10-10-2008, 08:13 PM
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Executive Editor
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 29,160
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Fixing My Dell XPS M1330 Chassis Scratching With a 15-Cent Part
If you recall my story about my squealing Dell XPS M1330, you'll remember that one of the problems I was having with it was that Dell seems to have constructed this laptop to scratch its own chassis over time. After some browbeating persuading of the technician I was speaking with, he agreed to let me ship my XPS M1330 back for repair, where they replaced the plastic bezel around the screen and also replaced the screen itself. I was impressed with how fast they did the repair; I had my laptop back in three days. What was less impressive is that the laptop still had the same problem - by the end of the week I was noticing fine scratch marks along the top bezel. I try to take great care of my equipment, and it's frustrating when a design flaw makes a piece of gear damage itself. The solution isn't exactly elegant, but it works: I went to my local home improvement store and picked up...whatever those things are called. You know, the small rubber half-circles, where one side has an adhesive on it. What are those called? At any rate, it worked and now I no longer have my M1330 damaging itself. It's pretty ridiculous that Dell would design something so clearly flawed to begin with, but at least I've solved my problem...
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10-10-2008, 10:44 PM
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Swami
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 4,396
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Call Them Feet
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jason Dunn
The solution isn't exactly elegant, but it works: I went to my local home improvement store and picked up...whatever those things are called. You know, the small rubber half-circles, where one side has an adhesive on it. What are those called?
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Since you asked -- I call them "rubber feet" or "scratch preventers".
By the way, the math major in me has to point out that they're hemispherical; circles are two-dimensional. 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jason Dunn
At any rate, it worked and now I no longer have my M1330 damaging itself. It's pretty ridiculous that Dell would design something so clearly flawed to begin with, but at least I've solved my problem...
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Most laptops I've seen come with rubber feet near the top of the screen, probably to prevent just that.
Steve
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10-11-2008, 04:13 AM
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Contributing Editor
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 519
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My XPS M1530 has been overheating as of late, specifically while playing games, and after it unexpectedly shutdown in the middle of a game for the third time this week, I decided to research a solution. Turns out, the M1530 wasn't exactly designed with the best thermals in mind, and the back needs to be raised to offer better airflow. So I took the closest aluminum thing I had on hand--the box my Zippo came in--and propped up the back of my laptop. Since then, I've felt a significant heat reduction on the top-left grille, and it hasn't crashed on me once. Now to cool the lower-left corner... 
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10-11-2008, 07:06 AM
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Executive Editor
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 29,160
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Adam Krebs
Turns out, the M1530 wasn't exactly designed with the best thermals in mind, and the back needs to be raised to offer better airflow.
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That's pretty sloppy of Dell to design it that way. I have the extra-large battery for it, which raise the back up a fair bit - maybe that's a more permanent solution for you.
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10-12-2008, 02:00 AM
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Neophyte
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 6
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Just one question, does it affect the laptop going into sleep mode??? because the screen is not closing as tight if the plastic stoppers are installed.
Great advise though, I will be making a trip to the hardware store today.
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10-12-2008, 07:31 PM
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Executive Editor
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 29,160
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Quote:
Originally Posted by seal
Just one question, does it affect the laptop going into sleep mode??? because the screen is not closing as tight if the plastic stoppers are installed.
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Nope, there's no problem at all with it going into sleep mode - whatever trigger point they use happens much earlier in terms of the angle...
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Linear Mode
