guys also read this document from microsoft. Its about memory parity errors.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/101272


there are many reasons for parity error. electrical problems is only one. If your memory was damaged by excess electricity, its fair to assume that your cpu would have been damaged before, because CPU's tend to be more sensitive to voltage/current changes

I do not have the three pronged adapter, and I have been getting memory parity errors everyonce in the while. I can't really test this cause I don't have one of those adapters, I'm confused as to why dell wouldn't give out grounded 3pronged adapters to begin with. Please keep us informed on anything relating to this issue.

I have to get my hands on one of those tester thingys.

2 pins power cords are cheaper than 3 pins ones. With the amount of products Dell is selling, it could well make a difference in cost.

My 9400's AC adapters (I ordered a spare one) all have 3 pins plug on the adapter side, but only 2 pins on the wall outlet side. I've contacted Dell ANZ and they've agreed to send me replacement power cords.

EDIT: A correction - my current power cords are 2 pins on BOTH ends, see my post below.

ANOTHER Dell Asia/Pacific result! Damn Dell US need to get their act together....

Lucky Buggers.
I was promised 2 grounded adapters 2 weeks ago. Still not a hide nor hair of them. anytime I order Dell parts I usually have them the next day.

You were also promised a result last week too. No news on that i take it?

No. I did write Mike B. again, and his response was, "I'm still clarifying some of the details with our engineering team. I want to be 100% accurate before passing on information. It shouldn't be too much longer. I appreciate your patience."

So it kinda sounds to me like we are all about to get royally boned. But only time will tell.

Just a correction: my current power cords have actually 2 pins on both ends. In other word, my AC adapters take 8 sharp AC inputs. However, my adapters are also REV A02, the same as the replacement the_scotsman received, so I think new power cords with 3 pins on AC outlet side might just do. Let see what Dell sends me today...

This is just great: they sent me two UK power cords, which do not fit Australian AC outlets.

Also, the end of the cords which plugs into AC adapter has 3 pins, while my AC adapters only have two ('8' sharp). Does this mean they should really send me AC adapter replacements with 3 pins end to end instead? I've contacted Dell and hopefully they can have this sorted out soon.

Yes, you need a whole new adapter assembly...not just a new cord...

Thanks for the information. I've just got off the phone with Dell ANZ and they are sending me AC adapter replacements with Australian power cords. Hopefully no mixed up this time.

So far the support provided by Dell ANZ is not bad. After all, they did respond to my requests promptly and they do understand issue.

Add the small laptops to the mix...Inspiron E1405;Intel® CoreTM 2 Duo T7200 (2.00GHz, 4MB L2 Cache, 667 MHz FSB)... Brand new out of the box, 5 minutes, Bamm, BSOD... running the 3 hour diagnostics on it now, and I did check the voltage and did not get any readings, I will try again to check for fluxuations... BTW I have the 2 pronged plug, must have to get a grounded one... does anyone know if it there is any long term damage associated with this problem? should I go ahead and ask for a complete replacement now?

As for long term damage, while I can't prove that it's related to the voltage problem, my E1705 is now (after about four months of use) completely unstable when used with a two-prong adapter. It's relatively stable with a three-prong, but I still see occasional parity errors or (more often) a black screen. I've repeated the test a number of times; the laptop is consistently unusable with either two-prong adapter (I have two), usually not even booting past the Windows login screen.

While there's arguably no "smoking gun" to be found here, there's at least strong circumstantial evidence that the two-prong adapters are problematic at best, and at worst possibly cause permanent damage.

I asked Dell for a 3 prong, they say they are not made for the E1405. Also claimed that since the converter converts AC to DC there is no need for a 3 prong! I guess I need to find some way to dispute that, but the guy would not send me one at any rate. any ideas?

If you would read thru the thread, you would see we are currently working on tryig to get Dell to give us 3 pronged adapters for this problem. Currently we are awaiting Dell's final word on this issue.