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    Sad Story, A Must Read: 3 defective Dells in a row, two with EXACT SAME PROBLEM

    Discussion in 'Dell' started by J-Bytes, Sep 13, 2007.

  1. J-Bytes

    J-Bytes I am CanadiEEEn NBR Reviewer

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    A few months ago, I purchased a Dell Dimension Desktop... Alright, so it functioned fine for about 3 days then a very myterious and unexplainable problem occured that was very irriatating and simply didn't make sense. Every minute, and mean EXACTLY every 60 seconds, any audio the computer was playing would just crackle up with audible distortion for approx. 3 seconds, then return to normal. Than exactly 60 seconds later, the any playing audio would crackle for 3 seconds, etc. etc. It was in a perfect pattern. Anything that was playing with audio, for example an iTunes song, a YouTube video, a DVD or a game, would distort for 3 seconds every 60 seconds, then return to normal. Nothing I did would fix it; I rebooted, uninstalled and reinstalled audio drivers, even reinstalled the OS... but the issue was relentless. Eventually, after literally 60 HOURS on the phone with Dell CS, they agreed to take it back, and because my stress, I requested instead of the same computer, I wanted an Inspiron 9400. They agreed, and soon later, I recieved my 9400. It functioned fine, until I tried to game with the X1400. The gaming was absolutely TERRIBLE. No 3D game would function, even at lowest settings and resolution. Even online games were choppy. I updated the drivers, and after no improvement, got very aggravated, called Dell and demanded they switch my 9400 for a newly released Inspiron 1720. They agreed after many more hours of Dell CS conversations, and after a lengthy series of shipping delays, my 1720 arrived, and my defective 9400 was gone. Guess what? Two days after opening it, it was experiencing the EXACT SAME PROBLEM I ORIGINALLY HAD with my Dimension. The sound would distort for 3 seconds every 60!! I am so pissed off right and want to be just done with Dell. I am going to return my 3rd Dell PC and look into the Asus G2S. One question though... has anyone ever had the sound problem I had to endure twice? I've seriously never heard of such a thing.
     
    J-Bytes, Sep 13, 2007
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  2. J-Bytes

    J-Bytes I am CanadiEEEn NBR Reviewer

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    moved???..
     
    J-Bytes, Sep 13, 2007
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  3. J-Bytes

    J-Bytes I am CanadiEEEn NBR Reviewer

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    never mind ;)
     
    J-Bytes, Sep 13, 2007
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  4. r30028

    r30028 Notebook Consultant

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    integrated graphics cards = not good gaming...
     
    r30028, Sep 13, 2007
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  5. J-Bytes

    J-Bytes I am CanadiEEEn NBR Reviewer

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    X1400 = Not Integrated Graphics...
     
    J-Bytes, Sep 13, 2007
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  6. Tex1ntux

    Tex1ntux Notebook Consultant

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    Maybe your speakers are the problem.
     
    Tex1ntux, Sep 13, 2007
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  7. J-Bytes

    J-Bytes I am CanadiEEEn NBR Reviewer

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    Nope, on my Dimenson I used a Dell Soundbar, and on my 1720 I used the laptop's integrated speakers and Logitech X-540's... Got the same results through all of them.
     
    J-Bytes, Sep 13, 2007
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  8. d94

    d94 Notebook Evangelist

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    sounds like mad bad luck to me :(
     
    d94, Sep 13, 2007
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  9. nizzy1115

    nizzy1115 Notebook Prophet

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    no, it sounds like a vista problem not a dell problem. its a known vista problem and they are fixing it with sp1...
     
    nizzy1115, Sep 14, 2007
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  10. J-Bytes

    J-Bytes I am CanadiEEEn NBR Reviewer

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    My Dimension had WinXP...
     
    J-Bytes, Sep 14, 2007
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  11. talz13

    talz13 Notebook Guru

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    Or possibly even like a home wiring problem or something... If the same thing persists across multiple machines, I'd tend to point my finger at it's not very likely to be the machine anymore.

    Even so, I have had bad experiences like that before. I bought a new home theater AV receiver last september, and the right surround speaker would always have a hiss to it. It got sent in twice for repairs, and both times came back with exactly the same problem. It took another month before I could get an actual replacement unit, and once I did, the problem was remedied. After the second repair I was getting concerned that it was going to be something wrong with the house instead of something wrong with the receiver, but in the end it all came out okay.
     
    talz13, Sep 14, 2007
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  12. oresteez

    oresteez Notebook Consultant

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    It's a laptop right? Make sure it's not something in your house causing the problem. Take it to a buddy's house...play around for a while..see if you have the same problems.... If it doesn't malfunction at your friend's house...then it's something 'environmental' around your house causing the problem....
     
    oresteez, Sep 14, 2007
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  13. J-Bytes

    J-Bytes I am CanadiEEEn NBR Reviewer

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    I've already tried to use it at a friends... same result. Anyways, I've already contected Dell and requested a full refund, ONCE AGAIN.
     
    J-Bytes, Sep 14, 2007
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  14. J-Bytes

    J-Bytes I am CanadiEEEn NBR Reviewer

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    It's amazing that no one else had the mysterious sound problem... and I got it twice in a row!
     
    J-Bytes, Sep 15, 2007
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  15. Maelwys

    Maelwys Notebook Consultant NBR Reviewer

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    I have to agree with the others. The fact that you have the same sound problem with two computers that are completely different (using different sound chips, drivers, and OS'es) from one another points to something environmental or something that you installed both times that may be completely unrelated to the sound but is somehow mucking with it. I highly doubt it's a Dell issue.

    Still, you should be happy with your laptop and, based on what your needs are, an Inspiron really isn't appropriate anyway. Have you looked at something like a Sager 5791 or an Asus G2 notebook? Both of those might be more what you're seeking.
     
    Maelwys, Sep 15, 2007
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