Fixing My Dell XPS M1330 Chassis Scratching With a 15-Cent Part

[Jason Dunn]

<p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/dht/auto/1222464952.usr1.jpg" border="1" /></p><p>If you recall my story about my <a href="http://www.digitalhomethoughts.com/news/show/90261/my-squealing-dell-xps-m1330-notebook-working-as-designed-according-to-dell-technician.html" target="_blank">squealing Dell XPS M1330</a>, 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 <span style="text-decoration: line-through;">browbeating</span> 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...</p>

[Pony99CA]

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?
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. ;)

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...
Most laptops I've seen come with rubber feet near the top of the screen, probably to prevent just that.

Steve

[Adam Krebs]

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... :)

[Jason Dunn]

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.

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.

[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.

Great advise though, I will be making a trip to the hardware store today.

[Jason Dunn]

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.

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...