Another problem found with my XPS M1330

I had a problem with bluetooth switch and fan so i got a service to get those fixed.

However the LED indicator between wi-fi catcher switch and bluetooth switch has't been fixed.

1. When does LED indicator actually blinks?

Here is another problem occured last couple of days

I was playing with my laptop and suddenly the monitor blacked out..

so I rebooted manually (coz I couldn't from the window as the monitor blacked out) and then the noises appeared on the monitor like when the monitor got damaged or broken..

Second time when i rebooted it went to normal.

Now today, when i was watching prison break so hard,

suddenly the screen turned out to dos

and this error message appeared

'Hardware malfunction

Call your hardware vendor for support

NMI: parity check/ memory parity error

The system has halted'




I had this laptop less than an year now this is the second time i found the problems!!!

actually this thing happened after the techinician came to fix the fan and bluetooth switch.

not quite sure whether this problem caused by that..but wrote it here somehow.

any comments would be appreciated

thanks

 

Sounds like a video card problem.

 

Memory parity error may be caused by driver conflicts, or hardware failiure.

In other words, it could be anything.

 

I believe the LED indicator is supposed to light up when you hold the wifi switch to the wifi catcher postion and there are networks detected. It may only work if you have QuickSet installed; I'm not sure.

 

Q1= led indicator — Lights up when your are connected to a WLAN.
As per document quote.

 

thanks all..

now i know that the indicator is still not working..

also..as i mentioned above

still have problem with the monitor blackout..

I uninstalled the video card driver and reinstall it..but still have same problem

any ideas? (is it a software or hardware problem)

 

Are you able to connect the machine to an external monitor? That would isolate the GPU and screen.

 

As i don't have external monitor not able to do that..

I already tried to contact Dell. but not sure whether they can fix it..

is there any other way to fix it?

 

I have got the same problem with my XPS M1330! Same message saying about "malfunction and memory partry". When i tried to use the Repair option from the Vista DVD, the message appeared. I still don't know how to solve the problem! My laptop freezes many times. This is such a complicated problem! Iam about to re-format my C drive tomorrow to install the new Vista and see if it works. I did the diagnostic test today but no error was found! If its the hardware problem, i think the test results should have been different! I also tried to reinstall the Intel matrix storage manager and the nvidia display driver but the problem is still alive! There was another message saying that "windows have recovered from an unexpected shutdown" and the detail was about the "Blue screen" error! Iam not sure how can this problem be solved! If i contact Dell support, maybe i wouldn't get help because iam not using the Vista Home Premium came with the laptop. Any advice would be appreciated!!

 

hi,

are you installing with 4 GB Ram in it?
Try to install with only 2 Gb, then add the other 2 after installation an SP1.

may it helps

 

Why do u need to install 4G of Ram for? I don't think the Vista SP1 update has anything to do with this!

 

I also had "malfunction and memory partry". problem and there was unexpected shutdown. After shutdown the colored vertical lines showned on the display.

If you have same problem with mine you better change to new motherboard
After I changed all the problem were gone.

 

Thanks for your advice! Iam not sure if i can get the motherboard replace from Dell for free because my laptop is still under warantee!How did you replace the motherboard? I've never done it before so i really don't know how to do it and i don't know which motherboard i need to get! Please give me some more advice! I thought it was something with the nvidia graphic card!

 

If your laptop is still under warantee then you can get it for free coz i did.

Just ring them and explain what happened then they will ask you whether you've done diagnose test blah blah.....

but like you already done diagnose test you won't find any problem from it
so just ask them for new motherboard replacement and they will give you
replacement.
actually you don't need to ask them for model number of new motherboard
coz they will give you latest motherboard anyway.

Good luck

 

I rang them today and the guy tried to fix it but he couldn't.They will send the technician to come to my house to replace the nvidia video card.Im not sure if the technician will have to replace the motherboard to make it work. Anyway, thank a lot for giving me advices!!I'll report the result soon after i get it fixed.Cheers

 

Dell technician replaced my motherboard and my vista has been working fine in the last few days! I still have a problem with Vista sidebar that i couldn't fix. Iam not sure if its the RAM problem or some programs cause the problem.Just have a look at my Vista sidebar pics and see if anyone has experienced this problem before!I thought XPS doesn't have much problems but i think i am wrong!

 

Looks like video driver problem or you have problem with overheating GPU. What GPU do have on your M1330?

 

The wifi catcher documentation is wrong or outdated. The light is not supposed to light up whenthe system is ON. It works when the system is OFF or hibernate/sleep. Turn system off, then hold and slide the wifi catch button for a couple seconds then let go and you should see some light action. Try it.

 

This doesn't fix my problem!I think the solution for this Vista sidebar problem is re-installing new windows!my windows have got some problems too!sometimes it has "unexpected shutdown" and the message was about "bluescreen stuff"!I also have an issue with my webcam. sometimes it doesn't work for some reason!do'nt know if other laptop brands have many issues like my Dell XPS M1330!I wanna change to a new laptop coz i know this small laptop wouldn't last for long with so many issues!