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DAY 2: Inspiron XPS Lockup Issue - Page 5

post #81 of 170
3/14/04 at 1:00am
Tonight I played a game several times and measured the time it took for my XPS to lock up or corrupt, in an effort to find any kind of consistency in the crashing. While I was doing this, I discovered the location of the log files that Windows generates after a crash. Here are my test results as well as the contents of one of these log files (test #10):

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Notes:
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-Installed Midnight Club II Demo (available for free @ http://www.fileshack.com)
-Set to 1920 x 1200 resolution
-Hyperthreading enabled in all tests
-Did not use Powerstrip, using factory-installed Windows XP and Dell ATI drivers from 02/26/04
-Selected Circuit race (puts a timer on the screen in upper left hand corner)
-Didn't touch anything, just let the car sit stationary as the timer counted up
-Ran the game ten times and each time the game froze (requiring a hard shutdown) or corrupted (requiring a reboot)
-Windows generated a log file each time the game locked up - indicates that the display driver got stuck in an infinite loop
-Log files located in C:\Windows\LogFiles\Watchdog\ (readable in Notepad)
-All of the log files contain the same EventType: OxEA - Thread Stuck in Device Driver. Maybe this is why disabling Hyperthreading works as a fix for some people?
-Next step: Disable Hyperthreading and rerun test to see if freeze or graphics corruption occurs

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Test Results: (time in minutes:seconds)
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1) 06:22 - freeze
2) 11:33 - corruption
3) 06:11 - corruption
4) 12:44 - corruption
5) 07:31 - freeze
6) 28:26 - freeze
7) 45:23 - freeze
8) 09:10 - corruption
9) 04:26 - freeze
10) 44:39 - freeze

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Log file contents:
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//
// Watchdog Event Log File
//

LogType: Watchdog
Created: 2004-03-13 21:31:18
TimeZone: 360 - Central Standard Time
WindowsVersion: XP
EventType: 0xEA - Thread Stuck in Device Driver

//
// The driver for the display device got stuck in an infinite loop. This
// usually indicates a problem with the device itself or with the device
// driver programming the hardware incorrectly. Please check with your
// display device vendor for any driver updates.
//

EaRecovery: 1
ShutdownCount: 79
Shutdown: 0
EventCount: 8
BreakCount: 8
BugcheckTriggered: 1
DebuggerNotPresent: 1
DriverName: ati2dvag
EventFlag: 1
DeviceClass: Display
DeviceDescription: ATI MOBILITY RADEON 9700
HardwareID: PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_4E50&SUBSYS_017C1028&REV_00
Manufacturer: ATI Technologies Inc.
DriverFixedFileInfo: FEEF04BD 00010000 0006000E 000A18FC 0006000E 000A18FC 0000003F 00000008 00040004 00000003 00000004 00000000 00000000
DriverCompanyName: ATI Technologies Inc.
DriverFileDescription: ATI Radeon WindowsNT Display Driver
DriverFileVersion: 6.14.10.6396
DriverInternalName: ati2dvag.dll
DriverLegalCopyright: Copyright (C) 1998-2002 ATI Technologies Inc.
DriverOriginalFilename: ati2dvag.dll
DriverProductName: ATI Radeon Family
DriverProductVersion: 5.2.3790.2
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post #82 of 170
3/14/04 at 1:41am
I just reran my Midnight Club II test with Hyperthreading disabled, and my display became corrupted at 23 minutes, 52 seconds into the test (consistent with Tests 1-10). Clearly, disabling Hyperthreading has no effect whatsoever on the outcome of this problem.
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post #83 of 170
3/14/04 at 2:16am
As I originally suspected all blame is placed on Faulty Radeon 9700 hundreds as Karl suggests Call dell and having them replace it is clearly the thing to do cause albeit small numbers are reporting the problem most of those small numbers seem to end up here this is clearly unexceptable
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post #84 of 170
3/14/04 at 9:27pm
Thread Starter 
For what it's worth, It looks like they overnighted my GPU board (it went to "Qualxserv" in South Hackensack, 2 min down the road. Going to try and find out where they are and call 'em first thing in the morning since i'm off tomorrow). Here's the update from looking up my DPS number at Dell's service status site....


System Summary
Inspiron XPS
Service Tag Number: XXXXXXX
Ship Date: 3/8/2004
Dell IBU: N/A




Service Call
Description: ESCALATION: INTERNAL CALLER
Service Call Number: 433XXXXX
Initiation Date: 3/12/2004
Last Updated: 3/12/2004 1:28:00 PM
Call Status: Parts Shipped
Service Ship Date: 3/12/2004


Shipping Information
Air Bill Number Ship Date Carrier
XXXXXXXXXX 3/12/2004 Airborne Next day
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post #85 of 170
3/14/04 at 9:41pm
Good luck Karl! I'm so hoping that's the solution!

B.
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post #86 of 170
3/15/04 at 12:14am
Yes Karl, please let us know the outcome! We all want to hear you say that 100% of the problems are gone with the new card installed. At least this will put us at ease knowing that a card swap is the answer.

-Geed
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post #87 of 170
3/15/04 at 2:03am
Do you guys feel the Inspiron 9100 will be delayed shipping due to this issue with the XPS? Mine is post to ship on the 17th, its been in production since the 2nd of March. Since the XPS and 9100 are so close, (and I'm getting the 128 ATI Card) do you think Dell will delay shipping?
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post #88 of 170
3/15/04 at 2:18am
Yes, I believe they are being delayed as we speek. The build stage usually only takes a day. Mines been there over 10 days now. I'd bet the line has been stopped.

B.
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post #89 of 170
3/15/04 at 2:22am
Quote:
Originally Posted by themaniacky
Do you guys feel the Inspiron 9100 will be delayed shipping due to this issue with the XPS? Mine is post to ship on the 17th, its been in production since the 2nd of March. Since the XPS and 9100 are so close, (and I'm getting the 128 ATI Card) do you think Dell will delay shipping?
Wondering this myself although it does look like they have halted producton of the XPS's and the 9100's. I have been in the build stage for 9 days now. Lets hope they get these things rolling soon .


And good luck Karl I hope the gpu switch works for you. After all the work you put in to get this problem solved, keep us posted as i'm sure you will.
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post #90 of 170
3/15/04 at 3:05am
Karl what kinda customer service did you have again ?? Onsite ??
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post #91 of 170
3/15/04 at 9:14am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by HeLLSpiRE
Karl what kinda customer service did you have again ?? Onsite ??
Yah, I did 1 year onsite.
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post #92 of 170
3/15/04 at 9:19am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by themaniacky
Do you guys feel the Inspiron 9100 will be delayed shipping due to this issue with the XPS? Mine is post to ship on the 17th, its been in production since the 2nd of March. Since the XPS and 9100 are so close, (and I'm getting the 128 ATI Card) do you think Dell will delay shipping?

I think it's been delayed. Normally once you hit kitting, you're hours away from boxing. If you're sitting at Kitting or Building, and have been there for more than a couple of hours, you're waiting for a GPU

I'm also wondering how this problem might be affecting other notebook manufacturer, if it does at all. It seems that Dell stressed for a higher quality part that can clock higher than everyone else's, at least that's what I've been getting out of all those "Mobility 9700 First Look" articles on random websites.
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post #93 of 170
3/15/04 at 10:11am
Well my system was supposed to be shipping today, March 15th. I just called Dell to get an update and the rep on the line put me on hold, came back and told me they anticipate it will ship in the next 2 to 3 business days. I mentioned I "knew" that the production of the XPS had been delayed due to a problem with the video cards, he confirmed that and said he was told they plan to resume shipments in 2 to 3 days. Who knows if that's true or not, but perhaps some of you other ppl out there waiting for your shipments can call in and try to get a "similar" answer? Just FYI for those patiently waiting as I...
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post #94 of 170
3/15/04 at 12:06pm

Waiting (again)

I am currently waiting for a new noteook. Dell has informed me that they will cross-ship me a new notebook, and it should be here sometime this week. I hope they send me a working one!
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post #95 of 170
3/15/04 at 12:17pm
It's good that things are starting to work out for you guys... Hopefully now you'll get the stability you've been looking for =)
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post #96 of 170
3/15/04 at 12:21pm
Canceled my order on Thursday.... Worried about the lockup problem... Re-ordered the same system on Saturday and it immediately jumped back to being "Inproduction" and when I called they claim it is in the BUILD stage as it was Thur before I canceled it. However the new ship date is 04/05, when it originally was 03/19... Which is fine with me they can keep it as long as they need to correct the GPU problem....
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post #97 of 170
3/15/04 at 1:20pm
From everyone else's speculations, I think the XPS that they ship out from now on will be resolved of this gpu issue, well hopefully at least
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post #98 of 170
3/15/04 at 1:56pm
The Dell tech is showing up in about an hour with the replacement Mobility 9700 Pro. I'll let you guys know the results after I test again after the GPU swapout.
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post #99 of 170
3/15/04 at 2:03pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by XstatiK
The Dell tech is showing up in about an hour with the replacement Mobility 9700 Pro. I'll let you guys know the results after I test again after the GPU swapout.
Good luck.
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post #100 of 170
3/15/04 at 2:05pm
Anxiously awaiting!

Good luck!

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