[lucky_indian]

Hi,

Recently my laptop has started freezing everytime i charge it. When it's not charging it runs perfectly. It's under warranty and its a DELL XPS M1530 i called them and they said its probably software so back up and re-install. The problem is i dropped my external and its not showing in My Computer when i turn it on and its making loud noise.

So what should i do guys

Please help me

[rainforest123]

L _ I:

Just so I understand. If you run your lappy on the battery, life is good. If, while your lappy has booted to Windows, you connect the power cord, your lappy freezes. Is that correct? Sometimes I am a little slow. Sometimes I am very slow. JOKE!

I'd ask to speak with a higher level support person at Dell. I'd tell Dell, politely but firmly to prove that it is software. It is their best interest to blame someone else.

Sounds like the external drive is toast.

Backup / Copy your important files to optical disks or flash drives.

RF123

[rainforest123]

Try this:
With the lappy off, remove the battery.

Disconnect the power source from the lappy.

Remove the HDD from the lappy.

Put the battery back.

Put a dell diag disk [ hopefully you have one ] in the optical drive bay. If you don't, create a bootable disk for Vista's recovery environment http://neosmart.net/blog/2008/window...disc-download/ , or create a UBCD , www.ubcd4win.com . Or just go into the BIOS.

Connect the power source.

If the problem occurs, you have proved that the problem is hardware. Because, Windows isn't even in the same neighborhood, figuratively speaking.

RF123

[lucky_indian]

This is what i did, i had everything as it is. I went into BIOS unplugged the power cord and plugged it back in nothing happened. Then i put the VISTA installation disc in and went repair windows. Then i did a unplug and replug, what do you know it crashed. I told them that but they are like i have to re-install windows cause they think its the AC adapter and not the battery wtf?

[rainforest123]

L _ I:
I don't know how I can help you convince Dell that the problem is other than hardware.

I don't understand how they conclude that the A/C adapter is related to Windows.

Try 1 of the other optical disks I mentioned. If Dell tech support still balks, contact:
Dell tech support supervisor
Dell customer service

Credit card company you used to purchase the lappy
Better business bureau

Attorney General of the state, if you are in the USA

Keep us posted.

Best of success.

RF123

[lucky_indian]

hey

Update. Dell wants me to re-install windows and if it still doesn't work they will replace the piece so that's all good. If i open the laptop and do damage might void the warranty so might be the way to go here.
My internal HDD now seagate Barracuda is under WARRANTY till 2012 just found out. I think the plates have moved cause it does turn on sometimes. They can replace it but they won't give the old one back so i need to get the data of it that's my priority. Any idea lads?

[rainforest123]

It is your computer. It is your choice.

There is no need to open the lappy to remove the HDD or the battery.

I'd boot to a Knoppix disk or UBCD & test, BEFORE I re-formatted & re-installed. That could be many programs and a lot of data.

Your choice.

My opinion: Dell is treating you poorly. I am not a barrister / attorney / lawyer.

Copy your data to optical disks or a flash drive.

Clone to an external hard drive, using Acronis True Image Home 2010. I used the 3 most recent versions of ATI. I like it.

Before sending my HDD away, I'd wipe it, using DBAN.
http://www.dban.org/

Tell Dell that you are concerned about your privacy. Ask them if they will accept the computer after you have wiped [ truly erased, not deleted ] the files.

There is a BIG difference between deleting files, or getting rid of files after re-formatting [ which only removes the pointer to the files, the files remain ] and truly wiping the HDD.

Recovering data from a HDD that has been re-formatted is relatively easy. Ask any data / identity thief.
RF123

[lucky_indian]

thanks a lot i will use knoppix disc of mate and test it out. I definitely agree this is not what i expected of dell very disappointed indeed. I am buying new external and use the software to make a clone just in case

I have windows so i downloaded eraser from dban's website. The hdd is not being detected so how should i wipe it?

Thanks a lot
i will keep you posted

[rainforest123]

L_I:
Did you boot to the DBAN optical disk?

1. Read the DBAN FAQ
https://www.washington.edu/uware/dban/faq.html

If DBAN does not detect a SATA controller running in native mode, then run the controller setup program and enable the "legacy PATA support" option. (ie: "Push <F2> to enter setup" when the computer starts.)

SATA drivers for new computers will be added to DBAN as they are published for Linux. Drivers for Microsoft Windows are incompatible with DBAN and cannot be added to DBAN.

2. Search for: dban detect OR detected

3. search for: "hard drive" wipe OR erase

4. search for: "hard disk drive" wipe OR erase

5. There are other wipe utilities. Start a thread in Vista or in the other program forum asking for suggestions. I do not think that is in violation of TGF's policy of only 1 thread per problem.

6. I have used SysInternals' program
http://www.ehow.com/how_5256450_eras...ard-drive.html

7. See this thread, of mine.
http://forums.techguy.org/windows-xp...partition.html

RF123

[rainforest123]

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