Dell XPS m1530 no longer turns on - warranty expired

Hello,

Recently my Dell XPS m1530 would not turn on. The screen is completely blank, it will not even show the Dell Logo/BIOS. The blue led lights come on, it checks the disc drive, and then does nothing else. I've tried removing the hard drive and I get the same result. I've tried pulling the battery out and putting it back in and I get the same result. When I do the diagnostic test, where you hold the fn key down as you power up the machine - I get the following led light sequence:



Which the suggested solutions are:

Description:
The Microcontroller is handing control of the system to the processor. This code will persist if there is no processor detected.


Action That May Be Necessary:
1. Reseating the processor.

2. Replacing the system board.

3. Replacing the processor.

Has anyone had this problem?

 

So I found this post while doing research:

"All boards for the M1530 use either nVidia 8400GS or 8600GT chips - and though nVidia has said otherwise, there are many who believe that both lines of chips are all faulty -- that nVidia didn't (in fact couldn't) fix the basic problem with them short of redesigning the GPU, which it clearly did not do.

Since there's no way to know whether the GPU you buy is "fixed" or "faulty" - and since many believe they're all the latter, and further since no one warrants replacements for more than 90 days, it's a VERY big gamble with a couple of hundred dollars.

It seems Dell is now offering replacement systems to many of those who've extended warranties on the M1530 - so they've either run out of parts, or have resigned themselves to the idea that there's just no way to fix this problem short of replacing the system with a newer model.

If you have to pay for a board for this model, don't bother - put the funds toward a new system."

So this makes me second guess paying Dell, or anyone else to replace/repair the motherboard. It seems like it would be too much of a gamble.

 

Hey guys,

Has anyone had this issue?

 

The warranty for the 1530 was automatically extended by Dell for an additional year due to the GPU defect, so you may still be in warranty and just don't know. Also, there's a class action lawsuit against Nvidia for the faulty chips. Call Dell, tell them that your GPU is faulty and the laptop won't boot, and see what they say.

Also, read the threads already here. They're lots of threads around talking about the same subject.

 

found that after stripping down the system, removing monitor and all additional components, and attaching an external monitor; the system will boot but it only remains operational for a day or two then the problem reemerge

 

I actually got a card in the mail about the class action lawsuit. There was a website that helped you determine if your system was eligible. Unfortunately, even if you have the part in question, but your system hasn't had issues, you do not qualify. I just know that something will go wrong with my system just after the deadline.

 

Hello every one! My XPS died on me yesterday! I just checked my warranty hasn't been extended by dell for a year :S
it says:
Start Date End Date
7/26/2009 7/26/2010

What to do? :S

 

Call Dell support. They do not automatically extend your warranty for the entire computer. If your failure is due to the video card they will replace the motherboard. I just had my second motherboard replacement in 2 yrs done last week.

 

Hey Everyone,

I have an update - so through research I determined that my diagnostic test pointed to the motherboard failing, not the gpu. To have Dell replace my motherboard out of warranty, it would have cost 500 dollars - I wasn't about to put 500 dollars into a 2.5 year old machine. So I ordered a motherboard off Ebay, and replaced the old one myself. When I booted it, the screen was still blank, but I received another diagnostic error: the MIDDLE led light now blinked while the other two lights on either side remained off. This occurred without holding down the fn button when turning it on, it began as soon as I pressed the on button.

I did more research and was lucky enough to find a post on here where someone had the same problem as I and found out what the problem was for him. On your original motherboard, on the back of it should be a black, plastic covering which is stuck to the back with an adhesive. The new motherboard he received it lacked the black covering (same with mine). He found out that if he replaced the covering for the keyboard connection area to the motherboard, it booted up.

I did this and mine booted up too - but now it shortly shuts off about 30 seconds after displaying the Dell logo. When I press F2 or F12 to go to either the boot menu or the BIOS settings, I get the same result. Once I made it to the BIOS settings but it shut off soon after. So I am at a total loss of what to try now. I plan on disassembling it again and replacing ALL of the black covering, but after I try that and nothing works, I won't have any idea.

If anyone has any suggestions I would greatly appreciate it!

 

What Stan said: It's not a general warranty extension. It's only for specific instances where the GPU fails. Nothing else.