Latitude E6400 Owner's Lounge

Hi, I have been having a problem with jerky music and have tried everything. I finally took it to a shop and all they did was replace the power supply! I works great now, I feel bad that I didn't take it in when it started.

 

Took it to a shop? Wouldn't this have been covered under warranty? There's not an E6400 out there that's out of warranty...

 

Yeaa.. I mean what the heck, you have a 24/7 tech guy that comes to your place when you want at the time you want, for 3 years (well for me, that the minimum I can get). And Dell is ready to completely replace your system (I am on my fourth one... this one looks like the good one), and you go to a shop do get it done?!?! What where you thinking!!!

 

Hi GKDesigns, thanks for your answer. Do you think it will work with a vga to s-video adaptor like this one ? It says that it wouldn't work if the vga port has no tv-out capability, I don't know if the e6400 has this feature. Or maybe I can use DisplayPort to dvi and then dvi to s-video/rca (if it exists, I can only find the adapter for mac)?

 

Display port doesn't output an analogue signal. S-Video is analogue. That s why you have a a VGA port because you cannot convert with a simple adapter digital to analogue. Not what is available today, that is.
You will need a box or compatible screen with DVI, HDMI, or Display port. (or VGA if you use the VGA port on your laptop)

 

The issue is not so much getting the wiring to match up... it's the signal conversion that matters. My E6400 nVidia GPU does not have 'TV Out' so it would need a black box inbetween of some sort. The digital DisplayPort would need a black box that outputs an analog signal for your TV... perhaps a modern A/V receiver with DisplayPort IN and S-Video or Composite Video OUT... but that would not be cheap.

IMO, PC on CRT TV never looks very good, so I would not invest much in this project.

GK

 

Further to 'recommeded' WUs causing the E6400 to BSOD, I tried the first one today and can confirm that it indeed caused a BSOD upon restart... had to use the automatic 'restart repair' option to 'system restore' which recovered. Details:

Update for Windows Vista for x64-based Systems (KB957200)
Installation date: ‎12/‎17/‎2008 11:37 AM
Installation status: Failed
Error details: Code 80242016
Update type: Recommended NOT!
This is a reliability update. This update resolves some performance and reliability issues in Windows Vista. By applying this update, you can achieve better performance and responsiveness in various scenarios. After you install this item, you may have to restart your computer. This update is provided to you and licensed under the Windows Vista License Terms.

The only drivers I have updated are the audio and touchpad via Dell, and webcam via WU.

In conclusion, the only 'improved responsiveness' this update affected was Vista's crash and recovery functions!

Given my specs, I would avoid KB957200.

Update: I notice that system restore uninstalled Encarta 2003... hmmm... I guess I'll leave that off and wonder about this all. How did KB957200 work out for your comparable E6400?

GK

 

I'll try this on my e6400 x64 bit to verify the bluescreen. If I'm able to re-pro this, I'll let the owners of KB957200 aware of this issue.
Thanks.

 

http://www.westfloridacomponents.com/HW073/Self-Adhesive+Rubber+Feet+Cylindrical+L+Thin+Bumpers.html

I found these rubber bumpers to protect the lcd bezel. I haven't ordered them yet but can someone confirm that these are thin/thick enough? 3mm?

Thanks,

 

by FAR the best option here is something that just became available recently (ive been griping about not being able to output to TV on my d820 for years). get this guy : http://www.monoprice.com/products/p...=10114&cs_id=1011407&p_id=4724&seq=1&format=2 ) cheap, portable, works like a charm! i would also suggest throwing in one of these guys http://www.monoprice.com/products/p...d=10218&cs_id=1021804&p_id=666&seq=1&format=2 for 51 more cents.

and for those of whom who complain and say lower resolution, etc., BUT OF COURSE! but when you don't own an HDTV, and your friends dont, you make do with what you've got. the above solution works perfectly, is totally mobile, and does both NTSC/PAL. i highly suggest it to anyone with a legacy SDTV they want to use.

it should be noted that NO other option will work besides an active signal converter (no displayport to etc. (because its all digital, if you put a cable on that takes it to vga, nothing will show.)). if anyone has any questions on it, let me know -- it should work on ANY card with VGA output (works great on my e6500/nvidia 160)