just got my 1420 back from repair, still broken?

So this afternoon I saw that FedEx left a package in front of the door (my *repaired* laptop! yay!). I had only been gone for a half hour, but the temperature outside was in the mid 90s in the shade. ANYWAYS

I plug it in, boot it up....and there's nothing on the screen. The screen is on (there's illumination) and I can hear the Vista start up sounds so the thing works, just not the graphic card or maybe they didn't plug the display's cables in or w/e, I don't know. After a few reboots I tried Safe Mode, no difference. One in every 2 or 3 tries though I did see either the Dell logo or the Vista loading bar, sometimes I saw black and white bars, one time static. Most of the times it was just black, but the screen was illuminated.

It was in the shop btw for overheating (5 seconds into a game and the graphics card temps shot up from 50* C to the low 100* C). They've replaced every part before I sent it in, and when I got it back today, the little sheet included says that the "Corrective Repair Action was the MLB". Don't know what the MLB is....right now I'm letting it cool off because it was pretty warm and later tonight I'll try again. I'll call Dell tomorrow if there's no improvement.

Any thoughts?

 

OMG!!! A 8400M GS VICTIM! I am one too my man. Exact same problem: screen lights up, but nothing shows up. You don't want to know how I got that thing to work.. i realized after MILLIONS OF TRIALS-AND-ERRORS that if I hold my laptop at a slight angle and THEN turn it on, there's a 5% chance it could work. And if it worked, it could go off again. I am using my Dell studio 1555 now btw.. good riddance.

Here's what you need to know:
http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/1028703/nvidia-g84-g86-bad

ask for a new laptop buddy.. I've heard that they replace the motherboard/gpu and that fixes the problem too.

Good luck with that garbage.. Simply don't tolerate this and don't compromise or negotiate.. ASK THEM FOR A REPLACEMENT BECAUSE YOU KNOW THAT THE G84Ms ARE ALL DEFECTED AND YOU'RE NOT GOING TO PUT UP WITH A DEFECTED PRODUCT.

I am seriously hoping you fight for this.

 

When I said "ask for a replacement" i meant the entire laptop. Also try that you don't get 8400m in your next laptop.. OR 8600M. I mean, if all G84s and 86s are bad, shouldn't your replacement laptop not have them?

 

again... FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT.. can't stress enough..

 

Hi, Just had the exact same problem with my 1420. Dell chat insisted I needed a new screen, they replaced it and still no good. They sent the tech back with a new motherboard/ video card , the problem was solved. He forgot to connect the fan, but he came back after I complained. You just need patience when dealing with Dell, if you hang in there they eventually make it right, at least thats been my experience.
Good Luck

 

Meh, I've thought about acting out and demanding a replacement (they've replaced the motherboard 3 times, graphics card once, hard drive once, heat sink once, fan once), but I guess I don't want them to tell me that it's a software problem and they'll drop me all together ( I know I know, it's not realistic, but I worry about everything).

So after letting it cool down for 4 hours I turned it on, and whatdya know, everything works great. Low temps, no crash, nothing, like it was new all over again! But then the second I open WoW up the pc crashes, and after a reboot I get blue bars crossing the screen. I got to check my graphics card and apparently it turned itself off and won't let me turn it back on because of Error 43 or something. I've tried to uninstall the driver (which I got from Dell), but that just crashes or ends up with a black screen after boot up! GAH!

 

I think you definitely qualify for a system replacement at this point. You just had your graphics card replaced due to overheating issues (a common issue with that card, too), and the brand spankin' new replacement craps out the same day.

 

SO I just got off the phone with Dell, and after about an hour of tests, she finally realized how many parts I already went through so she agreed that a system replacement was the best way to go! Woot! But she didn't know exactly which model I would get (I'm assuming the Studio 14z) until it's actually built and ready to ship out, which she said would be in 10-12 days.

 

from a 1420 Inpirion to a 14z Studio thats unlikely

you will get another Inspirion

your main sticking points to get the 14z will be that the current 14 Inspirion does not have dedicated graphics like a 8400M GS, so you need a equal system with dedicated graphics a 14z does qualify.

Also if you have T7250 CPU try and get a P series CPU

make sure you call them back and verify these key points.

you can not accept another Inspirion because you bought a system with dedicated graphics dont let them try and sneak in a system that does not have graphics

 

*ANGRY* DUDE! WHAT DID I TELL YOU? Your card IS defected. It turns on but as soon as the the gpu clock goes up.. IT'LL CRASH! You'll see your display crack open like a jigsaw puzzle, get the blue screen etc. It's a definite case of crap-assness.. Replacement WAS your only option. Anyways, though you DID DOUBT ME, I am happy for you Hope you get the 14z. It comes with 9400M Hope they`re not defected. Have fun!

 

Yeah I called them back and I made sure they would send me a laptop with dedicated graphics. But they still wouldn't tell me which model or anything...

And yes jawedib, thanks for the words of encouragement lol