About my Dell Latitude D505 poweroff problem

I guess it’s time to provide again more details on what happens with my laptop 😉 …

Last time, I said in my previous post :

This time I can for sure say that there is a problem with the hardware, which is not related to using GNU/Linux : as my machine was booting, and still in the BIOS stages, I touched the anti-theft cable lock with my watch again, and bingo : shut off. Dell is going to replace the motherboard. I hope it will get rid of this problem. Too much static charge on me and may watch ? Too sensitive motherboard ? … anyway, I think I will try to pack the cable’s lock in something plastic to protect the computer from direct contact with the internal metalic parts.

Actually, Dell didn’t send me a new motherboard… and they called me back to tell me it wouldn’t help, and that this problem was known to them, and they had the quality team or something working on the issue, and that they would get in touch again with me soon.

After a week on vacation in Aurillac, I’m back and no news… so I call back Dell. This time they confirm there is a problem if you lock an anti-theft cable on the left (or right, they’re not sure) of the machine, and I can solve the problem by locking on the other side…

Well… I’m not sure I want to test this workaround… but there definitely seems to be a problem with static charge and contacts with the internal metallic parts of the beast.

Guess what : I’m not really relieved, and quite angry… but this is only… to be continued 😉

Update 24/08/2005 : I received a call from Dell this morning, and they confirm that there is a problem with the lock slot on the left side, and recommend to lock cables on the right side only. They’re working on the problem which seem to be affecting a series of machines.