New Dell 700m problems

[agibby5]

Hello everyone,

I have had this 700m for about 10 days. When i first got the notebook, i couldnt install any software. It would just hang at the screen where the company logo is displayed and when first progress bar got to 100%. It wouldnt even enter the setup portion of the install. Note that i wasnt running any other software at the time. I decided to disable the System Restore and the Norton Internet Security softwares. After this, i was able to install my software. after a few days, the problem came back even with those two utilities disabled. I would have to start and restart the machine several times before it would install. I shouldnt have to disable those utilities to install software and the software shouldnt freeze or hang when trying to install it. I tried the exact same softwares on my desktop and they installed with no problems.

I engaged in a online chat with dell and they told me to boot the diagnostics partition and run a HD test. This test returned no errors and they instructed me to re-install windows from the backup partition or a backup cd. In my opinion, i shouldnt have any of these problems with a computer that was this expensive (i got it loaded with mostly all the upgrades). they decided it was a software problem and not a hard ware problem. I called the customer support department for Inspiron systems and they said they couldn't help me, so i was transfered to a hardware department of some kind and they couldnt help me. Finally i was transferred to the software department and after alot of explaining on my end they tried to sell me a 72 day software service for 59.00. I flipped and presented my case again. That was a waste of 2 hours on teh phone with customer suppport.

I havent tried to reinstall the OS yet, becaues i dont believe i NEED to on a brand new computer. If i have any problems i (especially in the 9 days that i've had this laptop) it should be replaced completely.

Then today i tried playing a movie that i had stored on my HD with both the Dell Media Experience and Windows Media Player on my television with the S-video cable. Every 2-3 seconds the video and audio would freeze for a second. While monitoring the CPU usage it would spike at those times... I then deleted all the temp files on my comptuer (just as a precaution), i set the power settings to "Always on" and restared the machine. After that I exited any software that was loaded in the tray and tired it again, things went much more smoothly (System Restore and Internete security were both disabled as well). However at this point the video would freeze every 5 or so minutes (much better than 2-3 seconds) and the CPU usage would spike at that time too. What could be a cause of this problem?

Am i missing something? Why am i having so many problems with this Dell machine? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I'd even appreciate any issues that others had with Dell and what they did to repair the issue.

Thanks in advance,

agibby

EDIT: just to note, the ac adaptor was plugged in and the battery wasn't charging.

EDIT: (insert system specs)
1 Inspiron 700m,Intel Pentium M Processor 745 (1.8GHz),12.1 inWXGA
1 1GB,DDR, 333MHz, 2 Dimm, for Inspiron 700m
1 60GB Ultra ATA Hard Drive for Inspiron 700m
1 Image Restore
1 Microsoft Windows XP Professional, Service Pack 2, English, for Inspiron
1 Integrated NIC for Inspiron
1 Internal 56k Modem
1 8x CD/DVD Burner (DVD+RW,+/-R)for Inspiron 700m
1 Intel PRO/Wireless 2915 Internal Wireless (802.11a/b/g54Mbps) for Inspiron 700m
1 65 WHr 8-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery

 

[kitkat22]

When you first got the laptop did you do the "cleaning" of all the useless software? Alt-crtl-del to see your processes. How many do you have going? How many system tray icons do have next to your clock?

After rereading your post you definitely have way too much on startup. I really like the tool that comes with Spybot which lets you have a look at your startup processes. It's found under the advanced tool feature in the menu and under startup on the left hand bar, take a look through the stuff and remove anything that isn't needed. I would suspect adware or spyware if you have been sticking this thing on the internet without protection. I have a Dell Inspiron 6000. It definitely has less features than yours and runs without a hitch. Keep us posted.

 

[Plester]

there is a folder that contains the oem xp install files on the c: drive. can't remember where, but i burned a backup (you have to snoop around and do all this manually - it is certainly not part of dell's system restore bs) of that when i first got my 700m and then blew it away and reinstalled - none of the dell preinstalled sh!t gets installed, just a clean barebones XP install.

 

[jamesbond007]

Anoter vote to reinstall. When I setup a friend with a Dell machine, first thing I do is format and reinstall. Period. No discussion. I don't know if it's the order they install things or what, but the preinstalls suck! When I got my Gen4 XPS tower, the sound would skip when I booted into Windows and it was just SLUGGISH and a horrible experience, at least in comparison to the fact that I normally build my own systems, but I couldn't beat the price of the hardware deal I got, so...

I used my restore CD and not the 'restore image/backup' on the harddrive. It's my system and I'll install only what software I want on there. I don't want a company like Dell choosing what software I must have on my machine.

 

[agibby5]

wow guys, thanks alot for your suggestoins. I will be trying that today! I could have saved 119.00 if i didnt get windows XP preloaded... since i can get it way cheaper than that OEM. Anyway, thanks again! I'll post hte results

 

[jamesbond007]

Just be sure you have your ethernet/sound/video drivers handy before you format. I got a Dell disc with mine that had them all on there, but I only use the ethernet drivers and I just download whatever is the latest for the sound/video. Dell has been recently cheap with shipping CDs with their systems so be prepared!

 

[agibby5]

OK, so i reformated it today and reinstalled windows xp. everything works like a charm now. however, how do i get in contact with the dell media experience program? I kinda liked it... thanks guys. i just dont believe that people should have to reformat a brand new computer. i will think twice before i buy dell again

 

[Foghorn]

I got a 700m recently and wiped out the drive and she works much faster. I did wipe out the reinstall partition dell puts on the HD, so I lost that media program too. I emailed Dell today and requested a programs intall disc. I have not heard back for them yet, but I'll let you know what happens.

Most manufacturers load the system with crap, it's not just a Dell thing.

 

[gaidin123]

I think you will find that with almost any notebook (and computer) manufacturer they will really bloat any new system with unecessary software. Dell is pretty bad but I don't think they are unique in that respect. The first thing anyone should do is reformat and reinstall any storebought computer if you can (time, software, ability). You really don't know what companies the computer companies have made deals with and as far as I know you do not get a detailed list of every piece of software above the base OS they install.

A friend of mine had her parents buy a Dimension 4600 and with all the "extra" software including antivirus on top of the OS their machine with 128MB (we were planning on purchasing a 256MB aftermarket) was using at least 180 with no additional apps open and swapping like mad from the first boot up. It was ridiculous when the base hardware config of a box couldn't even run the base software config.

I happen to have a 700m which is why I poked in on this thread but I think this is an annoying trend in the computer industry in general.

Gaidin

Edit: Autoruns from Sysinternals is a fantastic piece of freeware that shows up all your startup/login items and goes way beyond the usual msconfig.exe ones.

 

[agibby5]

THe more I thought about this problem, I came up with this question..

What do non-computer savy people do in these situations that we as computer savy people can take care of with relative ease? Do they just deal with it? Or do they call and take Dell up on the 72 day software service for 59.00???

Later

gibby

 

[jamesbond007]

I'm sure they are use to it if they've never had any tech take a look at their computers before. The general person will probably call up their local Best Buy or some other computer place that they know of and say "make my computer faster, it runs so slow". The worst part with these so-called 'techs' is they never really do a good job, at least from what I've seen. People at work have told me that they have come home and some of their software no longer works or "can be found on the computer - brings up the explorer's browser for file window" or in one instance, their DVDROM no longer plays movies.

Pretty sad and I wish more computer places couldn't be bought out/paid to put other software companies software on another computer company computers. (ie: AOL + Dell, McAfee's trashy software suit + Dell, etc)

 

[agibby5]

If i have already formatted and reinstalled windows from the OEM disk, am I still able to access the Dell PC System Restore Utility via the Ctrl+F11 combo when the comptuer is booting? Just wondering!

 

[OCedHrt]

Originally posted by: agibby5
OK, so i reformated it today and reinstalled windows xp. everything works like a charm now. however, how do i get in contact with the dell media experience program? I kinda liked it... thanks guys. i just dont believe that people should have to reformat a brand new computer. i will think twice before i buy dell again

I have a 700m as well, I belive the media experience program comes on a cd w/ your laptop. It's really just PowerDVD in a more functional skin.

Also, I think the Ctrl-F11 things runs off the original primary partition (not windows drive) and if you don't press the Ctrl-F11 key sequence it proceeds to boot off the windows partition (like a bootloader). So depending on how you formatted, if you deleted both partitions, then I doubt it'll still work.

 

[agibby5]

I didnt delete any other partitons besides the Windows one but I cant get it to boot to the restore anymore... Also, I didnt receive any cd's when I got my 700m.