalm,now why didnt i get that in wrighting. that will teach me.

 

you can also find kinda a mini list of the times you have called support. If you go to AW click support and scroll to the bottom is will say support history. Anytime I talk to a CSR that promises me something I make sure its noted. It won't really give you much info just tell you basically why you called.

 

escalate the problem to Critical Issues Team (if you haven't already done so)... then explain to them everything. I'm sure they'll try to work something out with you.

 

thanks for that guys.