Problems with vostro 1500/1400 - Vostro owners please post your problems here

I can't even get the 1505 card to connect with my router. It sees it but every time I try to connect it will tell me that the "driver disassociated while connecting."

 

just play with settings, took me a week herbie

 

Got my Vostro 1500 (refurbished) last night. Here are my specs and a few of my initial experiences and concerns:

Core 2 Duo T7500 2.2 4MB (Merom)
160G HDD 7.2K FFS
667MhZ 2x1GB, 512
LCD 15.4 WXGA+ TLF (AUO, not LG, not Samsung)
Nvidia 128MB G86
Bluetooth
No camera
CD/DVD R/W (not roxio)
9C battery
No pre-installed AV/Security s/w
No online backup
No PC transfer
Dell basic wireless setup 1390
Basic Warranty
(Forced to get MediaDirect)
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Startup was quick and seamless, but I am not too happy about Vista. I much prefer XP. Not sure if I goofed on that choice or not. I don't see well to begin with (AND I work almost exclusively with Photoshop), so display quality and customization is crucial for me. I am not happy with the frostyness and dimness of this screen, and I got the best I could afford. Now I'm wondering if the WXGA or WGA would have been better.

I can't change the font size for windows, message boxes, folders, application menus etc, without reverting back to XP view, the functionality of which I prefer, so if I don't get to use the prettier version then its a double disappointment. I don't like the start menu "more programs" change (it does not expand, so its cramped and fussy (extra scrolling. Annoying. Particularly for someone who needs to use larger fonts.

Internet connection was instant and flawless. That is a MAJOR improvement, but still, I like to know what its doing (which the tedious process of manually setting it up gives me. I learn something, which is always handy if/when things go wrong.).

The weight and size surprised me (my first Dell laptop was an Inspiron 8200 when it first came out, and I got the best of everything at the time. I replaced the hard drive once, and had one or two other tech issues that I needed Dell's support with, but for the amount of demanding use I put it through, I got more than my money's worth. I still miss it (it is now very ancient and tries to run, but it is SO slow, keys are missing and the ones that are there have all the letters and numbers worn off. If I slammed it with some memory it would probably perk up, but I don't know how to install that. If I did I wouldn't let myself because I'm a clutz. The keyboard on the Vostro is a dream. Not flimsy or lagging as I've heard many others report.

I guess it has some space when it closes, but the latch works and I don't really see this as an issue. If it latches that means its closed (to me).

The bright blue LED lights are pretty, but I had the NumLk key on accidentally (it is immediately under the display, just above the keyboard, and seems to be lit by default at startup<?>) The light was SO BRIGHT that it actually hurt my eyes (which added insult to injury with the darkness of the display. I thought the light was a MediaDirect indicator (which is right next to it) so that was even more troubling. I actually had to put a little rubber cap over it before I figured out that it was the NumLk (which I never use or would turn on, so this is a minor annoyance for me. Could be a refurbish issue? Still its a little bit of a pest.)

The Vostro 1500 is built like a TRUCK (much like my old Powerbook but not as sexy). At first glance it looks like a 10 year old machine and seems to weigh a ton. But I did get the larger battery. I'm typing this post on an old Presario V2000 that feels like a feather in comparison. I had returned the Inspiron 1525 just before I got the Vostro, and it was a heck of a lot sleeker, but I couldn't build it the way I needed to. I prefer utility *and* aesthetic design, but if I have to choose I go for utility.

I really don't like the Media Direct nonsense. I have not launched it, nor do I intend to. If I can safely remove it, I will, but I would rather see what it is or does before I do anything. I don't want it to bully its way into default mode w/out my permission. I could not order a system without it, and it is a major disappointment. I will never need or want to do anything media wise without booting up windows, because I don't work with media w/o Photoshop. The only reason I have a CD/DVD R-W is to burn back up disks because I work with huge psd files that take up tons of room quickly. I used to just right-click on the D Drive, plop my files in, insert a blank disk and bam! it would run. I watch dvd's maybe once a year, if that, and WinDVD was perfect. I never use Windows Media player unless I have to, I find it invasive and fixing problems is way too mysterious. I don't like programs that connect without my telling them to, either.

It is very annoying that there is no info on MediaDirect functionality in the barely useful users manual, and I could not find anything online to learn about this. The only way to do this is to launch it and that is an automatic red flag. I *really* don't like that. I looked for an online manual with no luck. If anyone has a link I would love to find out about it.

One thing that concerned me was when I went to shut it down last night, I went to Start-->Power Button icon (I assumed I'd get a pop up menu like XP asking me if I wanted to Cancel, Shut Down, or Restart. The screen just went black *immediately* (I also assumed I would see "Windows is saving your settings", ..."logging off" etc. but a few seconds after the screen went black the blue LED lights shut off too, so it did shut down.

Is this a Vista thing or should I be concerned? It was startling. It booted up just fine today, though. No problems at all. Vista does not seem slow at all, just a lot less intuitive while making more decisions for me w/o telling me why or how. Maybe people think that's easier but the less I understand how things work the harder they are to use. For me, anyway.

I have seen a lot of posts from people being disappointed with their LCD, both Samsung and LG. I havent' seen any comments about the one I have, AU Optronics, but its really frosty and dim. I am shocked at how lousy it is and very disappointed.

I wanted to get a computer that was not loaded with nonsense, would handle CS2, burn cds and dvds for backup, connect to the internet easily with different methods, with a high quality screen so I could work on it effectively. I don't do things with music files or other a/v stuff, so the sound quality isn't an issue for me (unless it doesn't work at all), and I need it to function with my peripherals (canon elph, printer, scanner, copier), is always on and adequately secure (I install the security utilities that work really well for me and frequently look around for better ones that crop up). I did select the option for the additional partition, so its annoying to learn that MediaDirect has one of its own. I am very, very wary of this software and what it actually does within the OS, if anything.

The little stickynote gadget is a GREAT idea, but I have yet to figure out how to resize it or change the font size. Without these two things a good idea renders itself absolutely useless and distracting. I'm hoping I just haven't investigated it enough yet. If that's all it is, I would call that a Vista embarrassment of a very grand scale.

So if it weren't for MediaDirect, the disappointing screen and the fact that my arms are sore from lifting it out of the box, I couldn't be happier! I wish I knew more about how my computer works, but for all the research I do I still don't understand nearly enough. But it is a tool I use 24/7 so my questions/comments are from the standpoint of non-tech user.

Would love to hear if anyone has had similar experiences. Other than the screen, for the price (about $800) I think it would be very tough to outdo.

 

Headphone noise.
There is also a noise that randomly comes from my 1500...it almost sounds like a heavy piece of plastic "clunking" around inside the computer. It's not continuous. Any ideas?

 

With ref to MrBigglesworth's method, I fixed the noise!(digital morse code, crackle sound) I was having, without a complete dismantle of my brand new Vostro 1500.

Yes noise is being picked up by the base and also the metal shielding that covers the the underside of the lid, thats how this method worked for MrBigglesworth' & myself, a small flap that touches the headphone jack socket from the lid:

I tried unscrewing that case screw several turns, the one just below the headphone jack socket, and when I pressed up on that screw the noise did go away. I then followed the rest of MrBigglesworth's instructions and lifted the lid a bit (10-15mm) and bent the small metal flap just above the headphone jack socket up 8-10mm with a small electrical screw driver with tape wrapped around it's shaft as to not damage the case lid, and it solved the problem completely. many thanks MrBigglesworth

This might not work for everyone but it worked perfectly for me. My headphone jack is not picking up any interference (digital morse code, crackles) noise anymore.

-JonnyReDHeD

 

Actually, this is not an issue, the numlock light works as it is supposed to. The numlock indicator only applies to number pads. Since the integrated laptop keyboard on the 1500 doesn't have a number pad, the light is pretty much useless by itself. It is really there for use if you connect an external keyboard and/or number pad either via USB or wireless. It is especially handy for some wireless keyboard that don't have built in numlock/alphalock/scrolllock led indicators.

 

Actually the 1500 (and I guess the 1400 too) has number pad keys if you have Num Lk on and hold the function key, you'll see the blue numpad keys to the right of the keyboard.

Though if like me you find it slightly annoying having to hold down the function key to use it you can change the functionality in the bios under "Key Emulation" (or something similar) so that the numpad keys work when Num Lk is on.

 

Ok, i've had my housing replaced 3 times now due to creaky palm rest on my vostro 1500. All i can say is i HATE this notebook. my 4 year old toshiba feels better.

 

i got a vostro 15000 with geforce 8600m gt 512mb and my question is if i can put that video card in to another vostro 1500 with a better processor.


if you dont understand this is more simple:

vostro 1500 geforce 8600m gt 512mb
intel core duo 2.2
change the video card

vostro 1500 geforce 8600m gt 256 mb
intel core duo 2.6

is it posible?

 

Ummm,
Dell doesn't have any 8600GT 512MB graphic cards for the vostro's or any other of its notebooks as a matter of fact...

and another graphic card from another notebook maker won't fit into a Dell Vostro without a major modification...