Dell Laptop User Thread

[Garf83]

u can exchange laptops for dell? Wow.. 100+ den can change 1 le?

yupz... Delll entertains changing of specs or model if you have not receive your order. i order 6400 but then changed to 640M, just pay the price difference.

 

[Garf83]

hi ppl... me gonna receive my 640m tml evening... any special things to look out for? First time experience with dell.

 

[Cantabile]

thanks blitzzzz for your reply. so the warranty doesnt get voided... how about the trading in of the original dell ram to make space for new ram?

 

[PierceLee]

thanks blitzzzz for your reply. so the warranty doesnt get voided... how about the trading in of the original dell ram to make space for new ram?

You don't "trade in" per se. When ordering, you can choose different configs, like 1x512MB, 2x512MB, 1x1GB, 2x1GB, etc. There is a price difference between 2x512MB and 1x1GB (the former is cheaper). After delivery, you can't trade in the original ram to make space.

 

[anytime]

HELP!!! I just realised my new XPS got one dead pixel! What am i suppose to do???? just got it last Sat only. HiaZ

 

[sammuy]

Good day all,
Glad to see Dell popular in Singapore. I am a Local DCSE (Dell Certified System Expert) Engineer. Please feel free to post questions here and I will try my best to help you. However, please understand that I am doing this at my own free time.

Anytime: You can contact Dell Technical Support at 18003947430 during office hours. They will have the authority to issue a Service request to replace your flat panel.

Warmest Regards,
Dell Engineer

 

[anytime]

Sammuy,

Thanks for the clarification. I have no luck with Dell. Got my XPS last Sat, Tue already got them to replace my keyboard. Now, I think next tue they may have to replace my LCD panel. Haiz... So suay! Might as well replace the whole unit.

Can I get some goodies from all these poor experience? haha...
By the way, will they be able to replace on the spot? I don't want to send back. Thanks

 

[AimL3ss]

VGA Upgrade

Hi, I'm using an Inspiron 6400. I didn't upgrade my VGA when I first bought it. Can anyone tell me whether I can get my VGA upgraded? What VGA would you recommend? And how much does it roughly cost? Thanks

 

[shotz]

hi Sammuy,
if XPS M1210 is upgraded to nVidia graphics card , what is the processor's power consumption and heat output ?

 

[anytime]

Shotz:

I have the generic video card with 1.83hz. barely last me 3.2hrs on a 6cells batt. guess, with nvidia, it may just go below 3hrs. btw, mine already quite hot.

 

[shotz]

Shotz:

I have the generic video card with 1.83hz. barely last me 3.2hrs on a 6cells batt. guess, with nvidia, it may just go below 3hrs. btw, mine already quite hot.

quite hot ?
i wonder if there's any 12.1 " lappy with separate video card that has less heat problem.

 

[darrenlee78]

glad to see this thread so lively

 

[Cantabile]

thanks piercelee for your reply. but i meant trading in the ram at SLS... cos i was wondering if i could order from dell say a 512mb or 1gb ram config, and then bring the notebook to SLS to upgrade to 2gb ram... but that involves getting rid of the 2 512mb ram modules. so was asking if can trade in with the SLS shop. anyway, also have another question. is it true that the 2 ram modules in use in the notebook must be identical to have optimum results?

 

[luriahs]

yo evry1, me dell inspiron 5160....

man...i think i'm about a year and a half behind time joining this thread..

 

[luriahs]

Laptop no Power!!! help me!!

Hi! Finally i came across SG dell laptop users..

My I5160 have been working extremely well for nearly 2 years up until yesterday... sob..

Suddenly my laptop cant be boot up. As usual, when the AC adpter is plugged in and switched on, there will be a blink of the led lights (the power and batt led).
But when power button is pressed, nothing happens.

Same goes to when i used the batt. Pulled out and push it back into the batt slot, nothing happens until i press the power button..(then the same leds will blink once and thats it....no more no less).

It all happens when i was working with my laptop, when i shut it down and want to turn it back on...there is a pop sound... (both my batt and AC power are connected). Pulled out the batt...well a burning smell....

MY WARRANTY is over.......
so....after going through the troubleshooting guide on its website (includes dismantling all the drives and memory and bla bla bla)....still nothing helps..
ends with a "contact dell technician".

(i think its a motherboard prob, or the batt or the adapter)
aaaaaaaa!!! headache!!!!

Suggestions? Should i get the Dell or SLS man to help me out.

mmm will dell repair for me coz i am now without any warranty...|(

 

[luriahs]

is it true that the 2 ram modules in use in the notebook must be identical to have optimum results?

cant remember where i read it but thats wat they say....if u want to have more than one ram modules - each of them must be identical (as in the size and speed of ram) for optimum performance. (more memory modules more power), so its good to have only 1 module with the largest capacity u can get, fit in.
Or if u want an upgrade...just find an identical pair...good luck

 

[sammuy]

Hi Luriahs. Is there any led light patterns when you try to power up your notebook?

 

[PierceLee]

thanks piercelee for your reply. but i meant trading in the ram at SLS... cos i was wondering if i could order from dell say a 512mb or 1gb ram config, and then bring the notebook to SLS to upgrade to 2gb ram... but that involves getting rid of the 2 512mb ram modules. so was asking if can trade in with the SLS shop. anyway, also have another question. is it true that the 2 ram modules in use in the notebook must be identical to have optimum results?

Don't think SLS shops will let you trade in lah.

As to optimum performance, I think in theory the 2 RAMs should have same capacity and speed (for dual channel and such), but in practice, I doubt you will notice any difference. Even if there is slight performance penalty due to non-identical RAM, the performance gain (by having more memory) probably outweighs it.

I suggest just order the minimum memory from Dell (like 1x512MB), then buy from SLS. You can buy 1x1GB, take our the original 1x512MB, using just 1 slot. Or buy 2x1GB, identical RAM, using both slots. Or just buy 1x1GB and leave the original 1x512MB there (the performance may not be optimum, but then, having 1.5GB should give you some performance gain over having just 512MB).

If Dell offers free upgrade to 1GB (they give you 2x512MB), and if that's all you need (you don't intend to go 2GB), then just take it. Or wait for Dell to offer other free stuff (but no free memory upgrade, they give you 1x512MB, and you buy from SLS).

Just IMHO.

 

[luriahs]

RE: No Power Problem

Hi Luriahs. Is there any led light patterns when you try to power up your notebook?

Hi sammuy, thanks for asking.

Below are more information on what happens when i do something.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Without batt:-
I plug in the AC adapter. When Switch on the power from wall socket, Power LED and Battery LED simultaneously flash once and turn off (power is green, batt is amber color).
When i press the Power button on the notebook nothing happens, there is even no lights from all leds (power, hdd, batt, and caps, num, scroll lock).

Without AC adapter:-
I insert and slot the batt firmly into the batt slot. When Power Button is Pressed, Power LED and Battery LED simultaneously flash once and turn off (power is green, batt is amber color).
When i press the Power button on the notebook nothing happens, there is even no lights from all leds (power, hdd, batt, and caps, num, scroll lock).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Just Experienced Yesterday;
With either power source or both:-
After pressing the power button and nothing happens, i tapped on the keyboard keys (about 5 random keys pressed one by one)... the system powers up.

No Video or display/ cd-rom is powered/ both power and batt leds keeps blinking (power is green, batt is amber color). On the top lock leds, only the num lock led is on and its not blinking.

Fans run at full speed and the base of notebook becomes warm (under the fan, cpu area) after a about 10 to 30 seconds.

I noticed a watery like thing on the touchpad...i tried to touch it with, too my amazement, the touchpad was actually bulging and IT WAS SCARDING HOT!! Like touching a boiling kettle. (Ouch my finger). Now my touchpad has a wire gauze like of black marks on it, though its as flat as before.

So i decided to quickly terminate all power sources. To ensure the touchpad was really hot and not that i was electrocuted, i touch it again with cloth.....its hot really.

I dont dare try doing anything. Now my touchpad must be damaged too.

Haiz.......

 

[sammuy]

Hi sammuy, thanks for asking.

Below are more information on what happens when i do something.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Without batt:-
I plug in the AC adapter. When Switch on the power from wall socket, Power LED and Battery LED simultaneously flash once and turn off (power is green, batt is amber color).
When i press the Power button on the notebook nothing happens, there is even no lights from all leds (power, hdd, batt, and caps, num, scroll lock).

Without AC adapter:-
I insert and slot the batt firmly into the batt slot. When Power Button is Pressed, Power LED and Battery LED simultaneously flash once and turn off (power is green, batt is amber color).
When i press the Power button on the notebook nothing happens, there is even no lights from all leds (power, hdd, batt, and caps, num, scroll lock).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Just Experienced Yesterday;
With either power source or both:-
After pressing the power button and nothing happens, i tapped on the keyboard keys (about 5 random keys pressed one by one)... the system powers up.

No Video or display/ cd-rom is powered/ both power and batt leds keeps blinking (power is green, batt is amber color). On the top lock leds, only the num lock led is on and its not blinking.

Fans run at full speed and the base of notebook becomes warm (under the fan, cpu area) after a about 10 to 30 seconds.

I noticed a watery like thing on the touchpad...i tried to touch it with, too my amazement, the touchpad was actually bulging and IT WAS SCARDING HOT!! Like touching a boiling kettle. (Ouch my finger). Now my touchpad has a wire gauze like of black marks on it, though its as flat as before.

So i decided to quickly terminate all power sources. To ensure the touchpad was really hot and not that i was electrocuted, i touch it again with cloth.....its hot really.

I dont dare try doing anything. Now my touchpad must be damaged too.

Haiz.......

I think it'll be best if you give Dell a call and ask them to issue a CAR service (It's a carry back service) for your notebook!

The number to call is 18003947430. Call them asap!