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    The service tag on my m11x vanished

    Discussion in 'Alienware' started by andrewe1, Mar 4, 2010.

  1. andrewe1

    andrewe1 Notebook Consultant

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    When I pulled my m11x out of the box I noticed the service tag on the bottom was already a little wiped off...I was like...well as long as I don't touch it nothing should happen.

    Well after a gaming session the laptop got hot and when I turned it over I lightly passed my finger over the bottom to dust it off and the service tag practically dissappeard lol, it was just a white stain and after rubbing it a little more its COMPLETELY gone, just a black blank label lol...

    So anyways, In case I need to, is the service tag inside the laptop or something? where can i get it?
     
    andrewe1, Mar 4, 2010
    #1
  2. DR650SE

    DR650SE The Whiskey Barracuda

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    Thats common, it rubs off easy. It's in the BIOS. Check there and write it down. I think you can put it on your account online at dell.com. Not entirely sure

    Note to self: Apply tape to service tag upon arrival...
     
    DR650SE, Mar 4, 2010
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  3. erawneila

    erawneila Company Representative

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    Can you send me a photo of this issue via PM along with your service tag (from BIOS)? If you need to call support, they can look you up by name, phone number, address, order number (from your invoice) or service tag (in your BIOS).
     
    erawneila, Mar 4, 2010
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  4. Threader

    Threader Notebook Geek

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    Looks like they printed the service tag and express service code with thermal paste. Wipes off at the simplest touch.
     
    Threader, Mar 4, 2010
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  5. andrewe1

    andrewe1 Notebook Consultant

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    I'll send you the photo when I get home, don't have a camera right now...

    cheers
     
    andrewe1, Mar 4, 2010
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  6. dallow

    dallow Notebook Consultant

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    I wonder if putting a piece of clear packing tape will solve the issue.
    It's what I do with my handheld gaming systems where the serial tags also like to go away after time.
     
    dallow, Mar 4, 2010
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  7. popypopy

    popypopy Notebook Evangelist

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    I'm sure it would. I just snapped a pic of mine with my phone, since I already do that with the OS codes on the bottom of new laptops.
     
    popypopy, Mar 4, 2010
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  8. RAQemUP

    RAQemUP Notebook Evangelist

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    Ya, my service code has already been wiped halfway off. Already wrote it down along with everything else that is on the bottom of the laptop and shoved that in the M11x retail box.
     
    RAQemUP, Mar 4, 2010
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  9. Jerry Jackson

    Jerry Jackson Administrator NBR Reviewer

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    This happened to the one I ordered (the one I used in the official review on this site). I contacted the Alienware team at Dell for immediate escalation and (according to Dell) it turns out that the factory used the wrong printing ribbon on all M11x orders fulfilled between 2/13-2/17 ... so the service tag text will rub off very easily.

    Dell's tech support can identify your system in a number of ways, including reading the service tag from the BIOS setup screen. Of course, that doesn't help if your system crashes completely and you can't post to the BIOS screen. ;)

    If your M11x is one of the ones with the bad service tag the best solution is to go to the BIOS screen, look up your service tag number and write it down somewhere that you store your hard copy files.

    I suppose you can press the issue with Dell and send your system in for a replacement service tag ... but that seems sort of extreme for a label on the bottom of your notebook.
     
    Jerry Jackson, Mar 4, 2010
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  10. andrewe1

    andrewe1 Notebook Consultant

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    andrewe1, Mar 4, 2010
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  11. BatBoy

    BatBoy Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    I just remembered this one - you can also use Dell's System Profiler (web based) to view your Service Tag and Express Service Code. The page is here: http://support.dell.com/support/top...info/en/FindTagSysProfLicense?c=us&l=en&s=gen

    Source: http://www.support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/dsn/en/document?&docid=161942#2
     
    BatBoy, Mar 5, 2010
    #11