Dell latitude E6520 crashes upon sleep mode

I've posted this question in short in the E6520 owner's thread, but since it's a very specific question I'll start a new thread, so the owner's thread doesn't get cluttered up with one specific issue.

My Dell latitude E6520 crashes AFTER trying to wake up from a sleep mode:

I've reinstalled my pc with the resource dvd that came with the laptop. I've downloaded the most recent drivers from the dell website and tried to figure out from which point on the sleep function was available in the windows 7 start menu (previously full factory installation, nor reinstallation with all drivers from dell had the same issues, including upgrade to service pack 1)

- clean win 7 install from resource dvd -

These are the drivers I installed in my last attempt (and in this order)

0 System Utilities - Dell Utilities - Dell_System-Software_A03_R282538
1 dotNetFx40_Full_x86_x64 (framework, needed for installation of 2)
2 System Utilities - Dell application - Feature enhancement pack DFEP - APP_WIN_R297563
3 Chipset - Intel Unified AMT 7 Management Interface Driver - File format windows update package - DRVR_WIN_R292087
4 Chipset - Intel Chipset Software Installation Utility - File format windows update package - DRVR_WIN_R293337
5 Chipset - Intel Identity Protection technology - Intel_Identity-Protection-Te_A00_R291735
6 Chipset - O2 Micro OZ600xxx memory card reader driver - File format windows update package - DRVR_WIN_R300787
7 Chipset - USB 3.0 Driver & MON Uitility - File format hard drive - NEC_USB-3-0_A01_R292027
8 DPP - ControlVault Driver - DELL_CONTROLVAULT_A08_R293626
9 Video - intel driver 20110407 Intel_multi-device_A07_R300875
10 Video - Nvidia Driver 20110318 VIDEO_DRVR_WIN_R297609

The first time the sleep function came available in Windows 7 was after installing the NVIDIA driver. I tried to put the computer in sleep mode and the same problems happens all over again: computer goes into sleep mode (blinking power button), but after pressing the power button to wake the system, laptop shuts down completely (screen does not light up, power led goes out), and restarts automatically going to the windows safe boot menu, saying 'system did not shut down correctly). If I put the laptop into sleeping mode (power led blinking), close down the lid, open up the lid, then the power led also goes out completely.

Event logs from Windows says (after trying to go into sleep mode)
Level critical - Kernel power (The system has rebooted without cleanly shutting down first. This error could be caused if the system stopped responding, crashed, or lost power unexpectedly.)

(power plan balanced, battery was fully charged, plugged to AC)

Can anyone tell me which drivers I should try to install after these listed? (as said I tried them all previously). My config is i7 720QM, 8GB ram, HD 500 GB, integrated webcam, backlit keyboard, additional Nvidia graphic card (resolution Full HD), no fingerprint reader, no out of band managment, 9 cell battery, standard wifi intel card, no modem.

BIOS settings have not been altered, apart from setting a system and admin password.

Could this be a hardware malfunction of somekind?

I posted a topic on the dell forum two days ago, but no response there. I'll try to contact the dell service desk later on, but I'm not really confident in finding a solution.

Really appreciate all your input.

 

I can only suggest you re-image and follow the device order Dell recommends in their re-image guide, which seems to be important up through the networking drivers. You can find a link to the E6410 re-image guide in my sig... perhaps there is one out for the E6520 but they are likely similar. The order is about like this... audio and video are near the beginning... sometimes the storage driver is done during the OS install via 'load drivers':

intel chipset
oem (Dell) system software
card slot
storage (SATA)
audio
video
chipset special (turboboost)
lan
security
wlan/wpan/wwan
input devices
oem special (freefall sensor)
modem
intel active management
oem system managers (DCP)

This listing has not been vetted against the E6520, but it's the general idea.

GK

 

Install A02 BIOS first

After checking your system, you don't have fingerprint nor bluetooth. This is what I recommend you install from Dell Driver support site...

Order (Latest 22/04/11):
Intel Rapid Storage Technology A07
Intel Chipset Software Installation Utility A02
Intel Unified AMT 7 Management Interface Driver A00
Intel GMA HD 3000 (NB) A07
nVidia NVS 4200M A01
Intel 825xx Gigabit Platform LAN Network Device A00
WiFi drivers
ST Microelectronics Free Fall Sensor A06
O2Micro OZ600XXX Memory Card A01
IDT 92HDxxx HD Audio A03
Dell Multi-Touch Touchpad A04
Dell ControlPoint System Manager A18


You don't need to install ControlVault Driver, as you got no fingerprint reader.

 

Is the FP driver in ControlVault or the new data access/protection package?

GK

 

It's in both, the ControlVault only just make the fingerprint reader recognise in device manager, and does nothing more.

You need all three module of Dell Data Protection Access, to use the fingerprint reader.

The Dell Access package is rather huge, the reason that Dell may have separated it was probably for people who got the fingerprint and don't use it at all.

Boot time without password 13 seconds, and Access protection on (fingerprint or password) 18 seconds. That's with a SSD..... not sure about HDD

 

I'll check it out later this evening. Thanks for the replies.

(I don't have SSD, but I do have the bluetooth module, I'll install that driver at the very end since it says so in the driver installation procedures).

 

Yup you can install bluetooth at the end, recommend you start again (reformat). That should work ..... have fun.

 

The only thing that remains uninstalled (according to device manager) after the previous list is "Broadcom USH" (other devices).
Haven't checked the sleep function at this moment.

 

The broadcom universal security hub gets enabled by the security driver(s), previously in the DCP Security Drivers package. I have always elected to not install these since I have little and use none of the security stuff. I right-click disable the USH in Device Manager. Both E6400 and E6410 sleep ok.

If your sleep issue is driver related, getting the base system drivers installed first, including audio and video, may fix a driver glitch. Also, when you install Windows, select 'ask me later' on the auto updates. Finish installing the Dell downloads before letting Windows Update have its way with your machine. Then when you first run WU, do any hardware device drivers first. If WU does offer a hardware driver, check it's version... you may already have a more recent version installed that WU does not know about... hide the WU offering so as not to install it. This is my approach with new hardware... which I tend to flip flop when working with old hardware, favoring WU over stale OEM downloads.

GK

 

Problem hasn't been solved. I'm convinced that it's a hardware malfunction since the factory installation had the exact same issues. I think I've reinstalled this laptop 6 times in two weeks just to get the sleep function working.
Dell can have a look at it, I'm returning it. Anyway thanks for all your input!