Dell XPS Studio 1640: After clean install, the webcam software, seems to have stopped working, and facial recognition.....

It seems like multiple people in the 1640 thread are having this issue and we seem to be unable to figure this out. Would anyone be able to give us guidance to get the facial recognition software onto our computers after a clean install and also the dell webcam software?

 

I've tried looking through the entire 1640 thread i went onto the https://smartsource.dell.com/web/UserForms/RegisterSystem.aspx?rs=1
page and i installed all the drivers required from the resource cd sent to me from dell. The site wasnt working for me, or other people for that matter and now im stuck..

 

I am not sure if I did anything special, but mine worked after a clean install of Vista 64 Home Premium. It's a piece of cr*p IMO as it has to have good lightning conditions, so I promptly uninstalled it.


If it helps, I installed the following drivers in alphabetical order:

Audio, Bluetooth, Card Reader, Chipset, Dell Quickset, Display, IR Reciever, LAN, System Software, Touchpad, Web-Cam, Wifi

Obviously, of all those, I'd make sure I have the web cam driver installed and that the web cam actually works in another applications, such as IM.

 

Thanks for the reply. Since i am unable to get on the site i cant get the software for the webcam central or the facial recognition. is it possible for someone to upload it? /thanks in advance... I've been quite frustrated over the past 4 hours and its 5 am here... thanks again

 

I actually got it to work in really low light conditions, the more you use it the more it learns and the easier it recognizes you. The downside is that it's always going to be running in background using cpu ressources... so it's fun for now but I probably will uninstall it in a few days

 

i have the same problem with the 1340. I called dell support and the have sendt me the facial recognition softwate but iam still looking for the webcam manager

 

Well, it wouldn't even pick up the initial image to start learning from. So I gave up on it for the time being -- I might revisit the issue soon.

 

does anyone have a file they can host? I'll give dell a call now

 

nevermiind they arent in on the weekends. if anyone could upload the software it would be really really appreciated

 

If you have a program that really needs the cycles that badly just set it to "Face Login" mode where it doesn't do the automatic locking (don't know why you would, but it's possible), or add your program it to the "Program Exception" list. That seems to shut off the facial scanning while that particular program is running and turn it back on when it's done. I did this for my DVD player software too so it won't lock during a movie, but I can still have the extra security when I need it.

 

isaackim, are you not lacking the PowerDVD software as well?

I called Dell about these missing installation SW, and they sent me CDs for the facial recognition and webcam manager.

 

Same situation here. The web site where you are meant to be able to download this software does nothing but crash. I have spoken to Dell who are apparently sending me the software on disc. Providing that happens I will look into uploading it & putting a link up. I have had my eye on the forum in particular the owners thread & there seems to be quite a lot of people in the same boat but to date no one has bothered uploading them. Anyone else feeling generous & can beat me to if pls feel free to stick a link up

 

what's the deal with facial recognition, anyway? can you not recognise your own face that you need a computer to tell you if it's you or not? if it doesn't turn out to be you, what are you going to do about it?

 

It's a biometric feature. It's somehow a replacement of the fingerprint scanner lacking in 1640. Instead of using your finger to verify your identity, the camera uses your face for authentication instead of you typing a password.

 

I think you missed his sarcasm

 

I'm a bit puzzled....

wouldn't you have received all the neccessary discs in case of hard drive failure ? so you would just re-install from those cd disks ?

 

Dell in its wisdom decided not to issue this software on CD with the drivers when sending out the 1640's. Not entirely sure if that was the case for everyone but definitely for a very large amount of people. I received the driver disc (minus the webcam & Face recognition software) & the Vista install disc.

I had to spend an hour on the phone to xps support whilst they remotely accessed my laptop, downloading & installing the drivers I had already installed. All the while telling them I had done all of these things & that the software I required was not on the Dell Driver Support page. Eventually after an hour the Dell rep decided that I was in fact right, talked to a customer services manager & found out that there is in fact another set of discs that they will send me.

I know some users on here are wondering why people are so bothered about it. Well in my case it's mainly because, well I paid for it. My laptop package said that it came with these 2 pieces of software included in the price. It didn't, yes they were installed but there was no back up disc. The software maybe rubbish & maybe something I try & then never use again, but bottom line, I want to be the one to make the decision not Dell.

 

Hi mitch, thanks for the information. Ok, so if the hard drive blows, or the OS needs to be installed, you use their included CD or DVD to do this, but 2 of the programs will NOT be installed ? ... in other words, all programs and drivers will be installed from that "safety" disc, but 2 of the programs will not be ?

That is indeed strange, I know on other models say Gateway and Toshiba, you get a restore disc, and it brings the computer back to *factory* status, meaning that it will bring it back exactly to the way you got it in the box.

You know, I am so loving the XPS 16, but I have not clicked the purchase button because of the 30 day delay many are experiencing. I just can't do a purchase with my credit card, only to sit and wait for 4 weeks... that is a long time. I am one who likes to go to BestBuy pick the unit up, pay for it, and an hour later I'm playing with it.

I so so wish Dell had faster service. It's just a very weak point in their system.

A few weeks ago I talked with one of these guys in India, and he was almost begging me to make a purchase. That scared me off, and there is no way I'm giving some guy in India my credit card number. I told him that the average wait for a computer is 30 days, and he told me that he would put special order on it to have it to me in 10 days. I say BS to that, there's no way he can do that, and he was fibbing to me just to make a sale.

If Dell could give me a laptop locally, I'd go there right now and pick one up. It's a shame, because I'm sure they lose a lot of sales because of their big delay. 30 days or MORE is just not good.

As for the install, I just don't understand why a restore disc you have wouldn't bring the laptop back to factory status ( unless you are trying to install a different OS ) ??

Let's assume you install the original OS on the laptop, using their included restore disc, - will it bring back those 2 programs you want ?

P.S. - Many laptops now don't even come with discs from what I have seen, - instead, there is a partition on the hard drive which they use as a restore disc. You are instructed upon first boot-up to put in a fresh ( virgin ) DVD-R or DVD+R and it will, at that point burn you a restore disc ( this saves the company what ? 10 cents on including a disc themselves ) ( shameful )

 

Yeah the drivers disc does have the all the drivers for the hardware on the xps1640 & a few utility programmes but not the webcam manager software & the face recognition. Don't know why Dell decided to leave these off but they have & are no doubt getting a lot of phone calls querying it. It always do a clean install on any new system so I know exactly what I have on there & tune it the way I like. Which is why I need these 2 programmes.

 

I just got mine yesterday, and the facial recognition and web cam discs were NOT included. Did get a dvd disc. It would be nice to have a link so we could bypass Dell's sterling CS.BTW Sonic, I set up facial recognition and now my wife claims not to know me and my debit card has stopped working...

 

dell builds to order, so you get way better options. if you like having no options when you build a machine, thats when best buy comes in.

i can give you a few bits of hope in the event you do want to order.

i placed my order and the ETA was just under 4 weeks. The computer came 10 days later, and with free shipping. also, i wasnt billed until the computer was shipped.

 

I just received my 1640. I'm loving it so far. I am a little dissappointed that the computer didn't come with the facial recognition software disc, the BD PowerDVD software disc, the webcam central disc, or the Roxio Disc. They did send me a little postcard with the computer that had the following address on it...

http://downloadstore.dell.com/media

I followed that link, created an account, and there were links to the webcam central, facial recognition, and Roxio software. Be advised, you can only download each program twice. The intent apparently is to have you burn the software to disc yourself after downloading.

As for PowerDVD, it wouldn't play BD DVD's until I downloaded the latest version. When I first ran PowerDVD, it asked if I wanted to download the latest version. I did, and have no problems playing BD discs now.

All in all, it was well over 300 mb in software that I had to download, which for anyone with something other than broadband isn't really feasible. The alternative is to call up Dell and demand they send you the discs. It only took me a couple hours, so I wasn't too dissappointed. Additionally, all of the drivers that came on my CD included with the computer are outdated. I checked the Dell website and there is a newer version of every driver. That was another 250 mb+. Not the best way to do business, but it didn't bother me too much only because I have a fast internet connection. This is definitely not something the average user should have to worry about.

Regardless, I'm loving this thing so far!

 

http://downloadstore.dell.com/media

Only Studio XPS 13 and Studio XPS 16 purchased in the Americas are supported :/

 

hello. a few weeks I'm looking for this programs to webcam software and face recognation. I come from Poland and our support doesnt know nothing about this programs. please is it possible for somebody to upload this files. a lot of people would be grateful. really please a lot. I w8 for your help.
greetings

PS. if it is possible please send mi webcam software for email -removed by mod . THANKS a lot!

 

hello everybody...
I also bought dell studio but dont recived any face recognition cd. I also need that face recognition software.
my email is removed by mod.
plz send me or upload it thanx...

 

maybe somebody from USA call to support and ask for example about people from other country what we should to do with this problem. please it is very important for us. thanks...

 

if somebody help us? is it so problem to upload this softawre for example in rapidshare????

 

what would they mean by "Only Studio XPS 13 and Studio XPS 16 purchased in the Americas are supported "

I had my friend whos is returning from the US buy it for me (in the US) and now i should get it in 2 weeks when he comes back home. (which is in India ^^)

So would I be able to download the drivers as my system was bought in America? o.o

 

I have the same sittuation:] this website czeck your IP. you need usa IP ;] so forget about download and join to me and please somebody I again ask sb maybe upload to e.g. send space?

 

Yeah, can someone upload the facial software to rapidshare?

 

Again, if you read back to the start of this thread, uploading this software to something like rapidshare is illegal. Non-USA customers can call Dell tech support to request a replacement installation CD be shipped to them if they need to re-install FastAccess. Should you have any difficulties with this process (though I understand that Dell is doing much better with it now), please contact me privately and I can use my Dell contacts to assist.

 

wow be a man.... you are afraid about this? is it crime...? dont be silly and please upload this files. thanks

 

I'm having problems registering with the downloadstore.dell.com/media website. I bought my laptop in the US, just got it yesterday but I'm not able to register. Is anyone else having this problem?

 

Update: I think it may be the website, syspro worked fine to auto detect my service tag

Would someone mind trying to log in to the downloadstore.dell.com/media to see if it is indeed the website and not me.

THANKS!!

 

I am another frustrated XPS 1640 user who has need of the missing software that isnt shipped on CD/DVD along with the laptop. I have installed Windows 7 RC and have all the drivers etc working just fine, but I want my missing software (I stupidly removed the OEM & Repair partions as I beleived the DVD's shipped with the laptop had everything)

I live in Hong Kong and cannot get access to the files from downloadstore.dell.com/media or smartsource.dell.com

I have spent several hours trying to explain to DELL what I am talking about and am getting nothing....

svrep - is there any thing you can do to help out?

I cannot believe that DELL can treat its customers this way, the DELL service reps here in Hong Kong told me to search the web with google to download the software...

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Yours Frustrated

 

I will respond to you directly to get details. Dell should be (and for the most part is) sending out replacement installation CDs to those who call them.

 

Does anyone here know any XPS 1640 retailers in Canada?

If so please post the links to their website.

Thanks

 

Google it...

 

A call to Dell tech support should be sufficient to request a replacement installation CD for FastAccess. If you have difficulties with this process, please contact me personally. I have been very successful in helping others to obtain the CD.

I would strongly NOT recommend downloading a copy off of the internet. This is not only in violation of your user agreement, but is potentially very dangerous.

 

once again here you are removed by mod.

 

Software piracy is not permitted on this forum. If you feel that you are entitled to the software, contact Dell.

 

Guys if you want send me mail and I answere with link. BTW Dear Mod I contacted with Dell and thay said that they haven't got this software, so why I should to contact to dell????? if you dont believe ask in your country why poland and other country dell is so poor.... and it wasn't pirace becouse it is free software for dell laptops, better check before remove

 

FYI, there is a difference between freeware and "free" software.

If its truly is a freeware, then there would be a free download on the software's home page( link). Since there is not a download, then its a free through a contract with Dell, so they are the ones responsible for distribution/they decide who gets it(in most cases its probably on for select residents-USA most likely).

Because of that, it makes it software piracy(you are not entitled to the software because you are breaking the license agreement of the software).

Dell upper management(ask to speak to a manager) may be able to make arrangements or try requesting the software through the software's site(Sensiblevision)-might be a fee.

Thanks for your cooperation.

 

That's the thing.

I've requested it, for Dell AUS to tell me to get it off their website. Their employee's are obviously unaware that it's for US residents only. I've since requested it again.

It's false advertisement to give the customer something, then not give them the appropriate discs for it. If it shows up on the invoice, I want a copy.

 

It is not freeware please read the Sensible Vision This End-User License Agreement. And yes Dell should host this on their FTP.

 

It is correct that FastAccess is not free. It is bundled on some systems (which is not the same as freeware) and is a paid option on others. Regardless, it is only authorized to be installed on the machine on which it was originally included. Sensible Vision does not distribute the software to anyone (by contract with Dell).

Having said that, I am very aware that Dell has had some difficulties distributing replacement/backup installation CDs to some authorized users. They are supposed to do so upon request, however (Canadian and US customers also have the option of an authorized download). As I've mentioned several times on this thread, if you're having difficulty in this regard with Dell tech support in your region, please contact me directly. I remain committed to - and have been very successful at - using my Dell contacts to assist.

Darin

 

Finally got Dell to send me the disc, just got a confirmation email that they're going to send me a copy of FA.

This will most likely be the last time I deal with Dell, great laptop and all, but the customer service is complete crap. I work for an IT retailer and if I gave a TENTH of this service, I'd have people throwing things at me.

This is why they don't retail their own gear in retail "Dell" stores.

 

Got it in the mail yesterday

 

Hey, how can i contact you? My email is [email protected]. Write me when you can.

 

ey, how can i contact you? My email is [email protected]. Write me when you can.