Never buying another Dell laptop again. Recommend my next one please! UPDATE: Fixed!

[BUTCH1]

Here's another vote for taking it apart and ridding it of dust, along with replacing the old, dried out thermal compound on the heatsink.

Yea, one is always surprised by the amount of crud that can accumulate around the HSF, plus thermal compound breaks down over time and needs refreshing. I used to work for a local audio sales/repair shop, one of our services was the local disco's (or any club that used high-powered amps) we would take the unit in, blow out any dirt/dust and remove and re-grease all the output stage transistors. These were usually bolted to a large heat-sink in a socket-type arrangement so they were relatively easy to pull and re-grease. We would remove the old, dry, thermal compound first the apply fresh. For all the customers we had, very few ever had an amp fail and these units were pushed at close to full output for 8-10 hrs/day.

 

[seepy83]

All consumer notebooks are a quality risk. I would stay far away from HP/Compaq's, but others may only be marginally better, sometimes. Business class ones are the way to go, regardless of vendor, for quality. Asus is the only Windows PC maker I know of that bucks that trend as a matter of course.

Underlined for emphasis. I don't really agree with staying away from the HP business-class laptops. I've had great experiences with Dell, HP, and Lenovo/IBM business models. You'll pay more, but they're reliable. 4-5 years of use is usually no problem at all, unless you start running software that requires beefier hardware in that time-frame.

 

[Jimzz]

3 things that stand out and 2 have been brought up...

1: Check for new BIOS and drivers

2: Clean the dust and check the ports for blockage

3: Does it have a Nvidia GPU? If so is it covered by a recall?

 

[Cerb]

I don't really agree with staying away from the HP business-class laptops.

That's not what I meant, either. The second underlined sentence should override the first one . The likes of Pavillions, Slatebooks, plain number series, etc.--and now that they are making them, low-end Envy models--tend to have cooling or power issues, rather consistently, IME. They're too cheap.

Problem is, and I've seen this even after being asked about what to buy, someone will have one screwing up because they've been trying to play games on it, or work with videos, and just replace it with another one, right away, which starts doing the same thing in a matter of months. Why change?

 

[RossMAN]

Yes I know these aren't 17" but Lenovo is a reputable brand:

http://slickdeals.net/f/7383522-len...eforce-gt820m-2gb-1920x1080-619-fs-lenovo?v=1

http://slickdeals.net/f/7332980-len...t820m-14-1920x1080p-649-ac-fs-from-lenovo?v=1

Edit: Hmmn these might actually be the same laptop/model. Perhaps you can use the same coupon code on a larger model? Worth a shot.

 

[dud]

I have a Dell Studio 17 laptop. It's an Intel duo core. It was pretty expensive back when I bought it. I have since upgraded from Windows Vista to Windows 7 Home premium. This thing has been unstable since almost the beginning. I'm on my 4th power charger, 2nd battery and it has always been plagued by random freezes and crashes. It's been randomly freezing up with increasing frequency the last couple weeks. Sometimes it's only up for 5 minutes before it locks up and has to be hard powered down. I reinstalled the OS and ran all kinds of diagnostics on it, which turn up nothing, no viruses, no malware. Hardware tests turn up no CPU or memory issues either. I'm convinced it's just tired silicon and time for it to be replaced.

So, that said, someone please recommend me a great laptop, with good bang for the buck. I like the 17" screen. Must have UDMI port and at least 8gb ram. I don't like Windows 8 and touch screens. Fire away!

Funny. Change "Dell" to "HP" and you have my story. I swear by Dell. I own two OLD Dell M90s (2007 vintage) that run pretty well on Win 7 (vid cards go bad though) and the wife uses a Dell as well. Don't let the fact that you have an archaic machine drive you away from Dell.

Customer service is very important and HP has no idea how to do it. I know based upon experience and because of this I avoid their products.

 

[boomhower]

I've moved to MacBooks and will never look back.

But of the sake of the OP: If you refuse to by Dell I'd go Thinkpad. The problem isn't so much Dell as consumer grade PC notebooks. I like the Thinkpads, the regular Lenovo notebooks are a huge step down. We've been buying referb'd Dell Latitude E6420's at work and for ~$300 they are a huge bargain. Only thing I'd do is put an SSD in them but that's not in the budget. They stand up to being mounted in a car and then be used and abused. They are standing up to the beating very well.

In short get a business class notebook. Pay more but get more quality as well.

 

[Pulsar]

I own a HP with an i3, and I won't go HP again. It's been 4 years, but I've got vertical lines on the screen, and the fan went out after 2 years. Replaced that, but the laptop would never fit together just right (not designed to be taken apart) and the new fan bearings are dieing too. Constantly overheated since purchase and thermal throttling would turn it into a 486sx. 2nd battery, 3rd ac adapter. All the rubber feet have come off, the trackpad sucks balls and constantly needs to be restarted. All the trackpad surface has worn off. Speakers blew, replaced those.

Dv4000 series. HP never again.

New computer is an ACER. Tried a Lenovo Z50 and liked it but the Nvidia 820M was slower than I expected. New Y50 is on the way, but I'm going to return it because the ACER went on sale with an IPS panel compared to the Y50's TN. We'll see how the ACER does.

 

[mmntech]

My world is not Apple at all. Thanks though.

There's a lot of stuff I don't like about the new MacBooks. Namely the soldered RAM, glued batteries, and proprietary SSDs. However, it's hard to deny that they aren't some of the best built laptops available. I've been using them for ten years now and wouldn't go back.

Keep in mind you can install Windows on them natively now.

For PC laptops, Lenovo has always been a top brand.

 

[BUTCH1]

On second thought OP it sounds like it could be a voltage regulator transistor on the MB that's prone to overheating, or possibly a cap issue that's not F'ed enough to swell up and be visible. Take it to a pawn shop and hope it stays running long enough for you to get $50 out of it.

 

[lupi]

my last 4 lappys have been 2 toshies, an asus mini, and an hp. other than having to buy replacement power adapters for the toshibas, i've have fairly decent luck experience wise with all of them. hp is the most recent as was a 17.5" desktop replacement type variety. gets somewhat mediocre away from the plug battery life, but was expecting that with the bluray and gaming gpu options.

 

[Imp]

My 4 year old Dell Vostro (base model business) still works fine, aside from the battery. The battery can barely hold a charge anymore. I got mine in December of the year, so it was probably sitting on the shelf for over half a year. It's gotten use, but it's not really used much since I prefer my PC. Used it as a supplement to my PC at home or work, tried taking it to school for a while, but too heavy.

I've heard good things about Lenovos. I may get a 11" or 13" in the next year, was planning on another Dell, but a consumer model. Probably shouldn't from what I've read here and what I heard years ago, which persuaded me to get a Vostro.

 

[UglyCasanova]

Another vote for Apple. Your mp3s will absolutely work on there and you aren't confined to iTunes.

I just did a fresh Windows install on my sons Lenovo, what a piece of crap. It is a z570 (consumer model, not the Thinkpad) and plenty of people had the same experience I did with things not working like wifi afterwards. I finally got it to work, but I'll never again buy from them. The screen is crap, the hinges for the screen are crap, it is cheap plastic, and it certainly does make you appreciate the quality Apple builds in.

 

[Denly]

Dell latitude/Precision > all. Reason? All latitude/Precision and Edock(except M3800) use the same power plug, and all dockable latitude/precision use the same E-dock, unlike HP/Lenovo/Toshiba have million difference plug and dock.

I can even use the same AC adapter for their AIO unit.

I work with lot of Dell laptops, I have a master 210W adapter on my desk no matter what people bring it I know it will fit.

For 17" laptop I will go M6600 or M6300

M6600 i7qm can be have in $500 range, 2 HD, 4 ram slot even battery life suck.

M6700 i7qm in $800 range, 8-9hr battery life, 2 HD, 4 ram slot.

both support up to 3 monitor.

 

[alkemyst]

I have collected over 10k MP3's over the years and all the other stuff I have created and stored on a removable HD. From my understanding Apple doesn't work with my stuff. So, tell me more...make a case for it. I'm listening......

I'm lost when it comes to laptops. I could build myself another desktop in a snap, but I enjoy portability.

I'd rather not spend more than $1000

You could run Parallels or Fusion and have a Macbook boot or run Windows at the same time.

You can just install windows too (except for retina screens as native windows doesn't work well).

It's hard to beat the build quality.

Most of the competition will be around the same price as a Macbook as well when they are also offering aluminum cases, backlit keyboards and IPS screens.

 

[alkemyst]

Sadly yesterday was that last day for Parallels 10 and 6 great apps (one was 1password which is worth the $50 by itself) for $49.99.

 

[JEDI]

I have a Dell Studio 17 laptop. It's an Intel duo core. It was pretty expensive back when I bought it. I have since upgraded from Windows Vista to Windows 7 Home premium. This thing has been unstable since almost the beginning. I'm on my 4th power charger, 2nd battery and it has always been plagued by random freezes and crashes. It's been randomly freezing up with increasing frequency the last couple weeks. Sometimes it's only up for 5 minutes before it locks up and has to be hard powered down. I reinstalled the OS and ran all kinds of diagnostics on it, which turn up nothing, no viruses, no malware. Hardware tests turn up no CPU or memory issues either. I'm convinced it's just tired silicon and time for it to be replaced.

So, that said, someone please recommend me a great laptop, with good bang for the buck. I like the 17" screen. Must have UDMI port and at least 8gb ram. I don't like Windows 8 and touch screens. Fire away!

i'm still using an old dell 11.6" dual core Pentium netbook.
the cpu is a su4100, which is intel's first dual core mobile Pentium.
still on original battery.

I also have a 15.6" single core Dell laptop from 2005 running WinXP.
I keep it because the screen res is 1920 x 1200, not this 1920 x 1080 bs.
only on my 2nd battery

so it might be just your laptop.
if Lola didn't leave, this might never have happened.

 

[PowerEngineer]

How do MP3s not work with Apple? Ever heard of iTunes?

Worst piece of software I have ever had the misfortune of using. My wife uses it and I now refuse to help her with it.

Amen! My wife decided she had to have a iPhone, and the subsequent downward spiral into supporting it and the associated supporting software (such as iTunes) has been a constant headache for me.

More on topic, our family has bought and worn out many Dell and HP laptops over the years. All of us most recently moved to Lenovo laptops, and (aside from a Bluetooth interference problem on my Yoga 2) we are all pleased with our purchases.

 

[alkemyst]

I am a windows guy, my iPhones work and I don't need to hack or do anything to the OS.

I have 6 in my household and I work for a company of good engineers, most own iPhones.

You don't need iTunes. I don't have a problem with it for my phone.

My iPod in my car has just mp3's and non iTunes stuff on it.

 

[PowerEngineer]

It turns out that you need iTunes if you want to back up your iPhone settings (which I had to do when her iPhone had to be replaced) and to share photos through the iCloud with her photo albums on our home network. I suppose there may be various hacks out there for working around iTunes, but that's also more of a hassle than I need.

 

[RossMAN]

http://slickdeals.net/f/7448924-sta...-and-12-01-only-toshiba-349-ar-lenovo-399?v=1

 

[TwiceOver]

Dell is just so out of touch with what people want for a laptop. Basically they make whatever chassis junk they can to satisfy walmart pricing then put better hardware in it for their online sales.

 

[Ichinisan]

FLAC and MP3 are different. iTunes does not recognize regular MP3's without converting them and that is too much of a pain in the ass and too time consuming.

I believe you're thinking of iDevices. iTunes can play MP3 fine without converting.

FLAC, being lossless, can be converted to ALAC very easily using XLD on OS X.

 

[RossMAN]

Lenovo laptop for $999 with great specs except for:
15.6" vs 17.0"
Windows 8 vs 7
Touchscreen which you don't have to use

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00K6ZIFFG/

 

[compuwiz1]

Well, on the advice of others, I tore it down, cleaned and reseated components. It really wasn't near as dirty inside as I suspected it would be. As much as I hate to do a format and clean install, this will be my last resort. As I remember, it was a pain in the ass to hunt down all the right drivers. It came with Vista originally. I might be tempted to use the restore disks that came with it and then try upgrading to WIN7 again. ????? I'm getting a new laptop either way. Maybe I'll give this one to my nephew or grandson, if I can get it running decently again.