Windows 7 on Latitude E6400

According to Macruim Reflect (a free-for-personal-use drive imaging tool), there's actually *three* partitions on the drive:

1. DellUtility 101.73 MB
2. RECOVERY ( D: ) 2 GB
3. OS ( C: ) 230.785 GB

Sorry to temporarily go off track here. I'm familiar with the DellUtility partition (from working on many other Dell systems), but what is the RECOVERY partition used for?

 

It allows you to recover your system to the shipped state:

http://support.dell.com/support/top...E10C1F&docid=E8643B4D68407118E030030ABD622934

Note that backing up your laptop prior to a new OS install is a good idea because you would save all your windows updates, drivers, and your applications and files. Using the PC Restore function only restores the laptop to the shipped state, and you need to reinstall the updates, the drivers, etc. afterwards. If you never install anything after you receive your PC, then you don't need to back it up: the Recovery Partition is all you need. I would not erase it, since it is only 2GB.

 

2GB partition that is only 50% (1GB) filled includes all Vista 64-bit and drivers... WOW that is a revolutionary compression system. I don't think so... doesn't make much sense. Note that Dell says anything from 2.7 to 4.75GB... not 1.99GB. My guess is that the 2.7GB is Ubuntu or XP, and the 4.75 is Vista 64-bit (as it has 2 OS in itself (32 and the 64-bit pretty much))

 

Anyone have battery life numbers for Win7 vs Vista?

 

Build 7100 installed without a hitch. Afterward, there were two required updates and one optional update (for the Richo SD reader). As you said, Device Manager lists an exclamation mark next to "Broadcom USH device". What is that, exactly? I'll haven't yet resolved that by downloading the "Dell ControlPoint Security Manager" (at the URL you listed), but I plan to.

So far, the only issue I've noticed has to do with the backlit keyboard--it lights up sporadically and doesn't necessarily stay lit for any specific period of time. In Vista, I believe the ControlPoint System Manager configures that. I also haven't deteremined whether the Ambient Light Sensor is supported.

Otherwise, Windows 7 RC is awesome on the E6400!

 

DCP runs correctly on my E6400, windows 7 Build 7048x64. You can configure keyboard backlight settings with DCP.

The Broadcom device is the smart card reader.

 

So installing DCP (Dell ControlPoint Security Manager) should resolve the Broadcom USH device problem (which really isn't necessary for me, since I don't use the smart card reader) *and* the keyboard backlight issue?

Seems odd that the keyboard backlight (something non-security-related) would be configured with something having to do with security, doesn't it?

No matter, when you ran the DCP installer (with the title of "Dell Security Device Driver Pack"), did you select Complete Install or Custom Install ? When I select Custom Install, the following items are listed:

Microsoft Runtime Libraries SP1
AuthenTec Fingerprint Reader
Dell Smartcard Keyboard for Vista
Dell PBA Device Driver
Broadcom Unified Security Hub
Vista Storage Driver Update for Trusted Drives
BioAPI Framework
Microsoft .NET Framework Patch for Vista

All items are selected except for the AuthenTec Fingerprint Reader. My E6400 has a fingerprint reader; I wonder why the installer is de-selecting that option?

 

You don't need to install the Control Security manager. You need the Control system manager. You need the driver pack for the Broadcom device. I don't have the fingerprint reader, so not sure which particular model you have.

 

Theres multiple bits to DCP, theres the core System Manager that will run the keys, OSD and backlight. Theres Connection Manager that will run your network adapters(BT, WLAN, WWAN, LAN). And finally there is Security Manager, which runs the TPM, Fingerprint and Smart Card parts.

The two last components are terrible. Unless you *really* need them I would stay the heck away.

 

My E6400 came with the optional fingerprint reader.

You mentioned that I need the Dell ControlPoint Security Manager if I want to eliminate the exclamation point from the Broadcom Unified Security Hub in Device Manager. It would appear that I need this manager to add support for my fingerprint reader, too. BTW, the Drivers & Downloads page indicates that this particular manager has an Application download and a Driver download.

If you installed the security manager (either the application or the driver), did you choose Complete Install or Custom Install? When I choose Custom Install (i.e., where it shows exactly what it will install), it appears that it will resolve the USH issue and install a bunch of other things, but that it *won't* (by default anyway) install the fingerprint reader. Strange.


So I need the Dell ControlPoint *System* Manager to configure the backlit keyboard? (The backlit keyboard is on constantly at the moment; it seems as though, by default, the unit is sensing the darker lighting conditions in my home.)

BTW, when you say "DCP" are you referring to Dell ControlPoint *Security* Manager or the Dell ControlPoint *System* Manager? The acronym would appear to apply to both managers.

Thanks for your patience with all these questions!