Vostro 1500 Issues - ~30 days old - What to do?

Hi,

I had a Vostro 1500 Delivered on the 19th Feb, unfortunately only after this first month have I started using it properly and begun to get annoyed by its issues.

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1. Headphone Buzzing/Crackle - This I could live with because I'm not comfortable ripping it apart voiding the warranty to fix Dells problems... so I left this.

2. The loudest HD (ST9160821AS) I've ever heard, again I could live with this because setting the HDPMA to 254 on boot/wake stops the 'clicking'/'crackling' it still grinds incredibly loud when seeking but that's OK, I guess...

3. The feet are uneven! This may sound like a stupid problem but it's supprisingly annoying, if you type on a flat surface, unless you jam a card/disk under the front left rubber 'foot' it'll rock back/forward as you type, and since the screen seems to be quite loose that wobbles too, even more than the laptop.

4. THIS is the most important annoying this which is making me want to return it. The CPU Whine, at first I didn't notice it but then BZZZZZzzzzzzCrrzzzzzCRR, the whole room can hear that annoying high pitch screeching. Running RMClock and disabling C4 state shuts it up, but then every couple of hours the laptop completely locks up/hard crashes, I've tried almost every combination of popup/popdown/c4/c5 disabling but it only appears to stop for me when C4 + Popup Mode are disabled.

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Whew, sorry that was quite a long rant, but basically the point of this is it has problems, and is a month old today and I'm wondering if anyone knows where I stand with returning it for a refund or replacement (UK). It's very unfortunate because it has the best screen I've used (None Grainy 15.4" WXGA+) but these other issues are irritating me so much, especially the high pitch whine.

If anyone could let me know what they would/have done, if now that it's 30 days old they won't care, or if I can fix these issues myself I'd be very greatful to hear from you.

Thanks in advance.

 

you might be able to get them to send you a replacement laptop. Then you could swap the screens yourself and voila!

Whatever you do, good luck.

 

Okay I doubt anyone is interested but I thought I'd update this anyway since a lot of posts I've seen complain about Dell customer services.

After I posted this thread I called Dell, and within 24 hours I had a technician at the house who replaced the headphone jack and motherboard which fixed the headphone issue. After he left however the whining noise was still there... Dell called me that evening and asked if everything was okay. I told them one of the problems was fixed but the other wasn't so they arranged to send out another (new) laptop of the same spec which arrived 2 days later.

In the replacement the CPU whine was still there, but much much quieter and disabling popup mode completely silences it without crashes, the HDD (HM160HI) is MUCH quieter as is the DVD Drive, the feet are even, the hinges are tighter and the headphone whine has gone. They even included (free) a second 6-cell battery which I had previously asked if I could buy as an extra when they sent out the replacement. 2 days later again they picked up the old faulty one and now I have one perfect (IMO) laptop!

Good job Dell

 

Glad things worked out for you.

I ordered a Vostro 1700 and the thing has been flawless. Sounds like the first one was just a lemon.

 

Good to hear also. I hope you enjoy using the laptop.