MY M1330 HAS finally screwed up!

I've had this notebook since sep 07. And first time ever it freezes/goes black screen/then blue screen and reboots.
Even sometimes the taskbar turn blue with blue lines and freezes.

Anyone else have this problem? .... What should i do?? HELP PLZ im starting school tomorrow and i need this notebook.
Can't type much it could freeze anytime....

 

Have you run Windows Update recently?
Have you tried a system restore?
Have you run an AV/anti-spyware scan?
Have you updated any drivers lately?

This is Vista, right?

 

You need to figure out whether the problem is hardware or software. Is it still the case with Dells that the drivers / utilities CD can be booted to run a set of hardware diagnostics? If so, run them.

The next test is to boot Windows into safe mode (press F8 at the initial Windows splash screen - might take several attempts to get the timing right).

If the hardware is OK and safe mode is OK then the problem is probably some recently installed / updated software or driver.

John

 

I always check for windows update.
I run antivirus regularly. I tried using it before but it froze/blue screen etc...
I have not tried system restore yet..

The last major thing i installed was the A09 Driver which i downloaded from Dell website from my download page.
What should i do?

 

-Stick in the Vista reinstall disk.
-Press F-12 repeatedly when you see the Dell logo upon startup.
-Select "Boot from CD/DVD
-Click through first prompt and then click "Repair my computer"
-follow the prompts

 

ok thanks ill try that...
woiuild u recomend me to do a clean reformat and follow flamenkos guide.. i didnt do a clean reformat wen i recieved my laptop 6 months ago..

 

I do. Make sure you back up your data first, though (documents, media, etc). If you decide to do a clean install, trying the repair method I posted earlier isn't necessary unless you don't want to do a clean install now.

After doing the clean install, be sure to take a look at the Vista Tips and Tweaks thread.

 

ok thanks. i need another pc with me to do this clean install so i can folow the steps lol.

 

Or you could just print them out.

 

yeah.. no printer atm. il just backup 2nite and format tomorow at my other house which there is a spare PC. Just incase i need help, im gona need this forum to ask qustions while im formattin

 

Sounds good. Be sure to post if you have problems so we can help you out.

 

ok i formatted it today and flamenkos guide wasexcellent.
anyway while i was updating windows update.... it happened again... blue-colored line appeard on the taskbar or around the screen and freezes on me again...Was not able to do anything.. waited max 10mins if the cursor would even at least move or anything working... and nothing! what should i do?

 

Sounds like an update is causing the problem. Did you install all "recommended" or "optional" updates? Try first installing all the critical updates and then the others.

If during this the computer has that problem again, do the repair method I posted earlier and install the updates in groups of 3 until the computer has the problem again, repair and install those 3 one-by-one until you figure out which one is causing problems.

Hide that update so it doesn't automatically update on you then install the rest.

It's a tedious process, but I had to do it for my computer because one of the "critical" updates kept causing my computer to BSOD rendering it useless. By using the process I just outlined, I figured out which update was causing the problem.

 

Are you talking about dell driver updates? which ones shouldnt i download?
Wheni formatted it still has the A09 Bios? Do u think that is causing the problem? Where can i get the A07 bios ?

 

Personally you should do this as follows

Skip Dell driver updates. For now...My friend has an M1530 purchased aroudn the same time as you do. If your nifty, you should just install your Ethernet and or wireless driver, and download all of the M1530 drivers from the fourm...Search a post for M1530 DRIVERS. Saves the BS from those Dell bootup disks!

Back up information
Reformat and remove partitions
Install necessary drivers from boot up disk / Download from internet
DO NOT INSTALL VIRUS PROTECTION
Do all necessary updates from windows update
Use the new driver from Nvidia I think its the 174.26 off of laptop
Play around.
Install virus protection

 

Sounds a bit like it could be hardware to me.
If you look at the system event log do you see any messages from the time the freeze occured? (though most likely the machine crashes too quick to capture the error that caused it).
If you get a blue screen try and read or photo the message.