Problems with XPS 1640 Laptop

Hello all -

I have a Dell XPS 1640, and it's been giving me some issues:

-For the last few months, when I boot up the computer, sometimes there will be weird characters displayed (looks like Matrix style), or odd colored bars. It would freeze the computer, but I'd reboot and it would be fine.

-For the last few weeks, if I successfully get to Windows (75% of the time), it is very slow, even if I'm just loading up Word or Chrome. It's not program or software based that I can see, as I'm not running much.

It's two years out of warranty, and probably time for a replacement, but would love to keep it usable.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

Can you get into windows

Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Tapatalk

 

Yes, it's just fairly slow, and occasionally will freeze or bluescreen.

 

Blue screens are usually the hard drive failing, sometimes the memory sticks.

I'd start off by replacing the HD and go from there. (Get a SSD if you can.)

 

I had some similar issues with my XPS-1640 and it was the integrated graphics which required a motherboard replacement under warranty

 

Yup, out of warranty now sadly

Any way to test whether it is the HD or motherboard? Don't want to waste time with a new SSD if it's motherboard

 

Swap in another HD from another laptop and see if it boots up OK. Or install an OS (a light version of Linux?) on a external/USB drive and boot from that after taking your other HD out.

 

BSOD errors can be anything. Best way to find out is to check out what the error code is. You can do so by disabling automatic restart on system failures, check event logs, system performance monitor, 3rd party BSOD viewers, etc. Google any of those terms for more info.

For Dell Diagnostics options, including built-in PSA diags, go here.
What Dell diagnostic tools can I use to fix hardware problems? | Dell US

Video distortion as you noted is typically video or memory failing. Swapping DIMMs is a good start, although extended system/memory diagnostics can help narrow it down as well. See above.

A system running slow can of course be anything. Typically if it's HD related, you'll noted excessive HD activity, when there aren't any real processes running. Such as an HD LED on solid for several minutes during boot. In those cases, it may not necessarily fail a diagnostics, but should still be replaced.

 

Get into dell diagnostics and try memory dianogstics cd too.

 

Did you ever get your problem fixed?

I am having the same problem with my Dell XPS 1645. Getting the exact same symptoms. It boots up sluggishly under windows and then those weird characters or colored bars and then Blue Screen.

Doing a bit of research online, I found some issues with CPU throttling when the Laptop reaches a certain heat level. That could explain the slowdown. Since it doesn't show the colored bar/strange characters when I first start the machine but only after it warms up, I think it is a heat issue. I have not cleaned out the fan in a while so I am going to clean it and also remove the fan filter screen. I am going to take off the heat sinks also and redo the thermal paste. I will let you know if that fixes my problem.



I have had this Laptop since 2010 and it has survived a dead hard drive (Replaced it with a SSD) It has been a little work horse and I hope that I can get it up and running again.