I caved...i requested a grainy lcd swap

So i decided today that i am fed up with my laptops lcd being disgustingly grainy. I put up with it for months, but i cant anymore.

I started dell chat, an as usual i pretend like i know nothing and play it dumb. (its funny to see what they try and get you to do).

Well after an hour of discussions, they wanted me to run media direct. Well, i formated my laptops hard drive to remove media direct and the dell diagnostics partition.

Since i didn't have it installed they wanted me to install it. Why i asked, to see if it looks different in there. Ok, i guess that works (maybe my video settings were off). I told them that i wouldn't install it. So they wanted me to reinstall vista, as it was the only other option. WHAT? No, thats not going to fly with me, i asked why reinstalling the video drivers wouldn't suffice, which i had done numerous times already, and reinstalled vista twice since i got it (all along it was grainy). Ok, they bought that. So then he wants me to boot to the dell diagnostics partition. I reminded him that i didn't have it, and i would run it off the cd. He was ok with that. So i ran the lcd tests, everything tested out, it was still grainy (duh).

So i chat it back up with the same guy, hes still treating me weird, then he asks for my info, and sees where i worked for and then i say, yes, i was a technician for 4 years there fixing dell laptops and desktops. Then he got all nice and stopped treating me like i was a dumb ass. Hes sending me a new one to swap out myself. Hopefully, its an LG, but i will let you know. Maybe i will try and take before and after shots if anyone is interested.

 

Why didn't you get it replaced when you first got it???

 

i got a grainy one too... do they just send you a replacement to do yourself? if i dont need to send my laptop away i would consider doing that too....

The funny thing is i DO have an LG screen, but it IS grainy

 

*sigh* I really don't know if I should order the 1420... I don't want to go through this grainy screen issue.

 

good luck. Let us know how it works out for you. I haven't ordered mine yet, I'll be watching to see how your new lid works out before I decide on mine. btw ... do you have any experience with any of the other displays? I'm not a big fan of matte, so maybe I will just stay with the WXGA screen.

 

my first vostro was a wxga, with a nice screen...i never checked what kind. i returned it to get a better machine for less (the one i have now). I really like the extra resolution of the upgraded screen. I have used/fixed the matte screens, thats all my company got, and i do not like them nearly as much as the glossy.

 

If you're still in warranty and have the in-home service, you should be able to request a tech deliver it and install. In theory anyway.

 

I have return to depot warranty, but he was going to send the part to my house and asked if i could do it myself (after i told him i AM a tech), so of course i said i could. (I'd rather work on my own machines anyways). So he just sent it, and ill send the old one back. (well ill send what ever one is worse back, hopefully it will be the old one)

 

is the installation complicated? i have quite moderate experience taking these laptops apart.... I dont want a tech working on it...

Also did he check any credentials confirming you were a tech? or could i just say that too?

 

no, it doesnt matter if you are or not. if you are confident in yourself you can do it. but if you damage anything, you are responsible. Also, i dont think they will be happy if you call them up saying your laptop is in pieces and you cant figure out how to get it back together.

 

heres how to do a display swap http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/vos1500/en/sm/display.htm#wp1179838
you dont have to go as far as they show, because the displays they send have the plastic bezel already around them...but its only a few screws and a cable. not too hard.

 

im going to definately try using dell chat and post my results here in this thread if you dont mind. The thing is i have a grainy display and i figured id stick with it, because i dont like causing dell troubles, and id hate to send my laptop away.

But if i can do it myself... and i dont have to hope the tech doesnt screw anything up, ill definately try it.

 

those were exactly my excuses for not doing it. but hell, i cant stand it anymore and i use my laptop for 16+ hours a day :O

 

just to get one thing straight: they issue a replacement and you dont have a say in it correct? meaning you cant request a certain resolution screen or lets say LG ?

I bet everyone hopes for an LG but whatever arrives is what they get right?

 

i asked for an LG, he said he will see what he can do, but i doubt he did anything I will probably get whatever i get.

 

LOL...

Good luck Nizzy, I've done the same thing myself bro, when I dropped and kicked my laptop while using it and walking.. Yeah what a mess...

I got a crisp nice LG, but they didn't send me it already in bezels and such. They sent the screen and colored bezel separate, I had to put it all together. Pretty scary taking that bezel off the screen, you feel like it's gonna snap at any second, I was never that scared in my life.


DeusEx,

I don't know about nizzy, but I tried the "I'm a tech" line and it didn't get me no where. You gotta be a bit pushy with some of the CSR's, possibly even get management approval. I pretty much had to sound like I was selling my soul away just for them to say "um..ok". Usually when it takes that much I start to act like a complete dick towards the stubborn CSR.



LG are over rated anyways, I've seen a good share of grainy LG's. Seems all screen manufactures have troubles. Put to thick of a 'film' on the screen and that's usually what gives off that grainy look. Poor quality control at times I guess.

I'm tempted to request a new screen myself, I just found a few dead pixels and there like almost in the middle of the screen, frustrating as hell. Stupid LCD manufactures, it's a wonder Plasma displays haven't been mentioned for laptops.. It'd be pretty cool..I guess.. lol

 

plasmas use way too much power, and they can not be tipped anything but vertical like they sit when you watch, else they have to be recalibrated.

 

jesus christ man... i JUST tried talking to dell chat.... Vostro support is FREAKING AWESOME !. the tech asked me: whats the problem ? after that... Whats the shipping address? 4 minutes... and its resolved. PROPS TO DELL. new screen is on the way.

1:47:21 PM System System
You are now being connected to an agent. Thank you for using Dell Chat
1:51:52 PM Agent SMB_Guillermo_167714
We'll have the LCD replaced

 

Just remember, the replacement is a refurb. I guess it's part of Dell's policy. Even if you've only had the laptop < 21 days or 30 days for the Vostro. Apparently the policy states that they can replace a component with a refurbished one. If you have any questions about the replacement, get in contact with me. Ive done it 5+ times now. Basically grow your fingernails out a bit, slide them between the bezel and screen, pull up and pull the bezel in towards the screen. This is the way the tabs are designed, if you pull the bezel slightly in towards the screen, it will unhook from the nub on the lid easier. So do this as you pull up. Remember, pull up push in. Also there are 4 hooks on the left side, 4 on the right, each hinge has a snap and there are 2 behind the Dell logo. Start at the bottom (at the Dell logo) and work your way up slowly. Be patient!

sOnIc

 

DeusEx, you lucky ***************** lmao..

I never get the easy techs, I always get duds, lol.

I'm gonna attempt it again myself, see how it goes.

sonicfrequency, ya I know all about taking the bezel off now, I rip my system apart every so often to clean it out. Pretty much have to because I use a wood burning stove to heat my place so it get dusty faster. I got it down to an art form but man, scary stuff still, I'm mo worried about breaking the bezel then the screen.

 

Guys is this common problem happening to all screens or only to the 1440x900 ones? I was thinking about buying a Vostro with a 1280x800 TrueLife screen and I wanted to know if these screen are having the same problems too..

 

ive got a 1280x800... matte, LG and grainy.

 

Since I'm not much of a techie, how will I be able to tell if the screen quality is good or not? Is there something specific I can do to notice the graininess (omg sorry im italian so im not sure if that's the way you spell that lol) or is it so bad that I can't go wrong? How can I see what model my screen is?

 

I think its mainly the 1440x900. Im pretty sure its that way with the vostro 1400. Its worth arguing for a non grainy screen, and yes its still an issue that should be discussed until Dell drops the screens, regardless of how many 'oh no not another grainy screen thread' comments. If its an issue, discuss it, people need to know.

And yeah, Im still scared taking that bezel off. I can do it pretty easily, but theres always that chance of snapping a tab or even breaking the bezel. The bezels so thin, its like a piece of paper. No matter how often I remove it, Im sure I still wouldnt be confident doing it again...

sOnIc

 

ohhh trust me you will be able to tell... If you feel like your eyes are being poked by needles after long periods of viewing the screen then you know for sure. you can just see grains on the screen that are darker, especially on a white background.

And if you "cant tell" then that means it doesnt bother you, and if it doesnt bother you then you dont need to worry about getting ir fixed/replaced.

 

LMFAO.. I hear ya man.. It's like standing on the edge of a cliff with a strong wind blowing..

tehblizz, you'll know when you're screen is grainy, trust us. It'll look like it's oily, to be short. DeusEx did a good job of explaining it.

 

Just try to read a pdf file, word file, coding or any spreadsheets for more than 30 mins. That was about the most I could work on this lappy before I eyes started killing me.

 

i had my 1420 replaced 3 times for whine noise issues (all 3 had them)... and each time i was hoping to get a different screen manufacturer other than AUO... but they all came in as AUO screens. There is grain/oil... but its not that bad. Anyway, about screen replacements... do you need to send back the old screen or do you get to keep it also?

 

I believe I read somewhere that the screen is the most expensive part of a laptop? Either way, yeah you have to send it back then it gets sent to someone else as a refurb replacement Great how it works. Not really, I think I was the one that got a crappy screen sent to me as a refurb from other peoples laptops.

sOnIc

 

They send you a screen, you install that one that came and send back the original one. Or send the new one back if it looks worse then the original.

lmao..hope that clears things up for ya.

 

I heard GPU's for laptops going for 600 bucks a piece. How much is a screen $900? 8|

 

Ok I think I got the concept.. if they do accept to change the screen do you think I could ask for a diff resolution? For eg. if I have the 1280 could I ask for a 1440 maybe even paying for the difference in price, or once you got a resolution you're stuck with it?

 

you cant do that. they replace it only with the exact same, no matter what.

 

oky doky, thank you so much for your help!

 

1 950-3337 1 Year Limited Warranty $0.00
1 987-5427 Dell Hardware Warranty PlusOnsite Service, Initial Year $0.00
1 983-3070 Type 3- Third Party At HomeService, 24x7 TechnicalSupport, Initial Year

Does this mean I can get a Dell rep to come to my house and replace the screen?

 

yes, it does.

 

Maybe I got lucky, or maybe the rep is taking me for a ride, but I'm getting a completely new system-- a complete system-- sent to try to fix the grain. The rep said I can check them out and decide which is better and then send back the other. So I basically got to use this one for awhile and then hopefully I can keep the brand-new one and start all over again

 

hey is there any way to know what screen they are sending me before i actually get it ? right now the part number is MP726 and its a WXGA like i have currently so thats GOOD.

It doesnt say if its matte or truelife though.. and it doesnt say if its LG/SEC/AUO . so any way to find out these things ?

 

There is no way to really know. Just for the fun of it though, my part number is MP729.

edit: sob, the plastics are not on the lcd. im getting 2 packages...

 

why is ur part number 3 more than mine if you got yours before i did ? ~_~.

 

i have a glossy wxga+. it has nothing to do when we get it, its a part number.

 

ahh ok...

we are going to recieve someone else's returned screens though arent we? so doesnt that mean they will also have the problem ?

 

its possible!

 

somehow doesnt make me too optimistic =/. Well if it does still suck ill keep sending them back i suppose. What about you ?

well i googled YOUR part number and i think YOU MIGHT be getting the AUO screen. Dont pay attention to this too much, this guy had a WSXGA display so it might be different. look at this thread :

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=167789&page=30 .

Here is the excerpt:

MP729 SERVICE KIT, LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY, 15.4WXGA+, VIDEO ELEC. STDS. ASSOC., TLF, VOS 1
- this was the AUO, Model #: AUO2077


BTW: can you go to dell.com , your account and check the screen they are sending you? can you paste the ENTIRE line of description? im very curious as to what it says.

 

MP729 Service Kit,Liquid Crystal Display,15.4WXGA+,Video Elec. Stds. Assoc.,True Life,Vostro $219


i dont mind getting an AUO, so long as its not a crappy one.

 

I told ya nizzy1115 that it wouldn't have the bezels on it

I hear ya bro, I wouldn't care what it is either, as long as it doesn't suck ass.

I'm gonna give it a swing tomorrow morning and see if I can get another replacement screen. They'll likely argue with me that I gotta return to depot instead of just letting me fix it myself. Then they'll break down and say "fine.." lol.

 

what about me do i get the bezels ?

 

do you have to boxes being shipped to you?

 

yeah but only 1 box for the screen as much as i see on the order...its being shipped to me... doesnt mention plastics or bezels... thats why im wondering.

 

once in the dell page looking at the item, click view all tracking numbers for this item. does it show 2 in there?