M440, Vista x64, Solidworks and nvlddmkm :-[

Hello everyone,

My system keeps crashing when I use solidworks.
Screen blacks out for a few secs and I get a message concerning graphics driver not responding nvlddmkm.sy_ etc.

I am running Vista 64 Business with Duo 2.54GHz, 4G RAM and off course the FX770M which was one of the main reasons I bought this machine.

I tried Solidworks 2009 SP0 and 2008 SP3.1, all the drivers I could get from Resource CD and Dell Site [anyways the same] and finally reformatted, did a clean Vista install with only chipset, card and ricoh drivers.

I will try XP Pro but I am losing my faith and my cool..... :-{

The machine runs Max 2009 very well.
It runs Solidworks while Max is rendering.
As soon as I enter a sketch it nvlddmkm stops responding.

By the way the machine is brand new.
It came with a defective left trackpad button and a dent on the palmrest!!!
Today I will be receiving the replacement so I will find out if it is a hardware problem. [The white LED LCD btw is great on this one]

Any help would be deeply appreciated.
I have spent countless hours searching for info and setting this system up.

After 7 fruitfull years using Solidworks on consumer laptops [Sony and HP] I decided I deserved a workstation and got myself the Dell.

From the first click [literally] I 've had debilitating problems so I feel very dissapointed and quite frankly.... low.

Be well

e

 

I have a Latitude E6400 (specs on my signature), which is a slightly cheaper version of the M2400, which is itself the smaller brother of your M4400 model. It had a small flaw on the screen lid, which they replaced very quickly and free of charge (of course).

If you are in Europe, you probably have very good customer support (the main reason I bought Dell over Lenovo is that Dell offers on-site support while Lenovo laptops have to be shipped to Sweden).

 

Thanks for the reply HerrKaputt,

Indeed , Dell responded promptly to my querry. Their support, apart from their tradition in mobile workstations, was the reason I chose to fork out the extra Euros.

Although the hardware defects were minor and could be rectified with simple replacements they suggested I had the entire laptop replaced.

Man am I glad I did so!

I just received the replacement and realised that the first one had another problem. Namely the button releasing the lid was not working smoothly. By depressing both buttons I can observe that the first machine is missing a sheet slider inside the case!

Given that the first machine was assembled on December 28 I am tempted to assume the technician might have been drunk! Otherwise they have assembly or hardware issues in Dell Ireland.

To their credit they replaced it as soon as they could. I would advise anyone collecting even a slightly defective machine to request replacement rather than repair.

As far as the nvlddmkm issue is concerned I have not tested yet. I will install Solidworks and will keep my fingers crossed.

Have you by any chance heard anything about it?

Cheers

e