Dell Inspiron 531 Has bad motherboard?????

**hopthwoks** · #1 26th Jan 2009, 00:32

I have a friend that has a Dell Inspiron 531 that has many problems For the past 4 months they have not been able to use the computer unless it is in safe mode. I ran a memtest-86 on it nothing wrong with memory. From what I can find out this pc is a dual processor and that would mean the ram should be in slots 1 an 3. Not like it cam form Dell in slots 1 an 2. About a week ago they called Dell for the 10th time and they said it was the ram. And because it was under warranty Dell would relpace it. When the tech came out the pc was running but only in safe mode , He moved the ram back to slots 1 an 2 and the pc would not work at all. Then he said that it was the motherboard that was the problem and would be back in two hours to relpace it four hours later my friend call this tech guy and found out that Dell said they were not replacing the motherboard for it was not the problem it is the program Vista.
I talked to my friend today and found that they now can not get the computer to turn on at all.
Dose anyone know if this motherboard has problems (Dell ORY206 OR 0RY206 model number.
Or could it be something with the processor. Right now I only need to get it running to move the files to another harddrive.
Then we will look in to using the computer lemon law. There warranty is good until 2011.

**Carbon** · #2 26th Jan 2009, 00:43

Dell is obviously trying to screw you out of a fix.

The RAM slots shouldn't matter, but if it's definitely pooping out when the DIMMs are moved that does point to a dying mobo. It's not the processor, and if memtest runs fine it's not that either.

**philthomas** · #3 26th Jan 2009, 06:47

My advice would be ... get back on to Dell and insist on speaking to a Supervisor and insist on another repair. If it's warrantied until 2011, then you have every right.

Good Luck tho ..... as Dell are the pits :(

**hopthwoks** · #4 26th Jan 2009, 11:55

Tried to call Dell agin and now they put my friend on hold and then just hang up. They found that when they purchased the computer they also purchased the extended warranty and is good until 2013. But it seem that Dell thinks the mobo is not included in this warranty.
My friend found out that when you call Dell for help in the USA the call gose to someone in India.

**hopthwoks** · #5 26th Jan 2009, 16:43

Went back down to my friends and looked at the model number on the mobo and it is different that what is comming up under the system files on the computer . The number on the mobo is M2N61-AX. Told my friend what was said here and after two and a half hours on the phone Dell said they would replace the mobo.
Now that they are going to relpace the mobo will my friend lose the files on the harddrive?

**philthomas** · #6 26th Jan 2009, 16:46

Knowing Dell .. anything is possible.
If they change the mobo for the same model, he shouldn't lose them <famous last words>

**Razer** · #7 27th Jan 2009, 14:25

If you send the computer back, I wouldn't count on your files returning with it.

You could take the hard drive out and send it back in to them, as Phil said though, it is Dell and anything can happen!

**hopthwoks** · #8 27th Jan 2009, 14:37

Well they are sending someone out to the home to replace the parts. Don't need to send pc back to dell.

**ilop12** · #9 27th Jan 2009, 16:28

ok good. i read a story were a dell technician went to a home repair and broke the computer. before he comes or before he starts make sure that dell is liable for any damages and that he wears an anti static band just for precaution.

**hopthwoks** · #10 27th Jan 2009, 17:19

Thanks will tell my friend . And know how they are Dell will not get past the driveway unless he has it on . Two Large Puppys not sure witch one I would wont to mess with the puppys or the home owner.