VOSTRO 1500 Falling Apart, Burning (literally)

Well Ive had my Vostro since september....

It has relitivly stayed on my desk but after noticing a noise i did a more therough check of the notebook althought every component was perfect...

The noise i noticed was a creaking nosie comming from the left of the touchpad and the media buttons (one by the media buttons is quite a bit worse) and having big hands my hands do go there... it is demonstrated in the image below



I lived with the noise for a week before noticing that there was burn on the label at the bottom of my laptop.. partial text black out, little bit of peeling and most noticible it was very sticky and ewwwey if that is a word...

then i noticed the notches on the battery bit are also a bit too shiny and noticed that one had previously partially melted ( a flat odd patch on it)

and then i decided maybe battery too... i did have lose battery issue but never was bothered then i noticed a similar creaking noise to the notebook but louder and i believe if attempted i could tear the batter in half at the seams...

everything else.. headphone jack noise... monitor etc are running no issues... would you say complain? replacement? thanks for your opinions

 

You've gotta demand a replacement. That is thoroughly unacceptable.

 

would they give me a replacement? another problem is ill be leaving Japan (where it was purchased) going home to canada for just over a month...

 

Note: Did Not Order Any Extra Warrenty

 

doesnt matter should be covered by normal warranty and this sucks does anyone know if this is the first case of this or if it common as i have a friend who is getting one

 

Ask, and I think they should be on top of it .

Replacement, wow, did you clean out your vents? Clogged? Dust?

 

The creak has been noticed by some users but burning i believe is first same with battery splitting

 

Vents would be fine... the fan blows papers off my desk and i run an air cleaner in my room to remove all dust in the air etc

 

If I ask for a replacement will they give me a new build or a refurb?

 

They are not going to give you a replacement. Three attempts at repairs before any replacement.

Oh and the only thing located at that spot is your hard drive and the express card slot. Do you have an express card in the slot?

 

nope i have the remote in there and thats it

 

Remove the remote for a while and see if it gets better.

 

but that wouldnt fix the battery or the fact the the bottom of the laptop is burnt...-.-

 

actually i removed it and it made the noise quite a bit worse... it seems to be holding it in place a little bit

 

That sounds like it could be dangerous. People have had their laptops catch fire because of a bad battery. It sounds like your hard drive is getting excessively hot too. Could the creaking be the fan not coming on properly?

I don't know if they'll replace it, but you should at least try to get it repaired. You don't want to end up with something like this
http://www.techtickerblog.com/2006/07/28/dell-laptop-on-fireagain/

 

Thanks for the post, well i know that the fan is usually on ... and most (when last tested not recently) have held relitivly normal temperatures

very good point... but then dell would be buying me many many notebokos if an exploision occured

would you say call them today or wait 5 and a half weeks till im back ... i dont want to live without MY computer for that long but if its better then fine...

 

Call Dell and tell them what you've told us.
See if they're willing to replace the laptop before you leave.
At the very least they might send you a new battery.

 

Thanks for the post again chelet, thats a very clever idea which i feel very low iqed for not thinking of my self .

ill be calling them after my shower, ill post what they say here... japanese dell all i have to do is be polite well very very polite.. just noticed i smell burning... quite a bit actually nto a good sign.. but dell japan actually recomends you get rid of Media Direct aswell as Replace their drivers with 3rd party drivers so Im hoping the rest is like that

Thanks ill post feedback on what they say soon... ( no call wait times EVER)

 

Funny because I would think they would kind of be obligated to give you a new laptop after the previous one MELTED.

 

i almost bought a vostro but was told they ran hot! good luck man.

 

About that sticky ewwwey stuff you mentioned -- that wasn't coming out of the battery, was it? Because if it was, that stuff from inside batteries is toxic and you don't want to get it on yourself.

 

... 3 minute wait... first wait in almost a dozen calls to dell...

 

luckly not but one of the stickers at the bottom of the laptop is like that

im sure i could make it come out of the battery with one hand..

 

Well... called they wont be able to return it but they HEAVILY recoomend i send it in asap and shut it off ... according to them vostros are known for igniting

 

WHAT?! "Known for igniting"?! That doesn't sound very safe, consider I own a vostro...

 

Thats exactly what he said... proper translation.. they are getting a native english speaker to talk to me tommorow... Im hoping hes a bit more relaxed then the guy I had....Is there a way to upgrade my warrenty the representative said no...

also, Im not sure whats causing the excessive heat...my temps are in the normal range...

They also refused a replacement... only that they would fix it under warrenty... free ... he put very heavy ephasis on FREE

 

me to!! lol