Cannot boot properly =-(

I just got a few parts replaced on my M1730. After about an hour of it working perfect, the computer froze and crashed. After that, I could not boot up properly - I couldn't even boot into safe mode.

I have wiped the computer, and I'm still having issues. Sometimes it freezes on the Windows 7 bootup screen, sometimes it freezes on the password screen. Sometimes it lets me use it for 10-15 minutes before freezing. However, it keeps freezing. No bluescreen, nothing. Just completely frozen. I have *NEVER* had freezing issues before.

Does anyone know what might be causing this - or how I can diagnose it. Event log shows nothing but Kernel-Power reports - which is me cutting the power to restart the computer. Currently in safe mode to try and fix this issue =-(

Edit: Just took me 4/5 attempts at booting up to get into Windows. Keeps freezing on the loading screen =-(

 

A bit time consuming I know but I suggest installing Vista via the Dell branded Vista disc which came with your lappie. If you are able to install and no problems are present then you know its your Win7 install media.

 

Any issues in safe mode?

 

At the minute. No. When the issues first started, yes. I know it's not my Windows 7 disks because I've installed multiple times with it - and I have two copies. X64 and x32. Both are having issues.

Called Dell tech support and they're telling me my 'hardware is incompatible with the OS'. Hm, strange, I've been using Windows 7 for months without an issue. They basically told me to call up Software Support, who charge for their services, and get it resolved.

I also got a blue screen with the following:


"HARDWARE MALFUNCTION

Call your hardware vendor for support

NMI: Parity Check/Memory Parity Error
***The System has halted***"


I told Dell this, they asked me have I installed a wireless card recently. I laughed, because they told me 'It's either a wireless card or a video card error, and we know it's not your video card because we replaced it today'

So yeah, the error starts with a new video card, so that can't be the issue at all.

I dunno where to go from here. Dell won't help me, even though the issues only started since the replacement parts were put in. I'm wondering if maybe something wasn't seated properly by the technician.

 

Re-seat the memory modules.

If you are still seeing the bluescreen, contact dell again and if they continue with the 'its not the video card', then proceed with them replacing the wireless card. I know you feel its not the wi-fi but let them go through the motions. Do not discuss Win7 - if the Hardware Malfunction presents itself with the shipped OS install - let them deal with it. It could be a faulty GPU so if the wi-fi does not resolve it they will have no choice but to replace that next (again).

 

I'm gonna install vista from their restore disk. When this doesn't work, they'll have to support me. They didn't even offer to replace the wireless card they forgot all about the bsod. I'll keep everyone updated, thanks for the advice

 

Sorry for the double post, just wanted to let you know what's happening now. I've reinstalled Vista - and it worked fine. I was worried that Dell tech support were right, and I would be stuck on Vista.

An hour later, I notice my games lagging. I check my Task Manager - 93% CPU usage, yet it was only listing about 30-40% maximum. One task using 30%, the rest a few 1%s, and then zeroes.

Thinking this weird, I went to take a screenshot to show everyone on here to see what they thought. As I took the screenshot, my computer stuttered, music froze - computer froze up again.

There's only one of two things that could be wrong now. Hardware, or dodgy drivers.

All the drivers I downloaded were either off Windows Update or BatBoy's M1730 blog - so I can assume they've been tested and are NOT causing the issue.

Dell will be getting a very angry email now. =-)


Anyone know why the CPU might be doing that? Out of interest.

 

Do you have MediaDirect installed? If so, check your startup items and disable PCMService.exe. This is a component of MediaDirect and is NOT required. In the past it has been associated with very high cpu idle usage.

Also, consider any antivirus apps / spyware apps installed. Is it possible an update is needed? I know that some of those freeware spyware apps can sometimes cause issues with cpu usage as well (according to reports i have read).

As to drivers listed on my blog, I have personally tested and verified all of them (always do before I post em).

 

BatBoy, completely clean install. I've installed nothing but firefox, java, and drivers. No anti spyware, no anti virus, nothing like that. I do indeed have MediaDirect installed, that may be causing the issue.

However it still doesn't explain why my PC keeps freezing up. Does anyone have any idea how I can diagnose whether or not it's hardware or drivers causing the issue?

 

I'm just going to throw some of my ideas at you here.
High CPU usage could be caused by some of the windows processes, such as Superfetch and Indexing. Try to turn those off.
As BatBoy have suggested it could be a third-party software, that you have installed. To rule that one out try to do the following:
1. Close all applications.
2. Click Start | Run | type MSCONFIG.
3. From the System Configuration Utility dialogue select the Startup tab
4. From the Startup tab, click Disable All, click Apply.
5. Click the Services tab.
6. Place a check beside Hide All Microsoft Services (this will hide Microsoft Services from view).
7. Click the Disable All button.
8. Click ok and restart the computer. Once the system has restarted, attempt to recreate the problem. If the problem no longer occurs, you must use a process of elimination to identify which service item is at fault.

Another very likely cause I see is that Dell tech could mess something up while working on your system. May be one of the heatsinks is badly attached. Did you check your temps?

You also mention a memory error. Try to reattach your RAM. Or probably even remove one of the sticks and see how it will work.

But in the end, it all started to happen after you got a new GPU installed. Coincident? Very unlikely. If nothing helps, just contact dell and ask them to replace your GPU. After all, if they still won't be able to fix an issue, you may ask the for a "Allpowerfull" replacement

Hope that helps. I'm off to bed now. Good luck.

 

I would try the PSA/PSA+ diagnostics outlined in the DCSE manual. It still sounds like something didn't get seated correctly during Dell maintenance as you stated previously.

 

Good point Gadget... Download this and install to a USB flash drive and boot from it - run the suite and note any errors.

ftp://ftp.us.dell.com/diags/CW1355A0.exe

 

I ran a few of the diagnostic tests, however everything passed =-( Any you want to recommend?

 

Check your PM

 

Thanks BatBoy, I'll reply shortly.

Just wanted to add, I installed World in Conflict and tried playing it. On the starting screens (logos etc.) there's a consistent white flashing every second or third frame. Still sound like a hardware issue to you guys?


Thanks again, this forum is so helpful =-)

 

Connect the lappie to an external monitor and set it to output to the external monitor only. Do you still see this behavior?

 

I've got no externals at the minute =-(

I've called Dell again, explained to them the issues I'm having. They asked me to try booting the diagnostics disk, and of course when I tried to eject my DVD drive - it won't eject. Windows cannot eject it either, just gives me an error. My system is slowly dying =-(

They're coming out tomorrow to replace my GPU (again) and my DVD drive (¬.¬')

Let's hope this gets it sorted. No gaming for me 'till it's resolved =-(

 

Good to hear you didn't delay and contacted them. Hopefully all will be 5 x 5 tomorrow. If not, remember the PM

BE sure to test the issues BEFORE the tech leaves. If you still see them, have the TECH contact Support on the spot. The tech should have a cell with him, if not - collect $.25 (joke) and call...

 

Hehe. The Dell guy told me to do that too - however it worked for an hour after the tech left. We did indeed test it before he left yesterday, he didn't just fix it and take off =-D

But I'll try it when he's here tomorrow, give it a try. If it works, I'll continue stressing it throughout the day (I've had two days without gaming! :-() and see if I can't get it to crash again.

Oh also, I spoke to the tech support agent about this yesterday. I think I've found solid proof something is going wrong with my pc. If you look at the attached screenshot, I only have one graphics card O.O. Personally I have a feeling the cards, as opposed to being faulty, are simply not seated properly. However it definitely seems to indicate an issue with the GPUs somewhere.

(PS: I just checked DXDiag, it's showing my video memory as 1778MB. If memory serves, I had around 22xxmb previously. Anyone confirm what this SHOULD be?)

 

Yea your right here is mine:

 

I can confirm that just looking at the screenshot. Vista here as well - even with SLI disabled, my device manager still shows two seperate 8800M GTXs. As does HWMonitor. That replacement card is FUBAR big time.

 

Yeah I knew it should have. Also I've just been playing games, and it's running 100%. Well, 50%. But it hasn't crashed. Seems like GPU2 is brokered in my opinion. Finally figure the issue out...after the call with Dell =-P

 

Sorry for the double post, I'm now *extremely* pissed off.

So the same engineer came out. Real nice guy, and he really knows what he's doing. Installed the new card, booted up, it booted up fine. After he left I ran HWMonitor. UAC tried to kick in, it black screened. Froze on the black screen.

I restart my computer - It won't boot up. Brings me to the Vista loadup bar, then black screens after that. Won't show me the login page.

Boot into safe mode - Safe mode is working. So I tried a restart, same black screen.

Booted into safe mode again, disabled both the video cards - I can now boot up. Currently running in 640x480 resolution.

Seriously, does this sound like a dodgy card AGAIN or am I doing something wrong? Please someone tell me what you think, before I throw this laptop out a window...


Edit: Okay, I've tried one card, then the other.

I enabled one card. It froze on a black screen with the mouse cursor, just before the Windows Logo shines up before login.
I enabled the other card, it has booted up. However it's running terribly. Scrolling isn't smooth, everythings laggy and slow.

I'm currently installing 185.85 drivers. I'm currently on 186.03, so if the issue persists with this...Dell are in trouble.

Edit2: I was about to uninstall the drivers, and guess what I found! A yellow triangle beside the enabled card.

"Windows has stopped this device because it has reported problems (Code 43)"


...I'll continue trying these drivers...

 

Sorry to hear that. I don't even know what to say. I mean it is pretty obvious that it is either GPU or your motherboard is dying. The only thing I can recommend is to keep calling Dell to replace something. As I said before, after all the trouble, they might upgrade you to "Allpowerfull".

 

^^ That's what I thought as well. In situations like this, I would demand a GPU *AND* new mobo replacement if that helps. Call em' back and tell them that it did not fix the problem and it persists.

EDIT: Hmm... Call me crazy; it may be an unorthodox solution but, if you'd noticed, the M1730 GPU has the words "PUSH HERE", located near its slot. I remembered not doing so, I just placed the GPU onto the board, screwed everything back, and somehow everything didn't boot.

Now because of my simple carelessness, it caused this:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?p=4609489

Somehow at the end, I reopened everything, and I gave it a good cleaning, and really give it a hard push on its slots, and viola, it worked again.

It sounded alot like what I experienced. Give it a good push in the "PUSH HERE" sign when you place the GPU onto the board till you hear a click.

Just a thought though...

Anyway I'm really sorry to hear your issues haven't been fixed... Who knows, they may exchange it for an M17x?

 

Well, Dell have offered to replace my GPU - AGAIN.

Oh sorry for not telling all the details - this is also my third motherboard replacement. Each time they've came out they've replaced the GPU AND the mobo.

It's definitely the graphics cards this time. The tech support insisted it was my OS. To entertain them, I wiped the computer AGAIN, and installed ONLY my graphics driver. Voila, couldn't start up.

They still insisted on troubleshooting me. Eventually, I told them I would let them replace the part one last time. Under the Sales of Goods act 1979, I am entitled to a replacement, repair or refund if issues occur. I informed them that I have tried the repair option, and if this issue occurs with the next replacement, I will be seeking a refund. If they refuse I'll be going to Trading Standards with this. As you can all guess, I'm pretty sick of it. I have currently had:

1: A working, but overheating, graphics card
2: A graphics card with only one working core
3: A graphics card with no working cores.

I am currently in safe mode. The cards are not enabled. If I enable them, I can't use my computer. Awesome gaming system huh?

Sorry for ranting to y'all, you can understand my frustration. Even if they offered me a new replacement M1730 I'd be happy. This is taking the mick.

Oh and SomeFormofHuman: I don't intend to poke around inside - it's not my responsibility. I'll leave it up to Dell to fix.

My replacement won't be until Friday, because they pissed me around until dispatch was closed. I'll keep everyone posted.

 

It's your laptop man. You don't have to poke around the insides, you just have to make sure the techs remember to do that. Sit beside them and observe. Remember, the techs are just sub-contractors for Dell, they won't work just for them. I remembered one time in a thread some guy didn't know how to open his Dell.

Oh and, boot up your M1730 before they leave, let them witness the startup if there are any further problems after they've changed the GPUs, they'll report back to HQ if the problem still persists.

 

The technician has been the same guy twice, and he knows what he's doing, I've watched him both times. Also he always made sure it booted up, I didn't want to keep him while playing a game though, I'm sure he has other jobs to do =-P

Well tomorrow is the end of the road either way. If I get another dodgy card, I'll be asking for a refund or replacement. If they refuse, Trading Standards will be getting a call