Windows 7 on Latitude E6400

To add,
Is your fan clean? Make sure you clean your fan and heatsink very well (use a compressed air can).

Just to exclude a GPU issue: Download and install this free GPU stress test: FurMark: VGA Stress Test, Graphics Card and GPU Stability Test, Burn-in Test, OpenGL Benchmark and GPU Temperature | oZone3D.Net
When you run it, click the radio box "Stability test", and "Xtreme burning mode". This will push your GPU to it's limits. Monitor the GPU temperature (will show during the process). As soon as it reach 95C: KILL the process IMMEDIATELY. Safety procedures SHOULD kick-in at 105 degree Cecilius, but I don't want to take any chances. Normally it should be stable at 85-90 degree after a while, and not go higher.
Run the process for 30min. Do not do anything while doing this with the system.

Save all your work BEFORE using this program.

 

My BIOS is current, A27.

I've looked through your guide, though I probably didn't do the steps in the same order, I only had 2 differences, which were I installed from a flash drive, and I hadn't upgraded the firmware in my DVD burner. I've now done that, though I would by surprised if that were it. My system has a DU-8A2S drive in it, I don't suppose there's a known problem with that?

And generally, I'm running all latest drivers as of Dec 12, so like my nVidia drivers are the current WHQL ones, 260.99. I don't have any unrecognized devices in the device manager, and as a matter of normal process when I install things other then servers I generally go and get the most current OEM drivers I can.

I'll take a look at trying the stress test sometime today or tomorrow. I think I will try seeing if taking it out of the dock actually does matter or not too.

Thanks!

 

The problems we had with the 6410 & eDock sound different to yours but for info the only time it worked all the
time for us was using - the VGA connector on single display. (displayport/dvi gave us problems)
Might be worth trying that config just to see.

 

Thanks. I will ignore it for the e6400. I see you also have a e6410. I am also installing a e6410 (32bit).
http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/9606/e6410chipset.jpg
Which of the above 3 did you download/install from the dell site if any?

Thanks also -Goodbytes

 

Your picture shows 4 drivers. Per my E6410 Win7 x64 notes below, I installed the Intel chipset software, the Ricoh driver, and the turbo boost setup. I skipped the AMT driver.

GK

 

hm where to find this one's
(PCMCIA/Smartcard controller driver here, if required.)
becauses i have PCMCIA not express card.
and what software use to read smart cards ?

 

Could that be in the DCP Security Driver and Manager packages?

GK

 

No guarantees, but looking in my driver collection my smart card reader driver is numbered 220859. Looks like you can grab it here:

Drivers and Downloads

 

GK
You mention installing the SATA drivers in your reimage post.
I couldnt see any SATA drivers on Dells website, only RST.
The below thread suggests leaving it to windows. Which drivers did you install?


http://forum.notebookreview.com/dell/410426-about-install-windows-7-ahci-driver-question.html

 

Under SATA Drives you will find Intel RST driver packages in two flavors... pre-OS and the full package. Both contain the same SATA drivers for the E6400 chipset. The full package includes the RST application for managing RAID/IRRT, which you do not need if your BIOS is set to AHCI mode and/or you are not implementing RAID/IRRT. Finally, the pre-OS package only extracts the drivers which you must manually install during the OS installation (pre-OS), or afterward via Device Manager update of the default Win7 SATA driver installed by Win7... the full package installs drivers and RST app automatically like the typical Dell download.

Assuming you are not using RAID/IRRT, I recommend the pre-OS package. Set the BIOS to AHCI mode and install the drivers during the OS install. Or, update the default Win7 driver via Device Manager after the OS install. The default Win7 driver lists the AHCI mode SATA device as 'Standard SATA...'... whereas the proper Intel driver will list 'Intel SATA...'... in Device Manager.

Intel Rapid Storage Technology (IRST) is Intel SATA and covers AHCI, RAID, and subset functionality IRRT (Intel Rapid Restore Technology).

I didn't read the linked thread... NO don't leave it to Windows... install the proper Intel SATA driver, either during the OS install or afterward. Use the Dell.com download or go find the latest greatest IRST packages on Intel.com. Given the E6400 is getting long in the tooth, Dell.com downloads tend to get stale so you might want to use the Intel.com download.

GK