I have an almost 2-year-old laptop with which I've been having problems for the last week or so. It all started when after hibernating the computer had a blank black screen not responding so I shut it off. After that it seems to boot up only once every 20 or so times. What happens after I press the power button: The laptop starts booting but doesn't get to the dell startup screen, after a while (after booting 3-4 times unsuccessfully) the fans even start spinning but the screen stays black and the hard drive light indicates that the drive isn't working.
LED Lights: The first light turns on, the second light turns on for a second or two (indicating hard drive starting to boot up) but then the light turns off and the computer is still running, but nothing happens. The third light is fine, there is no problem with the battery or the power supply.
I've tried reseating the hard drive, the RAM, removing one stick, then the other etc. and nothing works. The strangest thing is sometimes (very rarely) it does work, so far it booted up 4-5 times (if it gets to the DELL startup screen it's fine), but the rest 85 times it didn't .
I have a 1525 laptop that wants to stay awake most of the time. I have it set to hibernate when the cover closes. It behaves most of the time, but occasionally it decides to restart instead of hibernating. When it's acting up, it will do the restart if you try to put it in hibernation, sleep or if you try to shut it down. The only way to kill the thing is to do a hard shutdown using the power button. It's annoying to say the least, since you can't just close it and walk away. If it restarts with the cover closed, it gets way too hot.
I have recently upgraded my Studio 1735 from Vista 32 to Windows 7 64bit. All has been fine for a couple of months, but suddenly when the machine hibernates it reboots showing dell media centre. How I get my machine to hibernate properly?
Wireless network is deactivated by hp connection manager after hibernating, sleep and sometimes when I use the computer. I can't see any preferences in HP Connection Manager to correct this, or in Windows power management. Â What is the solution to keep the wireless network activated ALL THE TIME?? Â Uinstall of the HP Connection Manager doesn't work, then I can't activate the wireless network again! Â My computer:HP ProBook 4530s (brand new) Windows 7 Pro (included with the computer) Â No other power or wireless utilities installed, just HP utilities as installed from the factory.
I've just ordered M6400 with an Anit-glare RGB LED screen.
Could You give me a hint how to check that I recived correct version. (I chosed this screen as it was recommended by many people and never saw it on my own eyes)
Has anyone successfully calibrated the RGB LED screen on the M6400 Covet using a colorimeter?
I have a Pantone Huey Pro and I'm getting really bad results after calibration (washed out colors, greenish cast). After about 2 months of back and forth with Pantone they have told me that "maybe" my colorimeter doesn't have enough range for a screen with such a wide gamut.
The "maybe" part, which suggests they don't even know their own product, is what I find unbelievable
This is driving me crazy. The left rubber bumper on the keyboard deck of my m6400 keeps coming off. I called dell and they ended up replacing the entire deck just to replace this one little rubber piece and it just ended up coming off again.
I really don't want to call dell and set up a service call just to replace this one little piece. The last time I did the tech completely disassembled my laptop and it took him 3 reassembly attempts to get it to boot,
but I'm worried the my screen will get cracked if I don't (I have the covet with the glass screen). Seems like a really bad design.
i am aware that there is a lengthy thread on the owners of the m6400 and even a shorter thread on the crashes of the m6400 while gaming, namely wow and others...
i've recently purchased an m6400 and i too have become a victim of this issue.
until recently, i've no quarrels with Dell, i've purchased mostly Dell systems for my business, over 20 or so systems to date... and they have been doing well for my uses.
but the frustration with the m6400 is begining to wear down on me.
i make this thread and hope that someone from Dell becomes more aware of the situation.
it seems that the m6400 with the 3700 graphics card has brought many woes to owners who utilizes any program that uses 3D accelerator... in my brief review of the threads here, it seems that the only resolution is like playing a lottery... get the card replaced... and see if it works, if not, repeat... some works after one, some after numerous replacements.
it also seems that this issue is not related only to games such as WoW or FFIX or Guild wars, there's been issues reported with Google Earth, as reported by fellow NBR members, SolidWorks, and by other dell users who have responded to my post on their "support" or rather, "support-less" forums...
now firstly, i am not bashing on dell... as a matter of fact, i have nothing but praise for their service department on the business machines... they've been quite responsive and the quality of service is excellent... just that the resolution of the problem is very disappointing to say the least.
in my experience, the crashes happen most frequently during WoW and also happened while i was installing a program and even in google earth... but it was very random... i'm sure it's basic tech service procedure to have me check external monitor, fine, then they asked me to reseat the LCD cable.. hmm... i'm being asked to go inside my computer?
i've asked them if it will void warranty if i do this... answer is no... but i still felt that ANY customer should not have to disassemble their machines to make it work...
well, they scheduled a repair, replaced the graphics card and now... it's more frequent.
on a side note, i have to say, dell pretty much sucked on the packaging of the replacement card... the fins were pretty dented on 3 locations... seems that the packaging failed to hold the card in place.
well, as i was saying, it fails more frequently... so far, it failed over 10 times... in frustration, i don't even check the machine... and resorted to using my old one.
now i'm scheduled for yet another replacement... i hope for the best as i am really pleased with all of the other aspects of the machine... except, of course, the power brick... who can have any love for such a big ugly thing?
i am contemplating a requesting a full refund or even asking to replace the quador 3700 to the new ATI card...
but in the end... it's definitely not what i have paid good money for...
the resolution is pathetic... try and let's see? now i have to take off another day off work and schedule an appointment with the tech...
wonder if dell is going to reimburse me for my use of personal day? wonder if i can charge dell my regular hourly wage when i perform these tasks...
anyway, next week, new card... new hopes? well... let's see...
and as for those who ask... why did you get a workstation lappy and complain it does not game well?... it's not really just a gaming issue... any machine purchased by the end consumer should come as a full working order for the ENTIRE package... fine, show me the disclaimer that says, you cannot game on this machine... and i'll stay quiet...
what do you guys think? should i request for refund or request for the ATI card?
***I should also note that some of the close screen shots are a little blurry. I wasnt using a camera stand and taking shots with no flash. So like in the sunset shot, dont compare resolution cause the m6400 pic looks blurrier than the 9100 pic. Just compare color and brightness. Sorry, I just noticed this hours later *
Ok, Ive taken some side by side pics. Old laptop, Dell 9100 15" about 4.5 years old. New Laptop - M6400 Covet
As you can see, for me at least, buying this 17" isnt much bigger than the 15" Im used to. Ok, yeah. I wish the power supply wasnt so big but I will still carry this daily with me to work.
I have a backpack by Spire that I LOVE. They make a sleeve that fits this laptop fine and though the backpack I bought isnt SUPPOSED to fit that big of a sleeve, it actually works.
I highly recommend Spire backpacks. My old one for the 9100 has been carried almost Daily for over 4 years with good weight in it and it still really seems like new esp in the strength department.
I am no expert in video card and monitor stuff as Im an audio guy, so I havent tweaked anything with these screens. They are just both set to highest brightness level and as they came. Im not sure how "fair" it is to compare these since one is an LED screen and one is not and right there, you should expect one to be "colder" and one "warmer".
The LED on the m6400 is definately more saturated with color and way brighter. In whites, my old one looks a bit yellowish though it doesnt really show on the pics.
I tried to so some comparison glossy vs matte (9100) screen. Yep, the Covet is glossy as it IS glass after all, but nope, it doesnt bother me a bit. My first glossy screen too.
I tried to show the screen at angles but both these screens seem to have a wide angle range for viewing.
17" UltraSharp™ WXGA+ (1440x900) LCD Display NVIDIA Quadro FX 2700M, 512MB Discrete Windows XP Pro
I got my Dell M6400 in about 10 days ago and immediately noticed a bluish/purplish tint in the grays. I compared it to my other two laptops and several desktops and it is definitely off. I connected my desktop monitor to the video out on the M6400 and it looks like it is suppose to.
After trying about everything possible, I contacted support and they immediately sent someone out to replace the LCD. The tech noticed it as well and agreed that it was not (or at least should not) be normal. I have never seen a screen do this before.
At any rate... Dell is sending me a new machine, but I am worried that this might be something that is inherent with this video card and LG screen combination.
I simply cannot imagine this being inherent and Dell allowing laptops to go out with the problem. I can't even imagine how they could have tested the screen and not noticed the problem.
Yup me again, in my hunt to determine if M6400 is right for me as it costs just about as much as a used car, I want to make sure its a good investment before I buy it.
What is the main difference with the M6400 and the M6400 Covet?
I configured both with the same specs and the Covet is about $900 more in price?
I guess I'm about to get a mobile workstation. I already got an M90 it is great. Only one dead/stuck pixel and the front panel silver button paint came off in a few month of usage.
But I love it. So I am thinking of getting an M6400. Can you back me up on this one..?? Please if you own one tell me the pros and cons.. Have you noticed any Dead/stuck pixels.
What about built quality, feel, comfort, performance, heat, cooling, fan noise, screen quality ( thinking of LEG or RGB LED)..
Any creeking noise while opening the lid or holding or working on the laptop?? Any thing you can tell me about this beast of a machine will be a great help for me indeed
2 Intel X25-M 80GB SSD drives will be replacing those 80GB's.
First - my first thoughts are that this system is Fantastic!
The screen is great - its an LG, fantastic colors, no dead pixels. Typical viewing angles for non LED screen, not great, but not noticeably bad either.
No noticeable bleeding, no graininess - very happy with the screen.
Ran 3Dmark 06 (1280x800, stock drivers) - 11,619
GPU temp was around 80 C - not bad at all.
So far, very happy. Putting the SSD ddrives in now - will post more thoughts as I do more. Will post pics ASAP.
Update 1: 2 80GB SSDs are in place - this has Intel's Matrix Storage which allows the creation of one RAID1 volume (which I will use for valuable data) and a RAID0 volume for the rest of the space - this is very nice - get the benefits of both types of RAID in one system!
Update 2: The power brick is completely absurd. Its HUGE - 210W. The good news is that I plugged in a 130W from a M4400 and although I get the popup about the AC adapter not being at least 150W, it does charge the battery and allow the system to run. To me, this is an acceptable alternative to lugging around the giant brick, at least for most things on the road - Later on, I will test the system with this adapter and see what kind of slowdown is caused.
Pics:
RAID Setup:
Next to a M4400 (that I believe I'll be returning very shortly):
Next to an older E1705 - these are virtually the exact same size - its astounding what new tech can cram into the same space
Whilst working away at my desk, M6400 docked it just powered down.
Pressing the power button causes it (the power button) to light briefly and then go out. Pressing FN+Power (as requested by Dell Tech) does nothing at all.
I've tried it with another PSU (I got 2, one with M6400, other with docking station) - and if you plug the PSU in, and then hit power on the laptop - the blue light on the PSU goes out - and doesn't come back on till the power is cycled. The M6400 does nothing during all of this.
The PSUs work just fine with my D820.
Dell techs are coming tomorrow to fix it. I'll let you know what they say!
I've just bought a refurbished M6400. It comes with no preinstalled OS. I have a dell install disk for Windows XP SP2. Is it ok to install this on my M6400? I will then update to SP3 over the web.
I guess i will also need to install drivers for the graphics card, etc etc.
Please let me know if you have any advice and pitfalls to watch out for.
I'm also considering adding a second hard drive. What drive specification do i need?
I recently noticed that you can not configure a 64bit covet any more, which results in not being able to configure more than 4GB Ram. Also, the covet has only a few specified configurations that are allowed.
Is there an issue with the 64bit? Anyone know why Dell removed the 64bit options?
Heard that ATI FirePro M7740 is coming to M6400 soon (no pricing available yet). This card is already mentioned on dell's official M6400 covet tech spec: