Latitude E6400 Owner's Lounge

Actually, I think the problem is gone now, though I have only tested twice after resetting the bios password.


But for future reference I would like to know how to look at the event viewer. Where do system state changes and their related logs stored? Under "Windows Log" there are 5 sub categories: App, Security, Setup, System and Forwarded Events. When I look under "System", there are no specific mention of state changes, just that there are no entries for the duration of when I put the PC to Suspend and the time I discovered it was on.

 

Either right click on the My Computer icon and select Manage > Event Viewer or Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Event Viewer.

Then select System. There are innumerable entries there but some are warnings or errors. One look at the log files reveals why HDDs rarely power down - there is too much log writing.

John

 

Wait, so as a general question, is everyone here happy with their latitude E6400? (I am seriously thinking of buying one.)

 

I only just got mine the other day, but i'm happy so far. its my first laptop though so i don't have much to compare too. my only regret is getting 32 bit vista instead of 64, because now i cant use all of my 4GB installed RAM


side note: anyone know how to turn off the volume notification? its annoying that when your in a game it has to exit to the desktop to show you the bar...

 

You can request to get a 64 bit version of Vista if you call Dell. There's no guarantee that you'll receive one, but if you make a case that you really need it, then there's no reason why they won't send you a copy.

Also, only the newer version of the DCP make you exit to the desktop to make volume/backlight changes. If you can find an older copy, like on your original driver's disk, you can use those instead.

 

I personally find this laptop FREAKING AWESOME! But that is just me. This laptop fit my need perfectly.
- Quiet operation (this include keyboard, mouse buttons)
- Powerful system, that can support light gaming/CAD. And the Nvidia solution allows for great overclokability when system is plug-in. System handles the heat perfectly, which can run bigger games (or more CAD).
- Long battery life.
- Matte screen
- Latest technologies. Well "latest" is a term that quickly disappears, but you will be assured that you will have nothing old in it, all designed to run beautifully and smooth under Vista 64-bit and Win7 64-bit.
- Sturdy machine (metal base, lid and hinges which is a solid block of metal).
- Great customer service!
- Next buisness day on site service is excellent and is worth every penny (as this assures that you always have your system in hand even if replacement (you never know))

Now every system has it's downsides, without exception.
For instance, the new MacBook Pro 13inch with is a very competitive over this laptop, is a mini project to have Windows on, 1 button mouse, but more importantly can't change the battery, and glossy screen. Name 1 laptop and it has at least 1 downside. You can't get away from that.

This laptop biggest problem is aesthetic, the screen frame will get scratch (ie: get soften), where even the pads will leave permanent marks on the screen, as the 2 pads are perhaps of "bad" material and not high enough. I got my system in November, so I don't know if this is fixed or not, right now. So yea... it's minor, it's cosmetic. Personally I prefer to have that then any internal level problem or actual build quality at play.

So here is my personal quick run up:

Up's
- Solid Build
- Powerful system
- Manages heat very well
- 64-bit ready and Win7 ready
- Great service
- long battery life for the 6 or 9-cell
- Can, although I was not really expected that, gaming. yes it runs Crysis at med/low setting, and better once you overclock
- Slim... not MacBook Air slim, but sure is thinner than most fat laptop you see in store shelves
- Supports 2 PSU, 90W and 65W. System need 90W to operate, but if you forget your PSU at home and really need power (system will be slower and battery not recharge or recharge much slower (depends on your config), but at least you have power to use your system. If system is at sleep or off battery recharged normally.
- Backlit keyboard
- Proper keyboard layout.
- 1 mouse option
- high resolution (1440x900) LED backlit matte screen (so not reflective), and great for outdoors
- Easy self service with a 1 screw panel for full system access including CPU which is not soldered in (but not the GPU.. that one is soldered in).
- eSATA, VGA, Display Port.
- ambient light sensor
- Modular optical drive
- in Canada it's 3 years Warranty and 3 year next buisness day on site service, MINIMUM you can't go lower.
- CLEAN install. NO JUNK! All you have is the drivers, and PowerDVD (because Vista Buisness doesn't come with DVD codec), and Roxio.. well to burn DVD, but either is easy to uninstall. That is ALL!
- Vista OS disk is provided (clean disk, pre-activated special disks curtsy of Microsoft) including a recovery partition.

What else can you ask for?

Down's
- Internal speakers are not great.. sounds like tweeters but can be compensated a bit using the SRS feature of the sound card from the control panel.. but still bad. Personally, I expected those speakers, despite being my first laptop, at 100% as it's a buisness system and Dell system sized are a little smaller than the other brands
- aesthetic issue with the screen frame
- a little on heavy side, but personally I don't mind despite walking to university several times (45min walk), and the freaking bus doesn't come.


Additional notes
- Some users had bad luck and had heating system using the Nvidia GPU. But remember that usually when something works, it's talked about. And I think there was only 2 or 3 people here that had bad luck, and I think part of them took them from the outlet.
- All driver issue where solved and now everything works fine
- Some users had hibernation problems but that was because of the webcam.. it's a Creative, what do you expect. Or software related.
- Some users has a sleep system problem but it seams to be because they did something extra fancy with their system with BIOS level system startup password which can be rested by puling the internal battery out and doing a trick with the power button to reset it.
- Yes, Display port transfer video and Audio, YEs it's backward compatible to HDMI and DVI.
- non backlit keyboard is noisier
- Intel option is not bad if you don't plan to run any 3D of any kind.
- Next Buisness day onsite service allows you to keep your system while the new one arrives and switch them form the box and send the box back. New system received comes with a new battery and Power adapter. You can swap HDD, if that part is not damaged, to avoid a system re-install. The Nest Buisness day on site service works like this, you get to pick an appointment at the time you want and the buisness day you want starting the next buisness day from when the orderof a new part is placed. The person that comes to you is a real technician (from a contracted firm that offer businesses technical support).
- Because the LCD is matte you must understand that the textured film used (by the way, this is on ALL LCD that exists on this planet, and that is why the only LCD' you don't see this issue are very thick cost 1500$+ Canadian and used my professional) destroyed light, of course.. as it's texture to not reflect light. So, in result the view angle is less and the colors are less vivid.
- The laptop has several brands that Dell uses, the LG seams to be the best of them all. So, make sure you have that.
- !!!CALL TO ORDER YOUR SYSTEM!!!! You can negotiate a really good deal and a lot of free upgrades. I payed my system ~1600$ (before taxes) configured to 2000+$ Canadian system and free shipping.


If I had to buy a new laptop now. I would look and think about very seriously at the Mac.. as it's 1200$ with similar GPU and 1 inch smaller, but I think I would still go with the Latitude E6400. Because, is has a next buisness day on site service, 3 year warranty, switchable battery, quieter keyboard in my option, 2 button mouse, 2 mouse option, all the ports you need, easy system internal access possibility to have a seond battery (12cell) on the system to have a claimed 19-21 hours of battery life with the 9-cell and it comes with Windows 64-bit.

 

Yeah i have a friend that can get me a disk, but i don't really want to go through the hassle of getting all the drivers together and reinstalling all my junk again...

and thanks for the info about DCP, seems dell took a step in the wrong direction with the newer version...

 

I have boosted 2 versions if DCP, both of them are good and doesn't quit your full screen video/game, nor loose focus. In fact I also find it that it lighter too.
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=4924658&postcount=4109
The links in the thread is for 64-bit Vista, which also works fine under Win7 64-bit.

To turn it off, it's in side the Dell Control Panel, there is an option somewhere inside it. I can't say where because I my laptop is moving free space form 1 partition to another... so I am outside of Windows.

 

Ah, i'm using 32 bit vista, it probably won't work then will it?

 

Dell Vista disk, is a clean Vista.. you have no drivers inside.
But, the Dell disk is a pre-activated Vista, so you can re-install as much as you want without the hassle of calling Microsoft every single time to activate your Windows and tell your life on to why you re-installed Vista. And because the product key under your laptop battery is de-activated it's even more hassle.

So call dell tech support, complain about the 4Gb not being used, and say you are ready to re-install the OS to have Vista 64-bit. This way the disk will be free. If you call Customer service, they consider both Vista as if you had XP and wanted Vista. So they will say you will need to buy it.

Correct.