I9300 Video Freezing/Skipping with a DVD

I received my i9300 on March 28. I did not attempt to play a DVD until 3/31. The Screen freezes and skipping while playing a DVD other times the voice does not sync with the video. I tried playing three DVDs and all of them did the same thing. I talked to a Dell tech rep in India, she had me reinstall video drivers and delete the video card and reinstall. Still the same problem. After 90 minutes she transferred me to a guy in Canada who wanted to charge me to fix a FOUR day old computer. I was then transfered to a tech in Manila who had me do a system restore back to the way I received the computer. After FOUR hours with techs they believe the machine needs a new DVD drive. What is everyone's opinion? Is this the likely cause of my problems??

Since the machine is within the 21 day window should I send this machine back and get another one.

I am running a x300 128 meg video card with 512 of Ram

 

before you do are you using the standard dvd software dell provides if so try downloading vlc media player (its free) and give that a try for me it runs a lot smoother on my older pc then power dvd ever did.

 

I played a disk on my system with no problems. I assume you cleaned the disc with windex or something.

I9300 2.0ghz 1.0gb ram 100gb disk 256MB NVIDIA 6800 dvd rw UXGA

 

It is for sure the Cd/dvd drive. Yesterday, Dell called me and started throwing money at me if I would keep the machine, 100 bucks. Answer was NO. After that I received three more phone calls including some guy in Oregon that wanted the drive out of the machine. I am sending the machine back. I ordered another i9300, however, I upgraded to the DVD-RW drive. I did play a TV recording that was on my Sony Vaio desktop thru the wireless network to the laptop and it played flawlessly. Some recording on DVD skipped, jumped, etc.

I had to think long and hard about reordering with the NEW Dell and their terrible service.

 

I really like the i9300. It is rather big, but it has to be large to handle the 17" panel. It looked huge at first, like the first Compaq portable that I saw that you needed a wheelbarrow to haul it. But after you see what it can do and how killer it is to have a 17" screen on a laptop it's not bad. I would not try to travel much with the machine on a airplane, especially in coach. With the M730 1.6 ghz running Norton stuff, it takes the machine 75 seconds to boot and it says with the 9 cell battery that the machine has 2hrs 54 mintes left. The 6 cell is weak for this platform.

I would not have ordered a new i9300 if it had not been for the CD/DVD drive. I was satisfied with one I ordered. I did, however, upgrade with more stuff this time. I ordered the M750 1.86, XGA+ standard panel (both times), 60gig 7200rpm H.D (had reg 60gig before), the 9 cell battery, an extra 9 cell ( had 6 and 9 before), 256MB video card (had 128 before- I don't play games- 256 is likely as waste of $$$,CD/DVD burner ( don't want the risk of a bad 24x CD burner) and 500MB of ram both times. I am thinking of adding another 256-512 of ram when I get the machine. All in all I spent $433 more. So I guess I am close to a XPS Gen 2 with this one.

My desktop machine is a killer Sony RA820 w/HT technology. It is great machine so I have been comparing the i9300 to the Sony and it stacks up pretty good against it. In fact, I will likely not buy a desktop again only laptops.

What did you order, heartofgold??