XPS M1210 lock ups

Had my M1210 for about 9 months (bought it refurb from the outlet) and the the past few it's been freezing up randomly in windows. At first it was a freak freeze than it happened again. and again. and again. Now it happens 2-3 times a week. I thought it might be the 0.95v I was running so I disabled the voltage control and uninstalled NBHC. Happened again today (2 days afterwards). Temps aren't out of whack or anything. What gives? Mobo crapping out?

I run 2gb of crucial ram now but the freezes also happened with the stock 1gb promos. Running vista 32 bit SP1 fully updated.

 

Check the fitness level of the HD?

 

What's the "fitness level" of a hdd?

 

I've been having a similar problem with my m1210. It would freeze up on every boot and would need to be reset in order to get to Windows.

I've replaced the Motherboard, CPU, Heatpipe, Fan, and Hard Drive but the problem persists. I'm now waiting to hear back from Dell to replace the entire system.

 

Overall status. If your Fitness level is low, it could be the HD going bad. Use a program called HD Tune. Tell you temps and Fitness level.

 

I'm not seeing a "fitness level" anywhere but the drive idles a nice cool 36c and everything is "OK" under health status.

 

Ok then its probably not the hard drive. May want to try a fresh copy of windows. Windows can become corrupt overtime.

 

A fresh copy of Windows didn't help me either......forgot to mention that!

 

I HIGHLY doubt it's windows. I've corrupted my fair share of OS installs before.

 

Yeah I knew it wasn't my Windows install that was screwed up, but to humour the tech I was dealing with, I did a fresh install.

 

What about heat (CPU/GPU)? Do you have any temperature monitoring programs? i8kfanGUI works grate.

9 months is enough time for dust to build up inside (to the point of actually causing heat problems). Get a can of compressed air and clean it first.

 

As I said, temps are within check. I idle mid 50s on both the CPU and GPU. I've cleaned the heatsink monthly.

 

anyone else know what count be wrong?

 

Found out today I'm getting my m1210 replaced with a comparable m1330. Hopefully I won't have any issues with it when it arrives.

 

What did you tell dell to get them to do that

 

I didn't TELL them anything.

After replacing just about everything possible on the laptop (the only things left were the WiFi card and RAM......both of which I was ready to order), they suggested an exchange. It wasn't even my idea. Do I deserve an upgrade? I don't know......but I do know I didn't ask for one.

When they suggested the exchange, I assumed I would be getting another m1210 (which I had no problems with). I called to get an ETA on when I might receive the replacement and they told me it was an m1330 I would be getting instead.

I guess it pays to jump through all the hoops and be polite about it.

 

The reason you are getting a 1330 as the 1210's are no longer in production and they really don't have parts for them. Also every time a tech comes, its costing them money. So rather risk losing a customer and more money, they will send you a comparable model, IE the 1330.

 

congrats on your new 1330. i just got my 1210 replaced after numerous problems with a 1530. New box and all the accessories came with it like i bought it.

 

Well first of all, the only parts that I had yet to replace were the RAM and the WiFi card, both of which shouldn't be in a shortage. I previously replaced the Motherboard, CPU, Heat pipe, Fan, and Hard Drive.

Also, all of these replacements were done by me as I've got my Dell WPD Certification so they weren't having to pay at all to send someone out.

Either way, I'm not going to complain.....my only hesitation is that the m1330 is larger and not quite as easy to carry around and prop up in server/electrical rooms.

 

Trade ya!

Surprisingly, I haven't locked up since I made this post. For you lucky ones who got a newer lappy, how often were the lockups occuring?

 

Mine were occurring daily....and yesterday it took three boot attempts to finally get into Windows.

I use a USB dock and thought it might be that, but even when I had no peripherals or ext monitor installed, it would still lock up.