Latitude E6400 Owner's Lounge

Hi All,

Just received my e6400 the other day. I have noticed that there is a constant slowing down of the computer, sort of fast, then slow, fast, slow.... I am guessing that it is a driver and I ran the DPC latency checker, which also suggested a driver. Well, any ideas on which one? I was hoping that you all could sort of guide me to the right path quicker than I could uninstall then reinstall the dell drivers.

I have a T9550 with the nvidia drivers, Dell 5530 cell modem and Intel 5300 wireless, and dell bluetooth. I tried uninstalling the dell touchpad drivers, but not much improvement.

I am sort of guessing that it is the Dell Control point, but what is the recommended way of managing the "features" of the computer without it? i am starting to miss Quickset....

I also have a dell port replicator and sometimes it seems to get confused weather to send the video to the external monitor or not.

Thanks for any help.
Chris

 

Chris, everything you told us is pretty interesting but not helpful.
Let me help you out!

While you have this fast/slow/fast/slow, can you see with a software the CPU speed. The software I recommend (shareware, but has a trial version and should be good enough) Lavalys Everest (http://www.lavalys.com/products.php?ps=UE&lang=en&page=48) [look under Computer > overclock), and tell us the system speed. Is the speed slowing down and up, EVEN when you run an application that uses the CPU contently (remember that your CPU and GPU slowdown when your computer is idle, so don't freak out if you see your CPU at ~800MHz)

Also if your computer in High Performance or balance mode? What OS are you using? Did you install any software? if yes, which one? Didi you tweak Windows? If so what did you do?

Using the above software, look a the sensors section to know your temperature, what do you have? Does is fluctuate a lot (like +-10C up/down fast)? Do you have any device attached to your laptop?

 

Is there enough room to install both a SSD (16gb 2.5") and a HD (160GB 7200rpm) into the e6400? Integrated GFX

 

I saw some enclosures for thin optical drives to replace the optical drive with a SATA/SATA-II HDD or SSD.
If you need 2 storage drive, this might be something to look at. Call Dell for information on such thing, else call Lenovo, as I think I saw something like this for their laptop (optical drive is standardized, so it should work fine).
But using the storage device tray, no. Because, not only you don't have space (laptop too thin), but you have 1 SATA-II port inside... for 1 storage device.

A quick google serach for you to understand what I mean:
something like this:

(but that is wrong size...this is for the traditional thick laptop optical drive, you want slim and SATA and not IDE)

 

Thanks, I'll look into that.

 

GoodBytes,
Thanks for the reply. I basically took it out of the box, it is running Vista Business. I have installed Sophos AV, and I work in Remedy a bit. I did no tweaking - I did do the updates to the latest dell CP software and 5530 software.

I see the CPU speed fluctuating, as I would expect, but what I see is just the fact of moving the mouse will all of a sudden slow down, windows will slow down while dragging, etc. This all happens while plugged in and the cpu is between 2 - 2.6. The system is set for Dell recommended. The
temp is about 45 - 52 Deg, Celsius.

Any other things I should check?

Chris

 

Great info! And thanks. It's your A/V at 99%.

If you have a system that you use to do your downloads, and you know what you download on your laptop, and understand how the UAC (User Account Control) works in Vista, then you really don't need a A/V. I am A/V free since Vista is on my computers. OK I lied, I do have AVG, but it's totally turned off (including service), and run I run it myself every now and then just to make sure (so far nothing). This A/V setup is on my desktop and I downlaod everything that I don't really trust the source.

If you run a picture, music file, of video and it requires real Admin privileges (UAC prompt) you know that is not normal and probably a virus that wants access to your system files. So, a nice click on the "Cancel" button the application is killed. In fact... I lied again, when you get the prompt, the application has not started yet. You see every program that requires admin privileges, must have the name "install" or "setup" in the name OR have a manifest file included in the exe, which is read before the CPU even execute any instructions from the application. This manifest file tell Windows if the application needs admin or not. If no manifest file is found, no admin rights is given.
This manifest file can ONLY be in executable files.

So if you run a virus infected video file, let's say. Then it will stand there and do nothing at all, as it needs real admin privileges to write/modify anything in Program Files, Start Menu, several areas from your profile such as settings, System files, and more.

 

Details of the 2.5" bay HDD module are in this thread.

Alternatively, eSATA provides the ability to have an external HDD running as fast as it would internally.

Vista also does a lot of housekeeping over the first few days.

The best way forward is to leave the computer on overnight to do a full AV scan and give Vista time to sort itself out. I would not remove the AV software and rely on UAC.

Should you see any more slowdowns then the easiest way to see what is hogging the CPU is to look at the processes tab in Task Manager.

John

 

Your advice to not use antivirus software on one system provided you overly monitor and restrict your use of that system and use another system that does use antivirus software whenever you are not sure or are suspicious... is absolutely ridiculous advice. I would rep you down if I could.

GK

 

Why? I don't know about you, but this way I have a fast booting, starting system, super responsive and longer battery life. Virus don't magically appear on a system. When using the wireless or wired connection you are behind a router, you have a good firewall and Windows defender for spyware.. so really nothing gets magically placed. Now if you do all your download from untrusted sites, and "private download" on this system, then yea sure I highly recommend you do have a A/V software. But else it's useless.
I mean what, Microsoft update will contain viruses? Please...

You are probably over scared with the all the media buzz (reminds of the swine flu official killed 1 person in US) where the normal flu kills thousand in the US alone each year... nice...).

CDC:
http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/update.htm

Reminds me of this also:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfIjEz1cvt8
anyway,

UAC is not just some software running above the OS, it's part of the kernel. Unless you diminish its level (in Win7), you are safe. Again, its at the kernel level, there is no work around. The system concept and how it's applied is the same (to a certain extent) than in Linux. Was that one passed over? Unless the user allow a malware program admin privileges, then no.

Again, let's say by accident you click on "Continue" at the User Account Prompt by accident, and you know it's a virus. All you have to do is restore your system back in time (which doesn't affect your personal files), and your set. If the malware let's say damaged the system restore points, then restore from image your system (unless you don't do daily backups... but that that is a different story).

And again, you have a A/V software that you manually run, and just scan every file you download, if you are that scared. Anyway. I guess it's a question of perspective of things in live.. or maybe because watch little TV and don't read CNN, who knows.