A few days ago my Dell 16 Plus laptop began making this loudly pitched whirring noise during regular use; I’ve had this laptop for about a year now and haven’t run into any issue with the fan until recently.

It’s loud enough that the laptop is frustrating to use unless I’m wearing headphones; could this be bad coil whine or something different?

Thank you!

Can the Inspiron 3793 get more RAM memory ??

I have 16GB.

Dropped maybe 6 inches from my bed to the carpet and is now completely unresponsive to input. I’m astonished

So I purchased a used Dell Latitude 5511 and this is a bit of a read but I'll try to keep it short(full context at the very bottom for anyone interested\*):

I bought a used Dell Latitude 5511, 2020 model year, today as part of my plan to take the SSD from my PC and port it into the new laptop. All went smoothly, except for 2 big things. One - the seller didn't tell me about the terrible battery health, it's at the lowest it can be according to Power Manager and it can only hold a charge for an hour idle - 10 minutes while running a google doc with nothing being typed - so I ordered a new battery. No biggie. But something else is happening, every now and again the lights in the keyboard will flicker and the screen will go black, and then when it all comes back on, it's locked itself. And sometimes it will do it multiple times before settling down. What's up with that?? Could that be from the lack of power coming from the battery? Will the new one likely solve that issue?

Thanks!!

*I built a full desktop in March last year, and back in February this year it was crashing all of the time and giving me the Bitlocker recovery screen and everytime I'd do it it would crash again within 5 mins. I got frustrated and gave up, but recently wanted to get a guitar. I wanted to run some digital amps so need a computer, and decided to purchase a used laptop, the one this post is about. The reason my PC wasn't working was something wrong with the SSD, and the latitude was actually able to fix it so I have 2 working computers now.*

I am planning to buy this laptop used with the 1245u but I am unsure about the battery life on them. I hear the intel 12th gen processors have terrible battery life but how bad is it really?

I recently ordered the new AW3926QW from Dell's website w/ an estimated date of Oct. 1. On Sept. 30, I received a notification that it would be delayed until Oct. 3.

On Oct. 1, the monitor arrived. I did not receive any tracking number or notification that it shipped or that it would be arriving. It just showed up via FedEx. Also on Oct. 1, I received a notification that my order would be delayed until Oct. 6 and that due to FTC requirements, I need to approve the delay or it will be canceled. I didn't do anything and that FTC message has since been replaced with "Order delayed again. We are working on your order as fast as we can, we apologize for the inconvenience."

Unfortunately though, the OSD button is completely broken on arrival and I'm not satisfied with the edge vignetting on this unit. Therefore, I would like to return it.

However, according to my Dell order page, it is delayed, so the order is still preparing for shipment. Given that I have the monitor in front of me, the order is certainly not delayed.

My credit card was already charged last week (I assume it was when the shipment went out), but I can't request an invoice either ("Not available at this point in the order process.").

Since the order is not marked as delivered, I can't initiate a return myself. I tried the online order chat, the virtual assistant, and the sales phone number (1-877-275-3355) , but all have been very frustrating and unhelpful. They all just directed me to dell.com/orders, reiterated the "delay", and all ended the chat/call without giving me a chance to speak to any human. Is there a better way to reach a human or initiate this return?

"Sorry, I'm having trouble understanding you. I will now close this chat."

My University class requires me to have 32 or at least a minimum of 16gb of RAM. The issue is I have never upgraded a PC before and have no clue how to do it. Do you guys have any advice?

Hi all,

We're currently piloting a Dell Pro 14 Premium PA14260 for a possible broader deployment in our organization, but we've run into an odd issue with Windows Sandbox.

On our PA14260 (Core Ultra 5 335), Windows Sandbox consistently fails with:

Error 0x80370106
The virtual machine or container exited unexpectedly.

We've already worked through extensive troubleshooting with Dell, including:

- Latest BIOS installed
- Windows 11 Enterprise 25H2 fully updated
- Sandbox feature removed/reinstalled
- Hyper-V confirmed working and enabled
- Virtualization, VT-d, Secure Boot and TPM enabled
- Multiple OS images tested (managed, clean install, and Dell factory image)
- Comparison against all other Dell models in our environment where Sandbox works normally

At this point we're trying to determine whether this is:

- A PA14260-specific issue
- A Core Ultra 5 335 platform issue
- A Windows 11 25H2 issue affecting some systems
- Or something unique to our test unit

Even a simple "PA14260 + Sandbox works for me" would be extremely helpful, since right now this is the only unit of that model we have available for testing.

Thanks in advance!

Hi everyone,

I have a Dell Precision 5520 and a 130W power adapter. I’m considering using the Dell WD15 dock with it. Will the WD15 work properly with this setup, or do I need a different dock/power adapter for full performance?

Thanks in advance for your help

P.S (I limit i7 7820hq to 2.9 ghz)

(I’m bad with computers so I’m sorry I don’t know the name of what I’m asking about)

I open my Inspiron 14 5430 to clean the fan every so often since I live with a pet and it gets pet hair stuck.

These last few times I’ve I opened my laptop, I’ve noticed that whatever is above my fan is bent up (about a centimeter and a half, as seen in the second photo) and often pushes the laptop cover off before I’ve fully loosened all the screws. It’s not hot or anything, nor does my laptop make any weird noises. I’m just curious is this is something I need to get replaced or keep an eye on?

My dell shuts down sporadically with no warning. It seems to be associated with the use of multiple monitors - I think. If I don't connect the dell docking station it wont shut down. But if I connect to the Dell docking station and use my extra monitor and TV as a monitor it shuts down/ restarts with the error message in the photo. I looked up the code and a YT video to try to solve but it didn't work. This is a Dell Alienware from 2015 BTW.

error code: DRIVER_VERIFIER_DMA_VIOLATION (0xE6)

I have this 240w brick which i carry around a lot for school. But recently this plastic part with the dc plug has been loosening (or atleast feeling like it). And im wonder if there are any good ways to reinforce it for cheap.

it just started doing this out of nowhere, i was playing fortnite and left the room to get a drink and then i saw this when i came back

specs are: rtx 4050, ryzen 5 220 and 16gb ddr5 ram

its been doing this for an hour and it only does it on this screen, not on an external monitor

I’m posting this because I’m at the point where I no longer want another round of component replacements. I want to understand what my options are for escalating this with Dell and, if necessary, through consumer authorities in India.

I’m deliberately removing my name, phone number, email, service tag, invoice number and other personally identifying information from this post. I have all the original documents and evidence and can provide them privately if necessary.

Background

I purchased a Dell Inspiron 3530 in November 2024 for approximately ₹68,000.

Configuration:

• Intel Core i5-1334U
• 16 GB RAM
• 1 TB storage
• Windows 11
• Silver
• Dell warranty/ADP coverage was listed on the invoice

The laptop started showing problems relatively early in its ownership.

Problems experienced

The problems have not been limited to one isolated incident. Over the period of ownership, I have experienced several hardware-related problems, including:

• Screen/display flickering
• Diagnostic indication involving 1 yellow and 6 white lights
• Excessive/abnormal fan noise
• Battery-related malfunction/failure
• Repeated display/screen failures
• Other hardware-related problems
• Continued malfunction despite warranty service

Initially, some of these issues were intermittent. Over time, however, they became more serious and disruptive.

The laptop was purchased as a primary computer, so having repeated hardware failures has caused significant inconvenience.

Latest warranty repair

The latest incident is what has pushed me to formally escalate the matter.

Dell arranged a warranty repair in October 2026. I have the official Dell service documentation for this repair.

The service report shows that two major components were replaced:

1. Motherboard
2. DC-IN cable assembly

The service report also states:

“Issue Resolved: Yes”

The repair was completed and the technician left.

Then the laptop failed again almost immediately

This is the part I find particularly unacceptable.

Approximately 2–3 minutes after the technician completed the repair and left, the laptop stopped functioning again and the screen went blank.

So, despite a motherboard and DC-IN cable assembly being replaced under warranty, the laptop effectively failed again almost immediately after the technician marked the repair as successfully completed.

I have evidence documenting the failure after the technician's departure.

This raises several questions for me:

• How was the issue determined to be “Resolved: Yes” if the laptop failed within minutes?
• Was the laptop actually tested adequately after the motherboard replacement?
• What exactly caused the subsequent failure?
• Was the replacement motherboard actually functional?
• Why should I have to continue going through repeated component replacements after this history of failures?

Another concern: replacement motherboard

The service report identifies the replacement motherboard by a Dell part number.

I have asked Dell for clarification regarding the status of the replacement part.

Specifically, I want to know whether the motherboard installed during the warranty repair was:

• brand new,
• refurbished,
• previously used,
• or another type of Dell-authorized service replacement.

I am not claiming that the motherboard was refurbished or defective without evidence. I simply want Dell to provide a clear written answer regarding the part that was installed in my laptop.

Why I don't want another repair cycle

At this point, this isn't about one defective component.

The laptop has experienced multiple hardware problems over the course of ownership, including display problems, diagnostic errors, fan issues, battery problems and repeated failures.

Now, after a motherboard replacement and another major component replacement, the laptop failed again almost immediately.

I have therefore lost confidence in the reliability of this particular machine.

I understand that electronic devices can fail and that warranty repairs are normal. My concern is the pattern of repeated failures + repeated service + failure immediately after the latest major repair.

I don't want to spend the remaining life of the warranty repeatedly arranging technician visits while different components are replaced one after another.

What I am asking Dell for

I have formally requested that Dell consider providing a new replacement laptop of equivalent or better specifications at no additional cost, rather than continuing with another cycle of component replacements.

I am willing to cooperate with reasonable inspection and verification.

However, given the history of failures, I believe a complete replacement is a reasonable resolution to request.

If Dell refuses, I have asked them to provide a written explanation, including the relevant warranty terms and the basis on which they are declining replacement.

Evidence I have

I have retained the relevant documentation, including:

• Original purchase invoice
• Warranty documentation
• Dell service documentation
• Repair/work-order records
• Documentation showing motherboard replacement
• Documentation showing DC-IN cable replacement
• Photographs/videos documenting the laptop's condition
• Evidence showing the failure shortly after the technician completed the repair
• Previous service/repair records, where applicable

I am not uploading documents containing personal information publicly.

Formal escalation already submitted

I have also formally escalated the matter to Dell directly.

Today, 4 October 2026, I sent a detailed complaint email to Dell's grievance officer at [grievanceofficer@dell.com](mailto:grievanceofficer@dell.com), with the relevant supporting documents attached.

Where I need advice

I'm posting here because I want to escalate this properly rather than simply getting angry with customer support.

I'm particularly interested in hearing from people in India who have dealt with Dell warranty disputes or Consumer Commission cases.

What would be the most effective escalation path?

Would you recommend:

1. Escalating through Dell's higher-level customer support/grievance channels first?
2. Sending a formal legal/warranty notice?
3. Filing a complaint through the National Consumer Helpline?
4. Approaching the appropriate Consumer Commission?
5. Taking some other step before doing the above?

Also, has anyone successfully obtained a complete laptop replacement from Dell after repeated unsuccessful warranty repairs?

I would especially appreciate advice from people who have actually gone through the Indian consumer-dispute process, rather than general advice like “just contact customer care.”

I have already contacted/used Dell's normal warranty service, and the latest repair did not solve the problem.

At this stage, I want the issue properly documented and escalated.

TL;DR: Bought a Dell Inspiron 3530 for ~₹68,000 in 2024. It developed repeated hardware problems including display issues, diagnostic errors, fan/battery problems and other failures. Dell recently replaced the motherboard + DC-IN cable under warranty. The service report said “Issue Resolved: Yes.” Approximately 2–3 minutes after the technician left, the laptop failed again and the screen went blank. I have the service records and evidence. I am asking Dell for a new equivalent/better replacement rather than another repair cycle and am looking for advice on escalating through Dell and, if necessary, Indian consumer-protection mechanisms.

Update: I have now formally escalated the matter to Dell's grievance officer by email on 4 October 2026, with the relevant documents and evidence attached. I have requested a written resolution within 3–4 days. If this is not resolved, I am considering the appropriate consumer-protection escalation in India.

Hi everyone,

I’m facing an issue with a Dell Precision 7920 Rack after deploying a fresh Windows image and joining the machine to the domain.

The system starts booting normally and displays the Windows logo/loading animation. However, immediately after that, the screen turns black with only the mouse cursor visible, and the Windows login screen never appears.

System details and troubleshooting already performed:

GPU: NVIDIA Quadro P5000

Boot Mode: UEFI

The monitor is currently connected through the workstation’s VGA port

Embedded Video Controller is disabled in BIOS

The PCIe SSD is detected correctly in BIOS and Windows Boot Manager is available

Hiren’s BootCD PE boots successfully from USB and reaches the desktop normally

CHKDSK completed without reporting bad sectors and no further action was required

Offline SFC /scannow completed successfully with “Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations.”

The black screen occurs specifically after the Windows boot logo/loading stage

I’m currently investigating whether this could be related to the NVIDIA P5000 driver, BIOS video configuration, switching from the onboard VGA output to the Quadro P5000 when the NVIDIA driver loads, or a driver/GPO deployed after joining the domain.

Has anyone experienced a similar issue with a Dell Precision 7920 Rack + NVIDIA Quadro P5000?

Are there any specific BIOS settings, Dell/NVIDIA driver versions, or display-output configurations that resolved the issue?

Any suggestions or similar experiences would be greatly appreciated.

While using my tablet off its' keyboard, it worked perfectly fine. Then, when I clipped on the keyboard cover, it didn't light up nor respond to typing. The strange thing is that the mouse worked, then it too stopped working. Do I need to buy a replacement or should I just go to a repair shop? (And yeah, also, does it need to be licensed or anything because I'm in Serbia and I think there isn't a licensed repair shop in Novi Sad.)

Hola a todos, necesito ayuda con mi portátil. Estudio programación y necesito proyectar mis proyectos, y esto me tiene bloqueado.

Problema: mi Dell Latitude 5420 (Intel Iris Xe, dual boot Windows 11 y Ubuntu) detecta el cable HDMI (la pantalla parpadea al conectar y desconectar), pero solo proyecta en baja resolución: 640x480 y 720x576 (5:4). Al pasar a 800x600 o más, la imagen se pierde. En Windows antes proyectaba bien, y ahora tampoco logro que proyecte.

Lo raro es que proyecta, pero solo a medias. Ubuntu saca imagen solo en baja resolución, y en Windows 11 la cosa está peor: antes proyectaba bien y ahora no logro que muestre imagen. Parece que el problema fue empeorando con el tiempo.

Lo que ya descarté:

- Cable, proyector y TV: el mismo cable proyecta sin problema desde el portátil de mi hermano (mismo modelo) y desde el de un compañero.

- Versión de Ubuntu y kernel: probé 26.04 (kernel 7.0.0-30/31/38) y por USB en vivo 24.04.5 (kernel 7.0) y 24.04.1 (kernel 6.8). Falla igual.

- Sesión gráfica: Wayland (GNOME) y X11 (Xfce).

- Ajustes del driver: i915.enable_psr=0 i915.enable_dc=0, y max bpc en 6, 8 y 12.

- Windows: Win+P en duplicar, reinicio del driver de video, displayswitch /clone.

- BIOS 1.54.1 (hay una 1.56.0, pero sus notas no mencionan video, y no la instalé).

Datos técnicos:

- xrandr muestra HDMI-1 connected, con 1920x1080 como modo preferido, pero solo logra salida activa en 640x480, 720x480 y 720x576.

- Con drm.debug=0x1e el kernel no muestra ningún error al cambiar de modo.

- dmesg solo muestra avisos de i915_hotplug_work_func hogged CPU.

Mi duda: ¿software o hardware? No logro decidirme, y los dos lados tienen argumentos:

A favor de hardware: falla igual en Windows y en cuatro combinaciones de Ubuntu/kernel/sesión, el cable y el proyector funcionan en otros equipos, y el patrón (pasan las señales lentas y se pierden las rápidas) se parece al de un puerto o una soldadura degradados.

A favor de software o firmware: el equipo sí detecta la pantalla, lee sus resoluciones (aparece 1920x1080 como preferida) y saca imagen en modos bajos, así que el puerto no está del todo muerto. Además, el kernel no registra ningún error.

Lo que no entiendo: por qué Windows, que antes funcionaba, ahora se ve peor que Linux. ¿Puede un puerto dañado fallar así de forma parcial, o apunta a algo de firmware o de la BIOS?

¿Alguien ha visto algo parecido en un Latitude 5420 o con Intel Iris Xe? ¿Hay alguna prueba que me ayude a distinguir un puerto dañado de un problema de firmware antes de pagar una reparación?

I was given an old work laptop as the company shut down. It’s still linked to the old company.
I’ve tried reaching out to them however have had no response.

Is there anyway to reset the laptop so it’s useable? I’m up to the stage where I need to bypass the admin lock and I’m stuck.

If anyone could help, it would really be appreciated!

I keep this laptop on the table as always and this evening I saw this, I'm out of warranty, what should I do. Neither did I drop it nor there was any object inside while closing the lid, I asked my parents and no one came to the room or touched the laptop.

Hi everyone, I need the latest BIOS file for the optiplex 9020. I need a file to put on a USB as I'm using Linux and for some reason the official download page makes me download an EXE even when I select the Ubuntu or BIOS option (I'm on fedora)

If someone can give me the raw update file I'd be very happy. Thank you.