After several problems with booting, I had my Precision m4400 serviced by Dell. Just in case, both the mainboard and the processor were replaced (I also had my LCD replaced at some time due to inversion issues).
When I looked at Device Manager and dxdiag, both told me that I had a Quadro FX 1700M (my system is supposed to have the 770M). In addition, the viewing angles on my LCD became rather restrictive compared to the previous screens before they started failing.
I keep reading in this thread about Dell's no questions asked 21 day return policy. Dell.com is stating returns will have a 15% restocking fee in addition to shipping charges.
I'm assuming this does not apply if there is a problem with the system. However, if it's under warranty, won't they just send a tech out instead of accepting the return?
Has anyone completed a return with the last month or so? If so, can you let us know how it went?
So as far as I know fan behavior can be determined or changed via the following:
1) The bios determines behavior and it can be changed if the bios supports such features 2) Through software that can monitor and change fan behavior such as SpeedFan. 3) Through hardware such as a fan controller, where the user can control the voltage that reaches a fan, thus the speed.
I recently changed my heatsink/fan unit on my M1530 and the fan does this annoying "speed up cool down and stop then heat up" cycle rather than retain a constant temperature.
I dont want the 10C cool/heat cycles to constantly wear down my components. Someone told me that the fan on my old heatsink/fan unit would not have variable speeds like that and retain a constant temperature and speed.
I can not tell from the past as the heatsink was terrible and the temperatures where always high (thus the fan was constantly going full blast).
I just bought a brand new computer. Started it up and the mouse pad is working intermittently! Sometimes I'll try dragging over to click an icon and it freezes! Is there a problem with the computer? I'll shut down and it will work fine for an hour, then quit working, or move very slowly. I changed all the settings for the mouse pad and still doesn't work correctly.
I recently changed the motherboard on my Dell XPS M1710. After the first startup if actually got to the password login page. I then restarted but is hung on the Dells splash screen and froze (fans etc. are on) I did a full systems diagnostics and its metioned a memory error in DIMM slot A. I installed 2 new memory sticks. And re-ran the diagnostics which found no problems. I tried pushing the power button down, changing the CMOS battery etc but no luck. So I have a diagnostics programme telling me everything is working but I still cant get past dell spalsh screen. I also tried reinstalling windows, but it also hangs after starting. I can get into BIOS screem. but it wont let me change to 'Factory Default'
I just bought a new battery (90 Whr) for my Dell Inspiron N5010 as the original one had reached the end of it's life. I put the new battery in, charged it fully, and when I turned my laptop on the window colors were changed to blue and when I go into the personalization screen it won't let me change back to the settings I had before. Also I used to be able to preview the windows I had open by hovering over the icon in the task bar now it just shows a blue bar with the page title and when I hover over it nothing happens. I hover over the right side of the task bar to show desktop and nothing happens. What I wan't to know is how come the battery changed all this and how do I get things back the way I had them?
i've just got the XPS13 9343 Ultrabook, and installed my Win7 Pro X64 for better compitibility with the macros i have to work with.
after installing every driver i could download from DELL Support site, i find that the gesture function of the touchpad could not work. i can see the options could be turned on visually, but it doesn't work.
what's more, if i go back to check to options after i closed the touchpad settings window, the options still unchecked.
This is on a HDX16 running Vista Home Premium SP1. The maximum/normal resolution is 1920x1080, but that was alittle small so I changed it to 1360x768. Now all the text (really everything) looks out of focus.
Relatively soon after a Windows Update (Vista), my screen blacked out and the resolution changed from 1920x1200 to something like 800x600. After restarting the notebook, everything seemed to be back to normal, except my graphics card (GeForce 8800M GTX x 2) wasn't working, and upon looking in the device manager, it said the device wasn't working (code 43).
So, I tried uninstalling drivers/reinstalling drivers, etc. and nothing seemed to work. And now something I've done has made the main VGA drivers or whatever not work, and all I see is a big black screen on startup (but the mouse icon is on the screen and can move around).
The original hdd was stopped functioning on my aspire v5-431. I try to put in other laptop but wont spin at all. The laptop was preinstalled with Windows 8 UEFI and safe boot on or something like that and gpt partition i guess and now i can not boot or enter in bios, how to flash bios or to install on this new hdd windows 8.
I tried everything from removing the motherboard batteryto boot from usb with bios file and Crisis files and nothing. The f2 button doesn't work and acer crisis recovery ask for wph file format and i just have rom file format.
My note book brightness controls are not working ever since I've upgraded my machine to windows 8.1
Product name: HP Pavilion dv6 Notebook PC Windows 8.1 Pro 64-bit Product number: A7P25EA#ABV  Display driver : AMD Radeon HD 6700M Series and Intel(R) HD Graphics 3000 AMD Driver version: 14.100.0.0 (17/04/2014) Intel Driver version: 9.0.0.0 (15/08/2012)  I started using my laptop on a slightly darker room in the last few days and now its giving me headaches since I cannot reduce the brightness.
ok upgraded to win8 worjed for a long time but then i accidet changed path in advanced system setting. What is the C: right path please it wont let me login i login and then it says sighing out....
I had  1GB & 2GB rams working fine in the SL510,  windows 7 Profession, 62-bit, 320 GB drive. SL510 62-bit can take up to 8GB ram.
I replaced the 1GB Â by Samsung with a Hynix 4GB. Â At Crucial they give specs that are replacable for existing ram. Â I notice one number is different. Â The original Samsung says PC3 -10600, and the new Hynix says PC3-12800. Â The 12800 was given by crucial as part of the replacement numbers for the SL510. Â I bought at EBay used. Â Anyway, I bootup and a blank, black screen results. Â I hear laptop running. Â I forced closed it and re-started again. Â Same...black screen as I hear laptop running. Â Also, is there a certain order for rams to be installed? Â Originally, the 1GB ram was first, and the 2GB was below. Â I installed the 4GB ram below and moved the 2GB to top first position. (in case I want to access the 2GB easily to upgrade with another 4GB)
Acer manual suggested password control can be changed in BIOS. I have Aspire E5-511P. The security page in BIOS does not work. I can scroll with arrows in other pages but nothing happens on Security page. Password at boot has Disabled but every boot asks for password. Is there a repair for BIOS? Also, the Support page on this site does not recognise my model of Aspire.
I have a Gateway NE71B a friend gave me and it has Windows 8 installed. I had to do some repair to it after a drink was spilled into it but I cleaned it out and its been fine, sorta...  Resuming from sleep doesn't work. It is just black. I have to shutit down and that works fine. It appears that a BIOS upgrade is needed and I downloaded the latest BIOS and tried to update it. It uses some 'InsideH2O' update app. Well it goes to reboot and when it tries to apply the BIOS, it keeps saying that it is an invalid firmware image. I've verifiedd that this is the correct BIOS file. I tried other BIOS versions and none will apply, always getting the error. I've researched the utility, extracted the config and BIOS. I'm tempted to tell it to write without verify (its that fustrating).  One option, that seems to saved most people is to disable Secure Boot. No matter what, I cannot do this. It never saves. I followed the official steps of powering off, then power on, set the admin password, disable Secure Boot, save and exit. Secure Boot always stays enabled. I've tried probably 30 times, 10 different ways and it just won't stick. I also noticed that I cannot change other settings in the BIOS. I can set some to a different value but they always revert back. I cannot get the function keys setting to stay on Function Keys. It always defaults back to Special Keys after reboot. Same thing goes with enabling F12 for boot menu.  I've tried removing the coin battery, which has a charge, shorting out the contacts holding it for about a minute, removed power battery and power cable, letting it sit but still no good. I've also tried removing the hard drive. Where is the BIOS data being stored and can it be wiped?  I've been considering getting an Acer laptop but this is starting to steer me away. Definately not getting a Gateway.
Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T9600 (2.8GHz/1066Mhz FSB/6MB cache) The only option Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium Edition SP1, 64-Bit 3 yr In-home Service after remote diagnosis + Complete Care+LoJack No one year options 15.6” Full High Definition (1080p) High Brightness LED Display with TrueLife™ and Camera/Facial Reco 4GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 at 800MHz Only option Size: 500GB SATA Hard Drive (5400RPM) Only option McAfee 36 month Forced to get
I just recently bought a XPS 1640, and I am wondering if I have chosen the right hardware for the laptop. I'm a college freshman, so I need a long lasting laptop with good battery life and hard drive space.
Here are the specs:
Intel Core 2 Duo P8700(2.53GHz/1066Mhz FSB/3M L2 Cache) 4GB, DDR3, 1067 MHz 2 Dimm for XPS 1640 15.6 inch Wide Screen 16:9 900p HD+ WLED LCD W/2.0MP, XPS 1640 ATI Mobility RADEON M96XT - 1GB 320GB 7200 RPM SATA Hard Drive Intel 5100 Wireless-N (1x2) Half Mini-Card 56 WHr 6-cell Lithium Ion P Primary Battery
Is this a good combination of hardware? I know a TAD bit about computers, but not any in depth stuff.
I've been checking out dell notebooks and using their system builder for the past few days. And every time I configure a system there's always something different in their config options. Mind you, sometimes this is with the same exact model.
For example, I will customize a Studio 15 and it will let me select the "No security software" option, which is nice because I hate bloatware. But then I will try again in an hour or two and that option will be gone and I'll be forced to choose the Mcafee trial.
I am in the process of ordering a new e6500. I have been reading through the forum for the last week and I came to the following configuration but would like to clarify a couple of questions.
Just an idea of what laptops I have, I am using Latitude D610, Latitude D620, Thinkpad T60. This might give you an idea of what I am used to. I find T60 is the best overall, D620 very mobile but slow, D610 ok and stable.
Here is what I am thinking for the e6500.
Latitude E6500 Intel® Core™ 2 Duo P8600 (2.40GHz, 3M L2 Cache, 1066MHz FSB) Operating Systems Genuine Windows Vista Business Bonus-Windows XP Professional downgrade Memory 4.0GB, DDR2-800 SDRAM, 2 DIMMS Internal Keyboard Internal English Backlit Keyboard Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD 250GB Hard Drive, 7200RPM with Free Fall Sensor No Fingerprint Reader 15.4” UltraSharp™ Wide WXGA+ (1440x900) LED Display-Brushed Metal Black Dell Wireless® 370 Bluetooth Module Modem Internal 56K Modem 8X DVD+/-RW w/Roxio and Cyberlink Power DVD™ Camera / Microphone Integrated Webcam with digital microphone Intel® WiFi Link 5300 802.11a/g/n Draft Mini Card Intel vPro™ Technology’s advanced mgmt features are Off for future use
This machine will be used mainly for the Internet and not so demanding applications.
Now,
1) What do you think overall? Any issues to watch for?
2) Should I go for the WUXGA? I have been reading about the small font but was not sure. My T60 is set to 1280x800
3) I read about HDD noise, should I downgrade to 5400 or maybe upgrade to SSD?
I’m about ready to buy my XPS 1530, but wanted to check with the forum to see if I’m making any big mistakes. I came up with the configuration because I always have tons of documents open at the same time & also have a lot of programs open at the same time. This includes more than one photo editing program & a video editing program. My hard disk is always going, swapping things out. So I wanted something that will really speed things up.
I also don’t have a TV so use my computer to watch DVD’s. Later on I plan to get a larger external monitor to make use of the Blu-ray drive. My configuration follows. Let me know if I’m missing anything.
Also, I had a few minor questions.
I’m going to bite the bullet & get the 64 bit version of Vista. Do I also get the 32 bit DVD so I can use that if 64 doesn’t work for me?
I’m thinking of getting the LED screen. Is it worth the extra cost? Any downside?
I’m getting Dell wireless N. Is that the best?
I’m getting Dell Wireless 355 Bluetooth Internal (2.0+Enhanced Data Rate) since it’s not that much more, but I don’t know what it is.
I was just on the Dell site and noticed that some configuration options for the XPS M1730 have changed...for instance it doesn't come with Blu-ray by default anymore and you can't select a single hard drive option. Before I was able to select a "200GB SATA Hard Drive (7200RPM)" but I don't see that as an option anymore. The equivalent seems to be the "RAID Performance: 400GB (2x200GB) 7200RPM". Do you think it is RAID-0 or RAID-1?
Also do you think they will bring back the old choices or can I request them? Also what do these changes in configuration usually mean...did they find that the original configuration was causing problems?
Finally with the two SLI 8700 NVIDIA cards...is SLI enabled by default or will Dell have to release drivers for them? I thought on the Alienware website, when customizing a M9750, it said that you can purchase SLI but Vista doesn't support it yet and you will be e-mailed the drivers when available...so does Dell have the drivers already (or is SLI not enabled yet on the XPS M1730 either)?
Laptop still under warranty. I recently had a motherboard and HDD replacement. I wanted to install Windows myself, but the BIOS was set to UEFI, and I couldn't seem to boot off of a USB drive. So I switched it to Legacy, booted from the pendrive, and installed Windows just fine.  For whatever reason, I went back to try and change the setting to UEFI. Now the laptop switches on, but refuses to boot. I get a black screen, with no logo or any prompt whatsoever to access the BIOS.Â
I read a bit and seems I need to remove the BIOS battery, let the memory clear itself to reset BIOS settings to default, and try again? If it matters, I re-installed Windows 7 64-bit.
Laptop still under warranty.  I recently had a motherboard and HDD replacement. I wanted to install Windows myself, but the BIOS was set to UEFI, and I couldn't seem to boot off of a USB drive. So I switched it to Legacy, booted from the pendrive, and installed Windows just fine.
I went back to try and change the setting to UEFI. Now the laptop switches on, but refuses to boot. I get a black screen, with no logo or any prompt whatsoever to access the BIOS.  I read a bit and seems I need to remove the BIOS battery, let the memory clear itself to reset BIOS settings to default, and try again? I re-installed Windows 7 64-bit.
Any other difference other than turbo? For my uses I really don't see where turbo is going to be beneficial. My most demanding task is encoding where all four cores are going to be used so turbo will be moot. Anything I am missing here? I don't do enough encoding to justify the i7, IMHO day to day performance will be better with the higher clocked 1i3/i5. $75 difference.
IGP vs. Dedicated
No gaming so no dedicated card needed? One thing I am really liking with my current rig is the nvidia GPU with flash 10.1 enabling support for it. If I am understanding this correctly the GMA4500 is supported so it should be fine. Main thing is HD youtube videos, I noticed a tremendous difference once I installed the beta. $110 difference.
I've noticed the improvements are relevant but not as big as I expected, I think with normal HD the RAID0 performance will be much better than a single HD drive, any experience using SSD in RAID0 configuration
