Help ??

Hi all .... just stumbled across this forum while looking for answers on the 8800m GTX problem and / or Nvidia driver issue .

Anyway here is my story ....
Got my new XPS M1730 in December 2008 and all was well for the first few months till the graphic issues started and the Nvidia driver stopped working and has recovered problem.
So three new cards and after a long battle they eventually agreed to swap me out with an Alieware M17X R2.

I have two questions ..... what happens if i still have the old XPS in a box upstairs waiting to be collected and they have not collected it after 3 months and will they even want it back now...they did say they wanted it back and i would be contacted when this collection had been arranged ... however three months have passed and im not going to phone them and ask them to come get it ....and also what can i do to get the machine back to working properly ... ie how can i find out if it definitly is the graphic card and what are my options .... are the 9800 cards plauged with the same problems .
As for the Alienware im not convinced i like it as much as i did the XPS ... fan noise during gaming is almost embarrasing ...
Please be gentle with the noobie questions , i have flicked through the 200 plus pages of this thread but may have missed something .

Thanks

 

No one can offer any advice ???

 

Just so you don't feel like you're being ignored, I'll try to help, even though I'm certainly no expert... If Dell hasn't billed your credit card for the laptop that wasn't returned, I would be inclined to think that they've just "forgotten" about it, so you're likely off the hook there.

Concerning the 2nd question: does the laptop still work at all? Is the only problem that the drivers stops working and recovers? How often does this happen?

 

They have not billed me for it so it looks like they have forgotten about it .

The laptop works fine in every way untill i try gaming then after 5-10 mins it freezes with a black screen then after a minute or so i get the desktop saying nvidia driver kernal nvlddmkm (or something or other stopped working but has recovered).

I have tried every driver from the official Dell one to Nvidia's latest driver .
I have even let Windows find the driver itself but always the same result .

Thanks

 

Hmm... definitely odd...have you tried a fresh install of windows? This isn't so much a suggestion, but a question

Any idea what the temperatures of the GPU are like?

How about DirectX? Do you have the latest version installed?

 

The gpu temps under test/stress hover around 75-77 degrees C

I have tried mulitple fresh installs with Vista and Windows 7 .
I would need to double check the direct x version when at home tomorrow but its either 10 or 11 .

Thanks

 

Well, like I said, I'm no expert on these things, but with the latest drivers and direct X, plus having done reinstalls of Windows... I'm pretty fresh out of ideas. Sounds like it certainly could be a hardware issue. Is the videocard in that laptop removable? If so, perhaps taking it out and re-seating it would be something to try.

 

How are you measuring your GPU temps? Are you measuring them in real time while it is being stressed? If so, post your results so we can take a look.

 

You never "off the hook" on a laptop that has to be "returned to Dell". Eventually, it will catchup. When you were given a "replacement" laptop part of the agreement was to return the broken/non-working one to Dell.

What can, or will happen is when they do realize that you still have a laptop that has to be returned to them ~ and if you have a "existing warranty" on your replacement laptop, is that they can "suspend" the service on that to get your attention.

And, the next time you call in for service on that replacement laptop, you will be told there is no existing warranty service on the service tag. They will ask you about the other one that has yet to be returned.

Dell outsources a fairly aggressive 3rd Party Collection Service now called "Exchange Customer Care Team" ie. OnProcess.

Cin...

 

So what can i do ??? .... i have phoned them twice asking them to come and collect it . Each call costing a fortune because of there premium rate phone numbers and being held in a queue for 30+ minutes at a time .

Am i supposed to grovel and beg them to pick it up ?

I figure they are due me anyway as i was a month or more with out a pc because of there shambolic customer care people who half the time cant understand English and cant speak it .
If they come for it then fine but i wont go on hands and knees begging them and paying a fortune in phone calls.
Im not going to sell it , im not that stupid ... it will be here in my possesion.
All i wanted to do was get it working again untill they "can" be bothered to get it ....

So how can i find out what is really at fault with it ... is there some kind of diagnostic tool apart from the in built dell stuff that only tests the memory .

Is there a graphic card test i can perform ??

Oh i checked my Alienware service tag today and i have the full 3yrs Accidental Package but i know there will be no warranty on the XPS.

Thanks

 

I used a programm called OCCT and also Everest to monitor the gpu temps ... on testing the memory with OCCT it sits at a constant 75-77 degrees c then fails the test but it doesnt say why .

Thanks

 

Dell will want the laptop back - you should have received a return lable packed with your replacement, its your responsibility to send it back- Not Dell to pick up from you....

 

Well i can assure you i was told that DHL or UPS or some other company would be in touch and would collect it from me .... again in case you all misunderstand me , they can have the laptop . Its here , not hidden away or sold etc ... im not a criminal you know ...... i was told by 2 customer care reps on 2 separate calls they would collect it from me ( and yes i have the name of the agent that told me and his details ) ...My replacement Alienware came direct from Shanghi in China then went to Holland and London then to me as i watched it on there tracking service , and when UPS delivered it i can assure you he didnt give me a return slip or ask for the other one .... do you think im making this up ..... geeez im only asking for a bit of help here on finding out whats actually wrong with the stupid thing .
Now im being made to feel like some criminal and im witholding there stuff or refusing to send it back

It may be different where you are but here in the UK if your laptop needs to go back to the factory as my XPS did once before , they collect it from you and send a courior with a nice big plastic box to put it in ( again i was told by the agent that this is what will happen . I wouldnt even have to find a box to put it in ... all i give him is the laptop,charger and discs it came with ).

Is it my fault if the two agents i have dealt with have made a mistake or have not put it through ??????

Thanks

 

Instead of calling, and incurring that expense, you can try e-mailing Technical or Customer Support. And, they should get back to you. I understand you don't have Chat Support available.

Here is the link for Dell UK Technical Support if you wish to check it out LINK (the E-Mail Link is first on the left)

Or, you can try:
Return & Cancellation Query - Email

Other E-Mail Query

The 2 above I found HERE (There are other e-mail query's for contact w/in there).

That way you show you initiated contact on return on the lappy. : )

Cin...

 

They have told me twice (approx one month apart each time) they would arrange the collection of it and i have never heard anything since .

Wish i had never mentioned it now .

All i really wanted was some advice on how to get the stupid thing working.

I'll try another forum .

Thanks

 

No need to leave, I was just trying to give you tips on returning your other lappy vs. sitting on the phone w/no help. And, advise on what can happen with unreturned lappy's to Dell. : ) And, you originally asked a question about the return of the 1730, what would happen.



Cin...

 

I dont have any issues with the Alienware apart from the loud fans during gaming .

Was just thinking about getting the 1730 going untill they decide to collect it .
If it was just the card i would have got a new one then put the old one back in when they collect it , but im not prepared to pay hundreds of pounds on a new card when it might not be that but i dont know how to diagnose it properly .

Thanks