Studio 15 media sensitive button problem

welcome me to the family lol, i am a user of dell 1535 facing the same damn issue. contacted dell support, was instructed to update bios to A06, it didn't fix the problem. engineer came onsite support 2 times, changed a new keyboard, hinge cover and dvd writer and still couldn't solve the bloody problem and in fact added more new issues. now my media button that launch mediadirect couldn't launch mediadirect anymore and the stupid eject problem became worst. initially, it would just came up and disappear after boot up, now it came out anytime n refused to go away. now dell is requesting me to send it into their workshop for 5 days! I rejected the request as obviously dell do not have any resolution for this issue. would appreciate if anyone can provide the link to download x0d firmware. thanks.

 

For the love of god, I've already told you people, the link was already posted in this thread! Read through the whole thread, or go back a few pages. >_<

 

sorry, got to the wrong link that is already taken out. anyways found the iso download. thanks for the info. will post back with my findings.

 

I am a happy man All my issues resolved in one night! The x0d firmware did resolve the eject problem. 2ndly, my mediadirect button is able to launch mediadirect again after a dell factory restore.

Mastershroom, my mediadirect issue seems similiar to your eject problem, it lights up but not able to launch. you can try doing a factory restore. good luck!

 

I've done more factory restores than I can count, and installed several different operating systems (Vista Home Premium 32-bit and 64-bit, Ubuntu and OpenSUSE Linux distros).

 

Just wondering if this firmware update will void my warranty. and whether it will have any side effects

 

I think the warranty is only hardware changes, so you're ok.

You should read your warranty to learn what you can and can't do.

I've had the firmware update since the beginning of june and have not seen or had any side effects, and i don't think anybody here has posted anything about side effects.

 

The firmware will not affect your warranty at all. The only things that will void your warranty for sure are processor/heatsink removal.

 

Yeah, and that aggravates me. In my opinion each laptop needs to have specific warranty terms. On the Studio 1535, 1536, and 1537, changing the processor was very easy, even for the least technical person. Doing so still voided the warranty. However, on laptops such as the Inspiron 1520 changing the processor requires nearly dissassembling the whole computer. That is when I think such terms are ok, but not when changing the processor is as simple as removing a few screws.

 

Completely agreed. I dislike Dell's catch-all policies; not all of their models are built the same. How easy or difficult is the processor access on your 1420?

Also, welcome back. It's been a while.

 

Thank you. I was in Oregon for the past week.

The Inspiron 1420 processor is very easy to access. Remove a panel and there it is. Accessing the GPU and Fan assembly is another story, that is one thing I miss about the Studio 15.

 

I have a 1537.

 

Count me as another 1537 owner that no longer suffers from the eject button problem!
Quite surprised (and happy) that this simple firmware update seems to have fixed the problem, I was expecting that it was something physical about the panel that caused the problems.
My buttons still to the light up pattern on start-up, sometimes. Can't really tell when and when it won't happen =p
The only thing I slightly don't like now is that my machine won't power up when I hit the MediaDirect button anymore. But that's ok,it wasn't really a useful feature with MediaDirect 4 anyway.

 

i had the same mediadirect button problem b4 after hinge cover was replaced, it lit up but wont launch the mediadirect program. i resolved it by restoring to factory install. fyi, u can change the mediadirect button to launch other programs by changing the registry? to launch something more useful

 

My Mediadirect button still powers on the PC if I press it with the 1537 off.

 

hey i just found out that it will intermittently auto eject once. does it mean this firmware still not 100%? or is this behavior normal? at least it's still better than before.

 

You mean it makes the eject noise once when you first turn on the notebook, when the lights flash back and forth? That's perfectly normal; it's a standard test pattern. If there is a disk in the drive at the time, it will not actually eject it.

 

Mine still launches MediaDirect when my system is already powered up, just not when its off. Like I said, no big deal. If MediaDirect 4 was like MediaDirect 3.5 on my sisters Inspiron 1420 (Can launch without Windows), then I would be a little upset.

 

Nope, its in between use i.e left it idling for sometime. not sure if the eject lits up but i can hear it eject once. happened 2 times in 2 nights in a row. i thought i heard wrongly the 1st time but 2nd time confirms it. both times it was left idling. so no one else encountered this?

 

i see what u mean now, just tested my mediadirect button when my system is off. it is able to powered up the system. didnt know such function exist until now

 

strange, now it doesnt work.

 

The MediaDirect button is hit-or-miss for me. I never really use it, though; I don't have the MediaDirect partition anymore, so booting into it is useless.

 

I have the same problem with my 1535 Mastershroom is having. I called Dell on nearly four occasions and first they made me upgrade the bios to AO6 then the second time they reinstalled drivers for the DVD drive, the third time I called was because my numlock light had gone out and because the drive was still not ejecting. They organized to send a tech with a new keyboard and media panel. About a half hour later I was on the phone with them again because the drive was not ejecting and while I was on the phone with them I noticed my enter key had shift printed on it. I suggested that maybe it was an issue with the board or maybe software but the rep on the phone didnt want to hear it.

So once again they sent a tech out with a keyboard and media panel. The tech came today and replaced the keyboard with a backlit one, which was nice after all the unnecessary trouble I had to go through with the keyboard and also replaced the media panel. I spoke to the tech and he also swears its a software issue and I told him about the leaked X0D installer. After he had finished the drive ejected fine like it usually does but then stopped working. I then installed the X0D firmware and i still have the same problem, although it did stop the phantom ejects.

I was just wondering if anyone has a real solution to get the eject media touch button working at all times before I have to talk to Dell again. I refuse to call them anymore, but I will chat with them online. I feel there is a less margin of error if I chat with them.

 

Looks like we're in the same boat, then. Are you using Vista 32-bit or 64-bit?

I recently resorted to the Unresolved Issues form about this nonresponsive eject button, and got in contact with a Resolution Specialist. He had me ship the laptop to Dell's service depot to have a team of technicians look at it and see if they can figure out what the hell is causing the eject button to fail despite replacements of the hinge panel, DVD drive, keyboard, and even the motherboard, as well as multiple OS reinstallations, and the X0D firmware.

So, Dell currently has my 1535 and are trying to figure out a cause and solution for it. The resolution specialist I've been speaking to says that if they can't fix it, then I will qualify for a refurbished replacement system.

Long story short, MChiarovano, there doesn't seem to be any known fixes for our particular issue. Dell is currently examining my 1535 to see if they can figure it out themselves. If you can't fix yours either, I suggest using the Unresolved Issues form, and hopefully you'll get some closure to this issue.

Cheers!

 

Well today they actually called me to follow up on how meeting with the tech went. I let them know that the button still does not work so the rep I spoke to on the phone said he was going to forward the problem to a tech adviser? I don't really remember the actual term and he said they were going to call me and either send another tech out to replace the drive this time, or ask me to send the entire laptop back. The rep said they should call me within 24-48 hours.

I find it interesting that there is only two of us who have the exact same problem. I'm running Vista Home Premium 64-bit. Good luck with Dell and when they do call me back i'll post what they had to say

 

There was one other member here who had the same issue as us, also with a Studio 1535 on Vista 64-bit. So, that seems to be the common factor here.

 

I found a semi working solution to rid the eject button freezing (for the most part) though for some people it would be more of an inconvenience or loss over the ability to use their media buttons:

Start > Right click on Computer > Manage > Device Manager > DVD Drives > right click [dvd drive name here] > Disable

It disables your DVD drive so you cannot use it anymore, but it does for the most part fix the frozen eject button, and even sometimes it will eject but not nearly as much...

 

That's completely unnecessary...the firmware posted earlier in this thread fixes the freezing issue 100%.

 

It's been about a week since I last had spoke to Dell about the problem still existing with my laptop and they said they would call me in 24-48 hours. They did not. So today I chatted with a rep online and he told me to install the same firmware upgrade I already had, I told him I had upgraded already but he made me do it anyways. He also said that Dell would call me in 30 minutes to an hour.

They called me and asked me how everything was and I let them know it still did not fix the problem the rep then said he was going to organize a box to be shipped to my house within 2 days and i would have to send the entire laptop back without the hard drive and battery. He also said the repair should take around 7 days to do and I will be contacted when it's done (at least I hope I will be)

So yeah that's where I stand now, when I do get the laptop back I'll post how the fix went.

 

Ah, well I tried it again a few days ago and it powered on my system
Works once the system is on no matter what.

 

That's exactly, almost word-for-word, what they just had me do with my 1535, except they had me leave the battery and hard drive in. I got it back, and the eject button acted up within 2 hours, so don't get your hopes up too high.

Dell has finally given up on fixing my issue; they're sending me a replacement system sometime over the course of the next month. If this repair fails, I suggest you ask for the same.

Godspeed!

 

I'm a new user here, just signed up because I'm having the same problem. Has anybody found a solid solution for a 1537 32-bit yet? Do I have to call Dell's tech repair?

 

Use the firmware posted earlier in this thread.

 

haha that's pretty funny, on the phone the rep said to remove the battery and the hard drive if i was "confident enough". But the paper i got said to leave the battery in so I just sent the battery in. I do plan on downgrading to XP once i get my laptop back (I hate vista) so maybe that will help the problem also. If not I do plan on badgering dell for a replacement also.

good luck!

 

XP will not help with this issue; it's definitely deeper than the software/OS level. It's happened to me with Vista 32-bit and 64-bit, as well as Ubuntu and OpenSUSE Linux distros.

 

True, in any event i want to get rid of vista. I'm using Windows 7 now on my desktop i have set up while my laptop is being serviced and even that gives me less problems then vista

 

well i got my laptop back today and all they did was replace the hinge cover. again. As of right now the eject is working, although i doubt it will continue working in the long run. I did notice however there is a lot of scratches on my screen that were not there when i sent it in. I plan on contacting dell about this as soon as i can as i find this to be inexcusable.

As of right now (2:03 EST) the eject is working, though remembering their past repairs, and what Mastershroom said i don't have my hopes up about it being fixed forever.

That is all with it right now if anything else happens with it i'll update this reply, i'm off to downgrade to XP

MChiarovano

Edit: 2:13 - Well that was quick the eject is no longer working, beautiful

 

Sorry to hear that. Maybe it's time to start bugging them about a system replacement.

For the record, I am very happy with my new 1555.

 

I plan on bugging them on Monday. I'm really tired of having all these problems with dell

 

The update posted on page 30 seems to have solved my problem. The eject key would stay lit for about 5-10 min after a cold boot.

I've only had one cold boot (laptop off for several hours) since I updated, but the problem was 100% consistent for me and didn't occur after the update.

I'll post back if anything changes.

 

So a tech came today to replace the screen Dell had scratched. Upon leaving he forgot to reconnect my camera which is built in the screen. So of course I had to call Dell. I spoke to them about the screen and how the eject button now causes my music to skip. A problem i thought was because of XP but i noticed it occurred with Vista also. The rep said that now it may be a motherboard issue (even though i had suggested this to another rep and he spoke to me as if i was an idiot for even thinking that) and i can either have the hinge cover replaced (again x4), as well as the motherboard or I can just get a refurb.

I felt that replacing a computer that i had received not in total working condition with a refurbished computer was inexcusable and demanded i speak to his manager. I spoke to the manager for at least 15 minutes and he would not give in about sending me a new replacement. He then put me on hold and came back to ask if i would be satisfied with Dell if they sent me a new computer, and that he was able to get approval to send me a new computer. I said yes as long as i dont have to call back anymore and he agreed to send me a new one, with the same specs as my 1535.

Going through these last 5 months of constant badgering of Dell has shown me that they do not thoroughly check/test each machine to make sure everything is in working condition. Any indication of that is the fact I had my hinge cover replaced 3 times, my keyboard replaced twice (once because they printed a shift key on the enter button) and my screen replaced because i had gotten it back scratched after i sent it to Dell for repairs.

As of right now i don't know if i am getting another 1535 but once i receive the replacement i will post here about it.

MChiarovano

 

Hi, my problem is a little different, but along the same lines... I got a new 1537 last Thursday and since Monday it's refused to eject a disk. It kept making eject noises constantly, but the disk wouldn't come out. I tried everything on the Dell site and then some (up to taking apart the laptop - don't want to mess with it while the warranty is valid). The eject noises stopped but the disk is still inside. I talked to a Dell tech yesterday and he's sending a box so I can send my laptop in for repairs.

After reading (most of) this thread I'm worried that the repairs will only be a band-aid, and I'll be looking at more problems in the future. Does anyone have any advice for me? What should I look for when it comes back? I had a hard time understanding the tech so I'm not sure exactly what they'll be replacing but he did say they'd check it over for other problems. Not sure I have much faith in that after this thread...

 

It sounds like your issue is just a faulty optical drive, with some mechanical failures preventing the disk from ejecting properly. I'm willing to bet that a replacement of your drive would get everything working properly.

Congratulations on your purchase, though; apart from a few optical drive hiccups, the Studio 1537 is an excellent laptop.

 

I have the same issue with an added twist. My Studio 1537 tries to eject disks that arent there. But it also has the big blue volume box show up on screen.
It is the box you get when you press the volume "button" between Fast forward and eject. The box can stay on screen for up to 5 min. and you cant get around it. It is very annoying.

I have gotten no where with support. They decided it isnt hardware, and it will cost $130 for them to take control of my cpu and find the problem...Thats not an option. This post is pretty long. has there been a fix that has worked for most people yet? I have never opened a cpu before. But I could try.

Thanks, Dominic

 

Try the X0D firmware posted earlier in this thread. It seems to have worked for pretty much everyone who's tried it.

 

Thanks for the reassurance, I was beginning to think it was a lemon.

Update: I contacted Dell support, and he went through a list of possible fixes, but I'd tried every one of them. Finally there was one I hadn't tried - maybe the X0D firmware; I don't remember. Whatever it was didn't do it either so they sent a box for me to return the laptop for a new optical drive.

I got it back late last week and it ejects disks, hooray! Unfortunately it also tries to eject disks that aren't there, just like dirtydom's.

Now I'm debating contacting support again. I don't want to be without my computer for 2 weeks again, but I also don't want a malfunctioning computer.

 

Install that X0D firmware. It seems to fix ghost ejections.

 

Yah it does work. it has been a couple of months now since i applied the X0D firmware. Just want to know if there's any side effects? My laptop feels quite hot, is it normal? My Battery had reached its end of usable life in less than 1 year and less than 1 hr on full charge. Dell has since replaced my battery FOC. Just wondering if it has anything to do with the firmware.

 

Nah, the firmware wouldn't affect heat or battery life.

 

Another update - turns out it was trying to eject a piece of cardboard my 2 yr old had put in the drive. Since getting it out I haven't had any more problems.