M6600 Owners Thread

Dell would have put the SSD as primary/boot ( OS, C: ) by default. Be careful and backup.

Windows 7 64 Ultimate SP1-U,
http://msft.digitalrivercontent.net/win/X17-59465.iso

Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool,
http://download.cnet.com/Windows-7-USB-DVD-Download-Tool/3000-18513_4-10972600.html

USB installs OS in about 8 minutes or less.
Extract the ISO files using the Download tool to the target USB or DVD media (Minimum space = 4Gb).
Windows Key is under the battery. Don't enter Key during setup - use Skip button, enter Key after drivers installed and internet connected.

When installing Dell drivers make sure you get the right ones for your version of Windows. With the RGBLED I've found that Dell R316049 for Quadro works good. There are problems with this driver however using Intel Video|Optimus. RGBLED setups don't have that.

You may find some additional help here: First 3 Posts

PremierColor: I've found putting the primary/desktop setting to sRGB helps tame some weird behaviors. I also don't have it start up automatically - manually start it when needed. The last setting persists even when not loaded. I manually exit to avoid the logoff unload delay.

 

my normal storage i(750 gb) is drive c and i presume is in the primary hard drive slot. and my 256 ssd is drive d so i presume that is in the secondary hard drive slot. do i need to take the back cover off and physically swap these over?

 

Ok, you specifically configured it that way. Putting the Primary Drive in the Primary Bay (right side) will be less confusing in the future - so probably a good idea to do it. Get the owners manual from Dell site. Swap the brackets. Be gentle.

OS will always create/install to C: . Make sure BIOS has SATA AHCI checked. You should use the diskpart clean command during the install at the select language form. Use on both drives. There are links at the bottom of the Dell posts that provide some tutorials for this.

Make sure to backup all data and get the drivers downloaded and stored to external media before starting. It can get confusing so read ahead a little and drop a question if you're stuck and I'll try to help. I also assume you have W7 Ultimate Key and not Professional.

 

well not me i got it from an outlet, thats how it came to me.

if i dont swap them over and leave them in the positions they are once i have istalled the os on the ssd will the os show as being on the 'd' drive and the 'c' drive will be my secondary storage drive??

 

No. But you'll probably need to clear the C: letter assignment from HDD partition first. I don't think OS can install to a letter D: partition. Read some of those tutorials first, they'll help with understanding.

Edit Add:

You'll need to select the target drive for the OS and it will create a partition assigned letter C: on Disk 1 (SSD), Disk 0 would then logically be the (HDD), hopefully that's what you're seeing. You're just experiencing confusion from the drives being in opposite bays. That's why physically moving them will alleviate this and any Boot order adjustments if they were needed.

Edit Add:

Logically you could install OS to a different letter because dual/multi boot systems use other letters. I haven't personally worked with that. The focus should be on the Disk number/order and of selection as OS install target.

 

question regarding the battery.

the laptop is used 95% on my desk and what i currently do is run it off the battery and when it discharges down to 10-15% remaining i put the power lead in and use it on the power lead until the battery fully charges, then i pull out the power lead and work off the battery again.

will it be detrimental to the battery in anyway to leave the battery in and have it on power lead all the time?

 

hello again^)
i am still with bluetooth problem. i have second card with doesnot works too.
(bios not see it) is it hard to reach the other side of BT cable? maybe its disconected? any ideas welcom.
(switch is on-))

 

Batteries have an average number of charge/discharge cycles. My last Dell Inspiron was 500. Partial cycles count too. And like other batteries, will deteriorate with time installed or not.

I'm plugged in nearly all the time and keep my battery installed for power outage backup. If I'm near when that happens I unplug and drain.

My personal experience has been that partial cycles are the hardest on them and second is being removed and unused whether charged or discharged. Once they've been started should be used.

They might have improved a little over the last few years.

 

If you wish to prolong your battery life without removing it from the system, - don't turn off your machine and don't let it hibernate. For reference, my W510 was never used on battery but was off every night during the past 2 years and the battery is @26% wear level. My M18xR1 (1 year old) was used on battery 20-40 times but was never turned off and the battery is at wear level 2%. My 10 year old ThinkPad R40 was probably used on battery at least ~200-300 times but was almost never turned off and the battery is still @35% wear level.

 

whenever i am away from my computer for more than 30 minutes i always turn it off. firstly because i see it as a waste of electric that it should be on when im not using it and secondly i feel that it is better for the computer to be off than on when not in use.