===> The Official Studio XPS 1640 Owner's Thread<===

If you have turned it off, of course your not going to see the warning messages. I don't get it.

 

Does the RGB screen come with the 2. MP camera or the .3 MP camera?

 

The camera that comes with the RGBLED screen is 2.0MP

 

Hey all,
I just ordered my Dell XPS 16 a couple of days ago and got the Vista Home Prem. 32 bit.
Now I wanted the 64 bit but it was going to be a little difficult for them to change it (don't know why but it's their call). However, the person I spoke with said that they would send me a copy of 64 bit, so if I wanted to reformat with that I could +still keeping a copy of 32 bit aswell.
I'm pretty happy with that, but what I want to know is: Anyone with a 32 bit OS, how much RAM is it actually recognizing in system properties?

 

has anyone managed to get the infrared port to work

 

How do you know what kind of a remote to use? I thought they didn't include one with the system.

 

they sell them on dell.com
http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/...&cs=04&c=us&l=en&dgc=SS&cid=39888&lid=1022056

im ordering one soon for my system

 

Too bad they don't include that like on the XPS line. I guess the cost would be factored in anyways though

 

My IR port works after my reformat and my brother in law brought his 1530's remote over and it worked fine.

 

please when you do get it. Tell us how you got the infrared port to work. I have installed the right drivers for it but I cannot see any infrared icon in the control panel to turn it off or on. Pretty pointless right now

And has anyone successfully installed the new bios A02. Cant seem to open the file

 

is there a control panel icon for the infrared or does it just connect automatically

 

It's neither annoying nor unnessisary. If it's really something that's getting triggered a lot by your admin duties, you can always turn it off, or turn it off temporarily. But it's an extra layer of protection if any malware gets on there. We're *MORE* likely to benefit from it as I said than the typical user who doesn't understand what it means, and may just approve things without understanding what they're doing.

And Microsoft did cave to whiners temporarily, and was going to make UAC worthless under 7, but thankfully it sounds as though they've relented to people who care about/understand security and are leaving it as is. This is a *GOOD THING*

If you're really doing stuff that regularly triggers it, go ahead and turn it off, but otherwise I certainly like having one extra hoop malware would have to jump through.

Personally I'd go with 32-bit had I gotten the choice on my 1640 or my new system. 64-bit's okay, but I've run across a LOT of programs that aren't compatible. Now that I've weeded them out it's not so bad, but you'll almost certainlly run across stuff that's not 64-bit compatible. (Heck, the DVD burning program that shipped with my current system isn't compatible! Roxio/Sonic seems to be though.)

 

Precisely. And I have to say, I'm regretting using Vista at all. I finally bit the bullet last week because I figured I was going to upgrade Windows 7 soon and should get to know some of the changes. Well, I got to know it alright. Basically Windows Vista is Windows XP except everything is slower, a lot of things don't work as well, a lot of things take a lot more steps to do and a lot of things are done automatically "on your behalf" that aren't what you want. (In that respect it is much like OSX, which I also had the recent displeasure of using). I was never a big fan of Windows XP, but I am now, by comparison. Long live Windows XP. Maybe Windows 8 will be an actual improvement. I'm now doubtful of 7, since is it's basically Vista with big-a$$ service pack.

 

Like...what do you dislike about it? It's as fast or faster than XP for me. I don't like some of the changes in the interface, but love others. It has a lot more random services running than XP, but then RAM's cheap now, so it's not a big deal (and XP already had ton of random services running).

My biggest issue has just been the 64-bit thing, all the incompatibilities I've found. Besides that, it just seems like a modernized NT, which is just what I want. (Okay, one semi-huge issue-it's not saving passwords to network resources, and I don't know why, unless it's just a "Home" thing.)

 

haha i like your sig..thats why there are a lot of people trying to mod their XP into vista look alike.

anyway.. i was able to just get 4 gb back.. but i lost the 1 year complete care protection for free =(

 

According to a Dell rep that sent me info on it he said it's a 1.6. I guess the site still says 2.0 though.

 

I just got my 1640 and really like it.

At first it seemed like the subwoofer was shorting out, but now it seems ok.

Other than that, there's a noticeable mar/scratch on the power button and also a bigger one by the eject button. Do you think I should send it back because of this? It does make me a little upset that I paid so much for this and to have to look at that crap on there.

 

I have the RGBLED screen and it's 2.0MP.

 

Well, it would bother me too because they're in a location that you'll be looking at often. Of course, the next unit might have more serious issues so it's your call. If it still bothers you a couple days from now, return it. That means it will probably bother you as long as you own that 1640. We're all different when it comes to what we'll accept and what is just unacceptable, especially if we paid a lot for it.

 

If those marks don't come off, send it back. You paid for a new machine, so it should look mint. Don't put up with that.

 

Get new computer. Boot up. Turn off UAC. It is ridiculous trying to setup a new computer with it on.

And what is the deal with hiding files and extensions? Annoys the hell out of me.

 

It isn't as annoying in Windows 7! I'm not sure what they did but I installed it on the 1640 and I didn't have a problem with the UAC.

It would be nice if Microsoft included User Modes in setup kind of like what ATI does in Catalyst. I was really glad when they added an option to stop security from complaining if you didn't have an anti virus program installed.

 

Hey guys,
I noticed alot of you are reformatting your xps 16s as soon as you get them? Why is this?

Also, mine is shipping preloaded with 32 bit vista but I'm also being sent an extra copy of 64 bit vista if i want to install that. Which one should i use? (bare in mind, i opted for the Soundblaster advanced software which is only 32 bit compatible).

Cheers.

 

Dual boot. It would make a good experiment to find out if there is a bad driver for the 64 bit.

Some people like to clean out all the bloatware that was installed on a new computer and some remove the partition that is set aside for recovery. I just uninstall what I don't want and use a registery cleaner. The 1640 doesn't have much bloatware installed.

 

I haven't even looked. After formatting I installed the driver that was for an IR port. I didn't even realize it had one. My brother in law happened to be over so I grabbed his remote and it worked.

 

I did get a lot of BSOD's on my first go round, but I restored the Dell image and everything was fine. My issue was that I couldn't play any Source based games without crashing, so I reformatted and it fixed the issue.

 

I like it. Most of the time I have no reason to see the extensions, or random system files, and don't want to stare at them (serves no purpose for me most of the time). When I do, I turn it back on. I know a lot of people who leave it on though.

That's because they made it worthless because of people who whine about security features. Same reason they didn't default to the firewall being on for ages.

The good thing is there was an outcry from the security community, and it's apparently going to be set to work again.

It's nice to have a clean install, and also to know what's running on your system, that kind of thing. I always do it when I get a new computer (and Dell is one of the few companies that ships a clean disc with their systems, which is really nice...my Asus more or less did too).

Personally I would have opted for 32-bit had I been given that option. I've run across a lot of programs that aren't 64-bit compatible, and I only have 4GB (and only use roughly half of that even with a ton of programs open...and they'd use a bit less under 32-bit).

Only plus side for me is I can stick in 8GB if it ever comes down super cheap, but I don't actually need it given I'm only using around 2GB as it is.

 

After reading all the reviews on here, I would like to Cancel my order and upgrade my screen and hard drive to 256ssd. I figure i should go all out on this lappy which should last me a good 3-4 years.

it would really help if i could get some discounts as being mention in the forum. Where can i get an EPP code from? how do get these additional $100 savings i'm hearing baout.

I paid $1500.60 Shipped (online - no rep)

Intel Core 2 Duo T9550(2.66GHz)
4GB, DDR3
320GB 7200 RPM
Regular screen
8X DVD+/-RW Slot Load Drive
WiFi Link 5300
everything esle standard

 

I never seen a SSD in person and don't know what type of connection pins it has, but on a studio xps 1640 - If i originaly have a 320gb 7200 rpm drive, can i later upgrade to a SSD without any problems? will it be a simple hardrive swap?

 

Yup, its a standard SATA2 connection. Just get a 2.5 inch format SSD and you should be able to swap it in and install the OS from the optical drive. (you could also do an image copy)

 

anyone else getting an exclamation point next to the 6T04 adapter?

 

I give up on the Wolfpup topic. You can love UAC and hidden file name extensions as much as you want, it sounds like you need this kind of stuff to not mess up but most people really doesn't and are only getting annoyed by it. That's a fact, and I'm pretty sure that UAC won't be the same in 7 as it was in Vista which you seem to claim - especially since Microsoft themselves very recently even admitted how bad and annoying it was. I also disagree on the "get 32-bit vista" recommendation, I've been using 64-bit since the release and in total I think I've only run into those problems once. If you have more than 3gb's of RAM, use it and use Vista 64. Nearly all programs support it by now. End of discussion.

 

I have no need 99% of the time to see file extensions, so why would I want to? If nothing else, it makes renaming files slightly harder, but either way, if for some reason you like seeing them, you're free to.

And UAC is a good thing. EVERYONE needs it to help protect them from malware. It's just one more piece of protection. You do too, no matter how snide you want to be about it. If you don't want the protection, you're free to turn it off. But it should not be "annoying", you should rarely be triggering it.

As I've already said, probably several times at this point, Microsoft was going to cave to people like you who don't understand what UAC is, and whine about it. Thankfully it caused an uproar in the security community, and it's going to be restored in 7. There's nothing to "admit". They did exactly the right thing with it in Vista, just as enabling a firewall was exactly the right thing in XP, etc. Regardless of people who whine and somehow think it's this great imposition on them to every once in a while have to click a button, it is a good thing.

Then you don't run many programs. I've run across a ton of programs so far that don't like 64-bit, and for most people at this time there's no need for 64-bit. Very few people are running more than 4GB, and in fact so far I don't even need that much (at least not usually).

Now obviously we're on the verge of needing more, and have been for some time, but right now for most of us, I think the trade off for being able to access >4GB versus having access to more programs and drivers favors the latter. Now maybe if you're not a power user, and just run a web browser and Word it's going to make no difference...but then you have no need for 64-bit in that case regardless.

 

For those who have track the progress of their studio xps, how long did the "boxing stage" take? I'm on day 3 - it's killing me.

 

Don't know about now, but mine took at least that long, and I know some of the other early people's did too.

 

boxing is...

1. production is completed (assembly, QA, etc)
2. add to queue for airfreight to USA distribution/merging centre

.. shipping is once they prepare it for shipping to you from dist. centre

 

LOL, I tried very lightly rubbing the marks off at first and nothing happend. Today I tried harder with a special screen cleaning cloth and they came right off. Sweet! No BSODS and just left it on all night with memtest and NO ERRORS! So far so good!

 

Good for you! Congrats.

I'm happy with mine now, after the reformat.

 

My XPS 1640 was suppose to ship today and has been in the "boxing" stage for about 5 days now. I just called dell again and the rep said that it was getting ready for the boxing stage (although automated order status said it was in boxing stage) and said that it's being QA'd now and should be ready to ship in 1-2 days.

He wouldn't say what the delay was, but hopefully it's to clean up some of the issues that we've been reading about in this forum. Hoping to get it by this weekend so I can give it a good test run and report back any findings.

 

Seriously. I know exactly what UAC does, but I don't need someone else to watch over what I do and spam me with warnings since I actually know what I'm doing. Yes, I do run a LOT of programs (I'm pretty much as much of a power user as you can possibly be) and I'm not having any issues with 64-bit. I'm sure you'll also be proven wrong that they won't return UAC in Windows 7 to what it was in Vista, but you can keep believing that.

I'm so over discussing these things with you though, you really make me doubt that you're as skilled with computers as you claim to be, because you're probably the first one I've encountered that has been praising UAC like this. And yes, I'm actually in the business (for real).

Please just do stop telling people to go with 32-bit though as that's just plain stupid and you're fooling people to use an O/S where they can't even use the hardware that they're paying for.

 

Would anyone be so kind as to make a Windows 7 install guide to get all the drivers and stuff installed properly? (showing the order of install and which items to install, etc.)

 

Agreed. UAC is rubbish. 64 bit windows rules!

 

I'm interested in this aswell. Also i know the download period from microsoft is over but could i still get a copy of windows 7 with a working serial key?

I would like to have my xps with double boot. vista / windows 7

Thanks.

 

I'd just get it from a cough*torrent*cough. I got mine from ms back when it was available with a real sn.

 

astraweb FTW!

lets see who knows what astraweb is :x

 

Is it ok to delete the recovery partition? Can't I just restore the OS if needed from the recovery disk?

 

What is the HDD/SSD footprint for a full install of W7??

 

It depends. I know the one Gateway desktop didn't have all the programs on the CDs. They had to come from the recovery partition. I don't know how it works with this laptop though.

 

Well I plan on taking out this 320gig and putting in a SSD, so I guess I'll probably hold on to the 320 and leave the recovery on there.

 

Bump lmao